1. I am not a medical student, am I eligible to apply for a Medical Electives Programme?
No. Only students attending a medical course at Universities other than the University of Malta are accepted.
2. I am a qualified medical doctor interested in a Medical Electives Programme before starting the Foundation Programme. Will you accept my application form?
Yes.
3. Will I be able to gain hands-on experience during the Medical Electives Programme?
This depends on the coverage of the medical malpractice insurance policy. Those students who are covered by the medical malpractice insurance policy of the University of Malta will be able to carry out any clinical examinations, with the exception of any interventions or intimate examinations, unsupervised by the Insured and/ or any other suitably qualified healthcare professional. Cancellation of the Medical Malpractice Insurance is non-refundable.
The other students who do not have the insurance coverage of the University of Malta will only have an observatory placement unless there is proof of coverage as indicated above.
4. Will I be awarded a Certificate on completion of my elective placement?
At the end of your clinical attachment the Electives Office awards elective students a Certificate of Attendance. Each student is awarded one certificate per consultant per speciality. Please refer to the specimen of certificate provided by the Medical Electives Programme. These certificates are acknowledged by all universities.
5. Which hospital will I be assigned to?
Elective placements can take place in the following teaching hospitals, depending on the specialty:
a. Mater Dei Hospital (all specialties, except for Geriatrics and Oncology)
b. Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital/ St. Vincent de Paul Long Term Care Facility (Geriatrics)
c. Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (Oncology)
6. Which specialties offer medical elective placements throughout the year?
Surgery: General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Cardiothoracic, Urology, Anaesthesia, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology (June to January only), ENT, Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedics
Medicine: Respiratory, Endocrinology, Renal, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Rheumatology, Infectious diseases, Acute Medicine, Geriatrics, Oncology, Sports Medicine, Neurology (Mid-June to Mid-September only), Paediatrics (July to September only and final year students only), Dermatology (February to September only) and
Other: Accident and Emergency (final year students only), Obstetrics and Gynaecology (July to September only and final year students only), Hyperbaric Unit, Pathology, Haematology and Radiology
7. I am a fourth year medical student. Can I have a placement in Accident and Emergency, Obstetrics and Gynaecology or Paediatrics?
Placements in Accident and Emergency, Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as in Paediatrics are offered only to final year medical students.
8. On which days and times should I be at the hospital during an elective placement?
Unless directed otherwise by the Consultant, elective students are generally expected to be with the Firm they are attached to as follows:
Monday to Friday from: 08:00 to 14:30 and
Saturday from: 08:00 to 13:00.
9. I would like to gain as much exposure to the operating theatre/ward/rounds/ outpatients/radiology as possible. Can I have my placement solely at the operating theatre?
No, this is not possible. An elective student is attached to a Consultant’s Firm, therefore students will be shadowing the Consultant according to the Firm’s schedule.
10. Are medical electives students formally assessed by the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery during their placement?
Medical electives students will not be assessed since the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery only provides assessment to students who are enrolled in one of its courses. However, the Faculty provides a record of skills as per the Practical Skills Certification in Appendix 2.
11. Are medical elective students allowed to join students in the M.D. Course for lectures, tutorials or simulation sessions?
No, medical elective students can only attend clinical placements with the assigned specialty.
12. Do I need a Medical Malpractice Insurance to carry out a Medical Electives Programme in Malta?
Medical Malpractice Insurance has become a requirement for all medical students and health care professionals who have patient contact. The students’ Home University shall fill in a declaration which is included in Section F of the application form stating whether students have Medical Malpractice Insurance.
Some Universities provide Medical Malpractice Insurance coverage for their students. Applicants who are not covered by Medical Malpractice Insurance through a policy taken up by their Home University are required to submit proof of Medical Malpractice Insurance when submitting their application. Students may purchase Medical Malpractice Insurance from the Faculty (and can do so only after their application is processed by the MMSA Electives Team), however they must indicate their intention to purchase the said insurance when sending us their application.
13. Does the University of Malta offer Medical Malpractice Insurance to incoming medical elective students?
Yes, the University of Malta offers the possibility for elective students to apply for Medical Malpractice Insurance for the following nominal fee:
Medical Malpractice Insurance for placements up to 4 weeks: EUR 30
Medical Malpractice Insurance for placements of more than 4 weeks: EUR 50.
