Visiting Students

Thank you for your interest in Columbia University. Listed below is information regarding elective study at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) and its affiliated hospitals/sites for the 2012-2013 academic year. All questions regarding NYPH electives and those at affiliated hospitals/sites should be directed to the P&S Education Office.

Elective Eligibility
Electives offered at P&S are available only to P&S students and those currently enrolled in LCME accredited medical schools, osteopathic schools, Sackler New York Program, and Columbia’s international exchange schools (visiting students).

If you are an international student, please click here to determine your eligibility.

Electives that are not available to visiting students are specifically noted in the individual course descriptions in the Elective Catalog. Please read elective descriptions carefully to determine your eligibility before applying.

Visiting Student Application & Decision Timelines
Visiting students must apply for all electives through the P&S Education Office. As outlined in individual course descriptions, some electives also require permission from the Course Director, which must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs at pselectives@columbia.edu no fewer than 60 days in advance of the desired elective month before final approval can be given. All applications are due no fewer than 60 days prior to the month for which you are applying and students will be notified no later than six weeks prior to the start of the desired month. Visiting students are asked not to contact Course Directors directly except where permission is required to take an elective. All inquiries must go through the Office of Student Affairs at pselectives@columbia.edu. Elective availability information is not distributed to visiting students and all elective placements are final. Students may not change electives once placed.

Prior to applying for P&S electives, international exchange students must receive approval from their home institution to participate in the exchange program. International students who are not approved by their home institution are not permitted to participate in electives at P&S and applications from such students will be denied. Applications from international students not currently enrolled at an exchange institution will all be denied. P&S cannot process applications from ineligible students.

Students will be notified no later than six weeks prior to the start of the month(s) for which they are applying. As capacity for Spring and Summer 2012 courses has not yet been determined, please keep in mind that any Course Director approvals for electives that require permission are conditional until official elective approvals are released by the Office of Medical Education.

Applications for the 2013-14 academic year (July 2013 through June 2014) will not be accepted until February 1, 2013. Any applications submitted prior to February 1 will be disregarded.

Visiting Student Application Requirements & Fees
All visiting students are required to submit an online application as well as a transcript, CV, passport size photo, and P&S Dean's Certification and Vaccination forms. Only the P&S Dean's Certification and Vaccination forms found on the Visiting Students page will be accepted.

A letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the core clerkship most closely related to the desired elective specialty and USMLE Board scores may be requested as well. Please visit individual course descriptions to determine if this is required for the elective(s) for which you are applying. Note that requirements vary slightly depending on the institutional affiliation, and some students may be required to submit a letter of recommendation regardless of the desired elective(s). Please visit the Visiting Students page and select the appropriate institution from the school drop down menu to gauge the precise requirements for your application.

The fee for each P&S elective is $150. Once visiting students receive approval for elective study at P&S, they will be directed to a link to submit the appropriate payment depending on the number of electives they plan to take. Elective fees are waived for Columbia Ben Gurion and approved international exchange students. Sackler New York students only submit their payments via check issued by the institution.

For more information and to apply for elective study at P&S, please visit the Visiting Students page.

Elective Schedule
Electives are offered year-round. Unless otherwise specified in the course description, all electives begin on the first day of the month and end on the last. Visiting students are asked to adjust their schedules to meet this timetable as Course Directors are not obliged to honor alternative dates. Once approved for an elective, visiting students may contact Course Directors to request slight date adjustments, but should be aware that approvals of such requests are solely at the discretion of the Course Directors.

Electives Offered at P&S
For the entire listing of P&S elective offerings, please visit the Elective Catalog page. 

Types of Electives

• Subinternship: The student will function as part of a team on a teaching service with responsibilities closely mirroring those of an intern. Students will have primary responsibility for patient care and may be required to take night calls. The most common subinternships are in Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Urology, Neurology, and Emergency Medicine.

• Consult: The student will be under the direct supervision of house staff and attendings and will provide consultation to other in-hospital services. Students present cases and are responsible for follow-up of their patients. 

• Preceptorship: The student will work directly with one faculty member during the course of the elective, performing or observing all the duties of that faculty member.

• Research: Research electives are self-arranged opportunities for dedicated study on a topic agreed upon with a research supervisor. They are not available to visiting students except where listed in the elective catalog.

Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Affiliated Hospitals/Sites

The Allen Pavilion of Presbyterian Hospital is located at 5141 Broadway (near West 220th Street). It is not on the main Presbyterian Hospital site.