The medical elective is often considered a major highlight of the medical school experience. However, organizing an elective can be a daunting experience. From selecting a destination, to securing bursaries, the road is fraught with uncertainty. In this article, we provide some guidance on how to successfully organize a medical elective. This includes the selection of the destination; options for research or clinical practice and tips for budgeting and acquiring travel bursaries.
Keywords: Developed world; Developing world; Elective; Global health; Global medicine; Medical elective; Medical training; Organization.