Medicine & Health

Medical Clerkship Program (elective)

Hospital staff walking through ward

The Clerkships program is on hold.

Clerkships applications are on hold due to the high volume of applications and is not currently accepting elective placement applications An update will be provided on this website in October 2022. (Updated 02 August 2022).

Applications already received, will be processed. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, placements are limited.

All International passenger arrivals cannot enter a NSW hospital for at least 7 days* after arrival to Australia, as it is a high risk setting.

*number of days are subject to change, please refer to the following for the latest updates

Clerkships Coordinator

Contacts for the Clerkships Coordinator.

UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA
T: +61 2 9385 8909
E: clerkships@med.unsw.edu.au

About Medical Clerkships at UNSW

The UNSW Medicine Clerkship Program (elective) is a placement program that provides successful applicants the opportunity to develop hands-on skills and practical experience in selected disciplines at one of UNSW's clinical teaching hospitals alongside other health professionals.

During a Clerkship, you'll attend clinics, ward rounds and, with permission, record the history and perform physical examinations of patients in the wards.

If the clerkship placement is during a medicine teaching period, lectures and tutorials in the clinical school may also be available.

It’s important to note that UNSW Clerkships are only offered to non-University of New South Wales medical students.

Areas of study

Please note, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, placements are limited.

The UNSW Medicine Clerkship Program offers a comprehensive range of areas of study for which students can apply. Some schools only offer clerkships over particular dates and for specified periods.

The full list of clinical schools and the areas of interest that are offered in the UNSW Medicine Clerkship Program is available on the Clerkships Areas of Study page.

When are Clerkships offered?

Clerkships take place for a duration of four (4) to eight (8) weeks only. 

UNSW Clerkships are offered at various times in the year. The availability and time limit is different for each hospital. It is important to check the availability before you submit your application. 

Find out more by reading the Clerkships areas of study page.

Eligibility for Clerkships

To be eligible to apply for a Clerkship, you must:

  • be in your final year of a medical degree, with at least two years of clinical experience at the time of your participation in the Clerkship
  • be proficient in both written and spoken English (students applying from non-English speaking medical schools must provide evidence of English language proficiency)
    • You can apply for an English Waiver which is a decision by UNSW to waive the English language requirements based on life experience and circumstances.
    • Please refer to the Conditions for an English Waiver section to check if you meet any of the conditions.
    • Clerkships apply for an English Waver by emailing the documents to clerkships@med.unsw.edu.au
    • If you hold an Australian Passport, you are Eligible for an English Waiver.
  • apply at least three months (but no more than 12 months) in advance of your requested Clerkship dates.
  • COVID-19 vaccination - From 30 September 2021, all students attending placements in NSW Health facilities will be required to have had at least one TGA provisionally approved COVID-19 vaccination.

Clerkships are not available to you if you’re:

  • seeking additional clinical experience outside of the elective requirements of your university medical degree program
  • a doctor who has already completed a medical degree (UNSW does not participate in internship/residency placements).
  • a German student who requires core clinical training and verification of documentation, as UNSW cannot provide this level of support. 

Find out more about how to apply and what documents you’ll need for a Clerkship by reading the Application Process for Clerkships page.

Successful applicants

If you’ve been successful in your application, you'll be enrolled as a Non-Award UNSW student. You'll be issued with a UNSW student ID card.

NOTE - you will not be paid or remunerated for a Clerkship.

You will be responsible for all travel (including visa's, flights etc) and living costs (including accommodation, food, spending money) etc.

When planning your flights, please take into consideration all International passenger arrivals cannot enter a NSW hospital for at least 7 days after arrival to Australia, as it is a high risk setting.

  • If you’re an overseas applicant, you should contact your nearest Australian Diplomatic Mission to understand how to comply with visa requirements. Generally, a Visitor Visa is sufficient.

    Visitor Visas – the Australian Department of Home Affairs issues two visas for this type of study:

    1. 601 Subclass Visa, also called an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). An ETA lets you:

    • Enter Australia for up to three months at a time as a tourist or for business visitor purposes.
    • You’re also permitted to study in Australia for up to 3 months in some circumstances.

    2. 651 Subclass Visa, also called an eVistor. This visa lets you:

    • Enter Australia for up to 3 months during each visit during 12 months from the date the eVistor is granted
    • Have a holiday or visit family and friends in Australia
    • Study in Australia for up to three months in some circumstances

  • You’ll be responsible for all travel and living costs.

    Students must make their own accommodation arrangements. You should make sure that you have accommodation organised before you arrive in Sydney. As accommodation costs in Sydney are high, you should begin your search early.

    Unfortunately, we do not have dedicated housing available for Clerkship students.
    • tudents are required to pay a non-refundable AUD$100 administration fee when applying for the program.
    • Students are required to pay a AUD$400 placement fee when accepting their placement offer.
    • An agreement between UNSW Medicine and the National University of Singapore allows for up to 10 clinical placements per calendar year. Students applying from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, will not be charged an application fee but must adhere to the rules of clerkship application.
    • An agreement with Seoul National University (SNU) allows for potential placement of students. SNU College of Medicine students will not be charged an application fee but must adhere to the rules of clerkship application.

  • In accepting a clerkship, students will be required to abide by the guidelines of the University, the Hospital and the appointed supervisor.

    • Students must pay the Administration and Placement Fee by the due dates in order to commence their placement.
      • The AUD$100 Administration Fee is a non-refundable fee.
      • If students withdraw from the program after payment of the AUD$400 Placement Fee, but before that start date of their placement, they are eligible for a refund of 50% of the Placement Fee.
      • If students withdraw from the program after payment of the AUD$400 Placement Fee and on or after the start date of their placement, they are not eligible for a refund of the Placement Fee.
      • The AUS$400 Placement Fee is fully refundable if the placement is cancelled by the hospital, due to circumstances outside of the students' controlThe AUD$100 Administration Fee is a non-refundable fee.
    • Students must comply with the Immunisation and Criminal Record Check policies as required by NSW Health.
    • It is a legal requirement that all medical students who undertake Clerkships in New South Wales are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Information given on the Clerkship Application Form will be forwarded to the Agency for registration. No other action is required by the student.
    • Visiting medical students are responsible for obtaining any travel and health insurance as deemed appropriate.
    • Visiting medical students are responsible for finding their own accommodation. 
    • Overseas medical students are responsible for arranging an appropriate Australian visa. 

    • All International passenger arrivals cannot enter a NSW hospital for at least 7 days after arrival to Australia, as it is a high risk setting.