14. Is it possible to apply for a Traineeship?
Yes, please contact the Faculty's contact person responsible for the Erasmus Traineeships for guidance.
15. My Home University requires the signature of a training agreement which lays out the conditions of the Medical Electives Programme. Will my application be considered?
No.
16. When should I submit the required documentation?
Students are to submit all the required documentation with the application form at least 3 months prior to the desired elective dates. Applications sent less than 3 months prior to the desired dates are at risk of not being accepted.
17. Will I always be assigned to the desired specialty I specified on the Application form?
Although every attempt is taken to match the student's selected specialty as specified on the application form, this may not always be possible. If the selected specialisation is not available, the elective student will be offered alternative options.
18. I would like more information about VISA requirements to travel to Malta. Where can I find further information?
You can find more information by accessing the Central Visa Unit website and the Requirements for a VISA webpage.
19. Do you offer Accommodation?
No, the students are responsible for securing their own accommodation during their Medical Elective Programme in Malta.
20. In the past I had a conviction. Will you accept my application form?
No. Students with past or present convictions will not be accepted.
21. I am a UK student looking to meet the Police Conduct submission requirement. Can I submit an ACRO Certificate in place of a DBS check?
No, we do not accept ACRO Certificates. You must provide a DBS check as part of your application.
22. What are the requirements for the Police Conduct Certificate?
To streamline the process for students, a second Police Conduct Certificate will only be required at the Introductory Meeting if the original certificate is more than six months old as of the placement start date. If the certificate is less than six months old, no additional certificate is necessary. Please note that at the Introductory Meeting, all elective students must present both the original Police Conduct Certificate and a photocopy for verification. The copy will be retained for our records, while the original will be returned to the student. Failure to provide both the original and the copy will result in the student being unable to begin their elective placement.
23. Can I wear green scrubs outside the hospital premises?
No, green scrubs are strictly for use in theatre areas only and should not be worn outside hospital premises. While the blue uniform may be worn outside the hospital, green scrubs must remain within the designated clinical areas.
1. How to apply?
Submit one .pdf file containing all the documents listed below, in one email to the MMSA Electives Team:
a. Application form,
b. 1 digital passport sized photo,
c. Photocopy of Passport page which includes passport number, nationality and photo,
d. Scanned copy of the Visa or Schengen Visa if applicable. Student requiring a Visa to travel to
Malta are also to submit a scanned copy of their passport, clearly indicating their nationality. More details regarding Visa are found in questions 4 and 5 in this section; and
e. The Home University Recommendation that can be found in Section F of the Medical Elective Programme Application Form.
f. Evidence of Travel Insurance coverage (including coverage for personal accidents). As of 01 April 2025, travel insurance will no longer be mandatory but will remain highly recommended. Students are responsible for their own safety and for securing the necessary travel insurance. The University cannot be held liable for students who do not obtain the necessary insurance coverage.
g. Scanned detailed Police Conduct Certificate issued within the 3 months from the date of the Application Form.
Another updated detailed Police Conduct Certificate issued not earlier than 6 months prior to the commencement date must be presented during the Introductory Meeting. If you are studying in a country away from your country of origin, you are required to submit the detailed Police Conduct Certificates issued from both countries. Students who fail to present the original detailed Police Conduct Certificate will NOT BE ALLOWED to commence their elective placement. A second Police Conduct Certificate is only required if the original certificate is more than six months old by the commencement date. If it is less than six months old, no additional certificate is needed.
h. Evidence of Medical Malpractice Insurance. The University of Malta is offering the possibility to elective students who do not already have a Medical Malpractice Insurance to be able to apply for such insurance at a nominal fee as indicated in question 14 of the previous section.
i. Any certification needed by your home university (indicate if you need any home certification please tick the checkbox on the first page of the Application Form).
j. Please DO NOT TRAVEL to Malta if any of the mandatory requirements have not been fully satisfied.
2. When should I submit my application form?
The application form should be submitted not later than 3 months before the commencement date of the elective period. Applications submitted after this date may not be processed.
