In July 2025, the College of Medicine at Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) officially signed the agreement with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and successfully joined the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) Program. This milestone establishes a standardized institutional framework for international clinical elective exchanges and adopts the VSLO platform as a standardized application and review system, further strengthening KMU’s substantive integration with leading global medical education systems.
Harvard Medical School also explained its application and scheduling principles for clinical electives. Applications are accepted annually from October to March of the following year. Course catalogs are generally announced approximately six months before the start of rotations, while final clinical rotation schedules are typically confirmed about two months prior to the start date. Applicants are required to submit complete application materials, including academic transcripts, vaccination and immunization records, and other supporting documents, as well as meet the English language requirement (TOEFL score of 100 or above). In addition, applicants must apply for specialties designated as “open to international visiting students” in the course catalog. Both parties agreed that strong English communication skills, solid clinical preparation, and proactive learning attitudes are essential to ensuring the quality of clinical training for medical students.
Under the principle of reciprocal exchange, KMU medical students participating in clinical electives at Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals will receive waivers for tuition and Harvard Medical School’s standard administrative fees. Harvard Medical School will also provide the necessary official documentation to facilitate VSLO system procedures. Harvard Medical School has assessed that hosting six to eight KMU medical students annually would constitute an appropriate and high-quality exchange scale.
Regarding Harvard Medical School students undertaking clinical electives in Taiwan, KMU, with the full support of the university and its affiliated hospital, has indicated that applications may be accepted year-round. However, visiting students must complete the application and internal approval procedures at least four months prior to the intended start date of the elective. KMU will also provide a “Clinical and Living Support Buddy Program” to assist incoming international medical students in adapting more quickly to both clinical training and local life in Taiwan.
In 2026, two medical students from Harvard Medical School are expected to undertake clinical electives at KMU Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, with rotations in Orthopedics and Neurosurgery scheduled for February and April, respectively. Meanwhile, KMU also plans to send five medical students to Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals in Boston for clinical elective training between September and December 2026.
KMU College of Medicine’s official participation in the VSLO Program and the resumption of bilateral clinical elective exchanges with Harvard Medical School not only mark a significant milestone in the internationalization of KMU’s medical education, but also serve as a key platform for cultivating globally minded physicians and strengthening international academic and institutional collaboration.
