There are 4 rotational 8 week blocks PLUS 2 Preparation for Professional Practice blocks in year 5
The medical elective is one of the 4 rotational blocks
The elective needs to be completed to pass year 5 and graduate
You will be sent information on your allocated section via email and section swaps will be considered until the end of February in 4th year but MUST BE APPROVED BY YEAR 5 TEAM – email: diane.gerrie@abdn.ac.uk
No swaps will be considered outwith this time to ensure students have adequate planning time.
The elective lasts eight weeks. This time is designed to include a few days for travel to and from the host location. As the elective is a part of matriculated term time, attendance is expected during the entire eight weeks wherever the elective takes place. Students should note that the University is accountable for students as part of its duty of care during this time. Under the immigration regulations laid down by the UK Border Agency ALL students attendance will be monitored rigorously during the academic year, including whilst on elective. This, in turn, requires students to be accountable personally to the University for where they are and for work they are carrying out during that element of time-tabled activity. The University's Code of Practice on Student Discipline, paragraphs 3.1.11 and 3.1.12 clearly states the responsibilities a student has to the University. In practical terms, this means that it is inappropriate for the elective to be considered a vacation in whole or in part.
On the other hand, students should not extend their elective into vacation time either before or after the time-tabled block. In order to provide equity for all students, one criterion is that each student has the same amount of time in which to carry out his or her elective.
As each block is closely followed by the next, it is a requirement that elective reports are handed in on time to ensure you are able to focus on the part of the Programme that follows. It is not acceptable to hand in reports late for two reasons: first, it conveys an advantage to the “late” student who has had more time to complete the report than his or her colleagues. Second, doing elective block work in, for example, the medical block time, may well jeopardise attendance, leading to loss of learning opportunities in Medicine and difficulties arising from absence.
Sanctions will be applied to any student who fails to meet the elective deadline, completes the elective outside the designated time or fails to accomplish the aims and objectives.