3. How many times am I allowed to change my speciality? How many weeks prior to my commencement of elective placement, am I required to submit such a request?
Students are allowed to change their speciality and/or elective period once. It may not be possible for the Medical Electives Office to process requests for changes of specialities if these are received later than 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the elective placement.
4. Do I need a Visa to carry out a Medical Electives Programme in Malta? How will this affect my application process?
Unless the Electives Office receives a copy of your visa, your application for an elective placement cannot be officially approved.
a. Students are to submit a scanned copy of their passport, clearly indicating their nationality. The copy of the passport can be sent to the Maltese immigration authority for further verification;
b. The Embassy/Consulate might need a letter of invitation from the University of Malta. The
Letter of Invitation is not the official letter of acceptance;
c. The Letter of Invitation will be issued once you settle the following in full:
(i) the Application Fee
(ii) the Administration Fee, and
(iii) the Accommodation Fee (if staying at the MMSA apartments).
d. Students requiring a Visa or residence permit shall be required to pay the Visa/
Supplementary Fee of EUR 75 to cover additional administrative work.
e. Students who opt for the Medical Malpractice Insurance offered by the University of Malta
shall be invoiced as per the following nominal fees:
(i) EUR 30 (for an elective placement of up to 4 weeks) and,
(ii) EUR 50 (for an elective placement of more than 4 weeks).
f. The Embassy/Consulate might request the evidence of full payment before a visa is issued;
g. The official acceptance letter will be issued following presentation of a valid visa/residence
permit;
h. If a visa is not approved by the competent authorities in Malta, all fees less any bank
charges incurred will be refunded; and
The applicant must ensure that the Visa is a study Visa and is valid for the entire duration of the elective placement in Malta. The authorities in Malta do not approve Tourism Visas for medical elective placements. Students are advised to ensure that the Visa issued is
correct and confirmed by the relevant authorities before flying to Malta.
5. What is the Visa/Residence Permit Supplementary Fee and is it related to the fees that I have to pay at the embassy for a Visa to be issued?
The Visa/Residence Permit Supplementary Fee of Eur 75.00 is meant to cover additional administrative work needed to process such applications. All students who need a Visa/Residence Permit to travel to Malta are required to pay this fee before their application can be
finalised. Students are encouraged to make their own verification of the Visa/ Residence Permit, to make sure that there are no impediments to travel to Malta.
6. Do I submit my Occupational Health Protocol (OHP) for Visiting Students and the Travel Insurance together with the Application Form?
No. The Occupational Health Protocol and the Travel Insurance must be submitted following receipt of the Conditional Letter of Acceptance issued by the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
All students are accepted on condition of:
a. obtaining clearance from the Occupational Health Unit and,
b. presenting evidence of the Travel Insurance which includes personal accident. As of 01 April 2025, travel insurance will no longer be mandatory but will remain highly recommended. Students are responsible for their own safety and for securing the necessary travel insurance.
The University cannot be held liable for students who do not obtain the necessary insurance coverage.
Failure to satisfy all the above requirements will prevent you from starting the elective placement.
7. What is the process for an Occupational Health Protocol (OHP) for Visiting Students to be officially approved?
a. Download the Occupational Health Protocol (OHP) for Visiting Students.
b. Sign the Occupational Health Protocol scan it and send it by email, together with any results, to the Medical Officer in charge of Occupational Health.
c. Copies of all test results and documentation should be in English. Scan these and attach them to the same email.
d. Send the email not later than 6 weeks before the commencement of your elective placement. Failure of submission within this deadline could mean that your application is withdrawn.
e. Insufficient information will require further enquiries and may delay the application process.
8. I did not receive the official letter of acceptance as I did not send the Occupational Health Protocol to the Occupational Health Unit for approval. However, I travelled to Malta as planned. What should I do?
Students who are in Malta without prior approval of the Occupational Health Protocol by the Occupational Health Unit will not be allowed to start their medical elective placement. Any pending medical tests which are specified in the Occupational Health Protocol must be conducted in a private clinic or hospital and not at Mater Dei Hospital. When the Occupational Health Protocol is duly filled in and the tests are taken all the documentation should be duly sent to the Occupational Health Unit for approval in order for the application to be processed.
