Booking an elective placement abroad is all about timing. The earlier, the better. Book early, and you'll get two massive benefits others won’t—choice and time.
CHOICE
Our programmes have limited places, which is especially important if you travel as a group. The more of you there are (and the later you leave it), the less chance of getting your first choice destination.
There are also a limited number of available spaces in each hospital department. Some niche areas can only take two students at a time, so once the places are gone, they're gone.
We never overfill our programmes to avoid burdening our hospital partners. Get in early, and you will have complete freedom of choice regarding your travel destination and customising your clinical experience.
TIME
Time is the other massive benefit of registering early. But why?
1. It makes SAVING easier
£300 - is what you need to secure your placement, and we don’t ask for you to pay your remaining balance until 90 days before your departure date.
So if you book well in advance, you have plenty of time to save. We’ve even introduced flexible payments to help, meaning you can pay in as many instalments as you wish - as much or as little as you want, whenever you want.
Speaking of saving money, airline timetables are released many months in advance. If you’re ahead of the game, you can expect cheaper seats.
2. It takes the pressure off fundraising
More time also gives you a better chance of raising more money. Raising £100 in one month is realistic for many, whereas raising £1000 in a month is not.
Having more time relieves pressure, allows you to make more creative decisions, and potentially raises more money.
Are you thinking of applying for a grant or a bursary? Many funding bodies require a detailed breakdown of your plans, and some even ask for an essay.
If you registered early, you just gave yourself months of extra time to prepare your application.
If you’re doing it the old-fashioned way and saving up, having more time will allow you to save more. You’ll agree there’s not much to elaborate on here.
Read Amelia's fundraising story here.
3. it takes the pressure off doing the admin
What’s less fun than doing paperwork? Doing paperwork with only a month in which to do it.
We’ll support you and assist with all administrative tasks, such as visas, insurance, vaccinations, and university documentation. However, some of these will take time to complete, so leaving yourself as much time as possible ensures a stress-free process.
4. it frees you up to start preparing
You've got a lot to prepare. Familiarise yourself with the chosen country, learn the language basics, explore the culture, and figure out the must-sees and must-dos.
Of course, our in-country staff teams will give you excellent local travel tips once you arrive at your chosen destination. Each house also has a Work the World ‘top tips book’, which is constantly updated by previous travellers, and we also have a travel notice board which contains all the information you could possibly look for! But you’ll probably want to do your research, too.
For most, an overseas clinical placement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so giving yourself time to research after placement and take weekend trips is essential.
NEXT STEPS
We are taking bookings for 2025 and beyond! Get in touch.
It starts with a quick call or email to determine what you'd like to do and where you'd like to do it. We’ll check availability, and before you know it, you’re registered. After that, we will build a unique placement based on your interests.
Get the ball rolling by completing the short enquiry form and discovering more about our electives abroad.
TAKE
ACTION
Make sure you secure your spot before the dates you want fill up. Start by clicking the button below to choose your discipline.
Make sure you secure your spot before the dates you want fill up. Start by clicking the button below to choose your discipline.
