Understanding Barriers and Motivations: Enhancing Support for UK Medical Students’ Participation in Foreign Medical Electives

Shazia Sarela,1 Naireen Asim,2,* Shruthi Atapaka,2,* Vafie Sheriff,3 Gabriela Anna Barzyk-Sheriff3 1UCL Medical School, University College London, London, UK; 2St George’s University of London Medical School, St George’s University of London, London, UK; 3Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shazia Sarela, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC13 6BT, United Kingdom, Email [email protected]: This study aimed to explore UK medical students’ preferences, motivations, and barriers regarding international electives and to evaluate the impact of an online planning event designed to address these. Additionally, this study examined trends in UK medical students completing foreign electives over the past decade.Methods: Freedom of Information requests were sent to 46 UK medical universities requesting data on the number of students undertaking foreign electives over the past 10 years. Attendees at a peer-led event regarding electives completed a survey on their motivations and challenges in doing a foreign elective, followed by a post-event feedback form. Results were analysed using the Python Scipy package.Results: Of the 103 respondents, 76.7% preferred to undertake an international elective, while 21.36% preferred a combination of the UK and international locations. Non-academic reasons were significant motivators for undertaking a foreign elective, while safety and financial concerns were major deterrents. The online event received positive feedback, with participants appreciating the utility of the event in aiding their understanding of the elective planning process.Conclusion: UK medical students show a strong preference for international electives, despite significant barriers, particularly related to safety and finances. The peer-led event proved to be effective in supporting students’ planning of electives.Keywords: undergraduate medical education, medical student elective, COVID-19 pandemic, cultural competencies, international medical education