9. What is the minimum and maximum allowed duration for a medical elective placement?
The minimum duration of a medical elective placement is of 2 weeks and the maximum duration is of 12 weeks.
10. I might not be able to attend on the first day of the elective placement. Will this affect my certification?
Although the Letter of Acceptance stipulates the dates you applied for, the certificate shows the actual commencement and end date.
11. I am required by my home University to do a certain number of days at the host University and I am planning to end my stay on a Sunday/public holiday. Is this possible?
No. Commencement dates should be between Monday and Friday and end dates should be between Monday and Saturday except when there are public holidays.
Public holidays in Malta (2025)
January 1 - New Year - Wednesday
February 10 - St. Paul’s Shipwreck - Monday
March 19 - St. Joseph’s Day - Wednesday
March 31 - Freedom Day – Monday
April 18 - Good Friday - Friday
May 1 - Labour Day - Thursday
June 7 - Sette Giugno - Saturday
June 29 - St. Peter & St. Paul - Sunday
August 15 - Assumption of Mary - Friday
September 8 - Victory Day - Monday
September 21 - Independence Day - Sunday
December 8 - Immaculate Conception - Monday
December 13 - Republic Day - Saturday
December 25 - Christmas - Thursday
12. When the Electives Office is closed?
The Electives Office will be closed during Christmas Recess:
between Wednesday 20 December 2023 to Wednesday 03 January 2024, and between Friday 20 December 2024 to Sunday 05 January 2025.
13. How long does it take for me to receive the official Letter of Acceptance from the University of Malta Faculty of Medicine and Surgery?
The official letter of acceptance is sent once all the required documentation have been submitted and processed. The letter of acceptance is sent conditional subject to the approval of the Occupational Health Protocol – OHP – Visiting students by the Occupational Health Unit.
14. Will I receive a provisional Letter of Acceptance indicating that unless there are problems related to the Occupational Health Protocol – OHP – Visiting students, I will be secured a place in the programme?
Yes, a provisional Letter of Acceptance will be sent by the Electives Officer of the Malta Medical Students' Association (MMSA). Kindly note that upon receipt of your Letter of Acceptance you will need to send an email to MMSA to confirm that the dates and specialty are correct.
15. My application was approved, but I need to change my dates of the placement. Is this possible?
A change of dates is possible if an email is sent to MMSA. These changes may not be possible if requests are not received at least four weeks prior to the original dates.
16. How will I know the total amount of administration and application fees to be paid?
Once the provisional Letter of Acceptance is sent, you will receive an invoice with the total amount of application and administration fees. The full payment must be settled in full, two weeks before commencement date. Students who fail to settle the invoice in full will not be allowed to commence their elective placement.
17. When should I settle the Administration and Application Fees?
The full payment must be settled in full, two weeks before commencement date. The only procedure accepted for settlement before arrival in Malta is by bank transfer. Payments via other means such as Paypal or Western Union Money Transfer are NOT accepted.
18. What are the current standard elective fees?
Current Elective Administrative and Application fees (Rates are subject to change)
Application fees - EUR 75 paid once
Visa/Resident Permit Supplementary fee - EUR 75 paid once
Administrative fees - EUR 75/week of elective period
Thus, a typical 4 week Elective period would cost EUR 375.
(EUR 75 x 4 [weeks]) + EUR 75 [application fee; paid once] = EUR 375/ month
The Elective fees do not include accommodation costs.
19. How can I pay for my medical elective placement?
Applicants are required to make a bank transfer as indicated in the invoice.
20. Why am I charged for the Visa/ Residence Permit Fee?
The Visa/ Residence Permit Fee is charged due to the extra verifications needed to be done with the local Maltese Immigration Office. The fee is charged on the basis of whether citizens of your country need a VISA/ Residence Permit to visit Malta. Therefore students who already have obtained a Residence Permit still need to pay the fee.
21. What is the cancellation policy when I cancel my elective placement?
The Cancellation policy is as follows:
a. up to 2 months prior commencement date: Fully refunded
b. between 1 month and 2 months prior commencement: 50% refund
c. (i) less than 1 month prior commencement: No refund
(ii) cancellation of part of placement: No refund
(iii) after commencement: No refund
Last updated: 21 October 2025