To see or not to see patients: What are your options for a non-clinical elective?

Electives provide a unique opportunity for medical students to explore clinically relevant interests in a new environment. The covid-19 pandemic may affect clinical electives for medical students globally, as hospitals may not take as many students, reducing the opportunities for direct patient encounters. However, non-clinical options are also available: electives that are not strictly hospital placements but instead focus on different clinical elements that may be relevant to future practice.

Non-clinical options can be undertaken while maintaining social distancing, yet still provide valuable experiences. The primary benefits of this type of elective are that they are increasingly common and can be undertaken at various global institutions. They don’t have to be based in the UK.

Clinicians should be well-rounded and balanced, so non-clinical experiences are beneficial to a student’s training. In this article, we have developed guidance about the key benefits and disadvantages of different types of non-clinical elective, with some shared reflections from those that have undertaken them.