About the University of Dundee
The University of Dundee ranks first in Scotland and second in the UK for medicine, earning a global reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Committed to advancing healthcare education, its mission is to “transform lives locally and globally.”
As part of this commitment, the university is developing a £40 million Life Sciences Innovation Hub, set to open in Spring 2025. This facility will support high-growth companies, drive research-led innovation, and create job opportunities, reinforcing Dundee’s status as a leader in medical and life sciences.
Medical Electives
All final-year medical students at the University of Dundee are required to complete an eight-week elective period, during which they independently plan, arrange, and undertake a placement tailored to their academic or professional interests. These electives may be clinical or non-clinical and are complemented by an online Global Health Perspectives module, which provides students with a broader understanding of healthcare challenges worldwide.
Paul Jackson, Group Chief Executive, The Hospital Saturday Fund, & Warren Vale, Account Executive, HSF Health Plan, presenting a £10,000 Medical Elective Grant to Jon Dowell, Trustee, Katy Daniels, Electives Lead, University of Dundee, & Amy Earnshaw, CEO, Fair Trade Electives Charity.
The university’s Responsible Electives programme, launched in 2012, was designed to ensure that student placements in lower-resourced healthcare settings are ethically conducted and mutually beneficial. This initiative was developed in response to concerns about poorly structured placements that could inadvertently place additional strain on host healthcare systems.
International Partnerships
Between 2012 and 2019, the University of Dundee established partnerships with medical institutions in Malawi and Zambia, facilitating Responsible Electives for around six students per year at each site. In 2019, the programme expanded to include a third partner site in Rwanda, with placements scheduled to begin in 2020/21. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a suspension of international electives during 2020/21 and 2021/22. In 2022/23, the university began reintroducing these opportunities in a limited capacity, with ongoing efforts to fully restore the programme and strengthen international partnerships.
The Grant
Paul Jackson, Group Chief Executive of The Hospital Saturday Fund, visited the University of Dundee to present a £10,000 grant in support of the university’s Responsible Electives programme. This funding will enable 13 medical students to gain life-changing experiences, enhance their clinical skills, and explore global healthcare systems.
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