Visiting Elective Scholarship

 The Visiting Elective Scholarship Program supported by the UCSF School of Medicine was established to encourage fourth year medical students who are either from disadvantaged backgrounds, have demonstrated a commitment to working with marginalized and traditionally disenfranchised populations, OR have demonstrated a commitment to working with issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and social justice to apply for a clinical elective at UCSF. The scholarship program provides up to $2,000 and is designed to:

• Expose fourth-year medical students to an academic training program.
• Promote student interest in applying to an academic residency training program.
• Provide faculty and housestaff mentorship during the clinical elective experience.

Clinical electives are four weeks in length and are available, space permitting, to U.S. visiting students only. VESP participants are assigned a faculty advisor and have the opportunity to network with UCSF faculty, housestaff, and students. A diversity dinner with faculty and housestaff is held during each rotation. In addition, all participants are invited and encouraged to attend various seminars and lectures including those offered by the UCSF Office of Diversity and Outreach and the UCSF Multicultural Resource Center.

• Fourth-year U.S. medical students who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, have demonstrated a commitment to working with underserved populations, OR have demonstrated a commitment to working with issues related to DEI are encouraged to apply.
• Only students enrolled at an affiliated LCME-accredited institution or COCA-accredited AACOM member institution may apply**.
• UCSF does not accept international students for clinical experiences.
• Student must be in good academic standing at an accredited US medical school.
• Students must be applying for a visiting elective based at one of the San Francisco Campuses (Electives at BCHO-Oakland, UCSF Fresno, or Highland hospital do not count)
• Students cannot apply for the VESP once their VSLO elective has begun.
• Students cannot apply for the VESP if the department’s VSLO elective they were granted occurs after the department’s applicant cycle has ended.
• Requirements for the UCSF School of Medicine’s clinical electives must also be met. Please refer to VSLO for department-specific additional application requirements: AAMC VSLO website. You can also find UCSF Department-specific information at the Department Contact & Elective Info website.
• If you are applying for a scholarship for electives in Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Radiology, or Radiology, please apply through the links below and NOT the primary VESP Application link:
  • Emergency Medicine VESP Application
  • Orthopedic VESP Application
  • Radiology VESP/REDR Application
  • Surgery VESP Application 
  • Urology VESP Applicaiton

VESP Online Application

• Complete the VESP application using the link above concurrently to your VSLO elective application. Applications submitted once their elective has begun or after it has ended will not be accepted.
• An official academic transcript from your school of medicine (electronic preferred).
• Recent CV which you can upload directly on the application form when you apply for the VESP.
• Letter of recommendation on official letterhead from a faculty member in your department of interest.

Please Note: Students MUST also apply to the clinical elective program of their choice through the UCSF School of Medicine.  Students MUST apply to the VESP before their rotation begins in order to be considered.

VESP Requirements (PDF)

Please refer to the link below for more information on the UCSF Visiting Student electives:

UCSF Visiting Student Program

Scholarships (up to $2,000 each*, to be used toward visiting student elective fees, transportation costs, and lodging) will be awarded on the basis of:

• Interest in pursuing a career in academic medicine
• Commitment to working with marginalized and traditionally disenfranchised populations
• Commitment to issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social justice
• Leadership
• Community service
• Academic achievement as indicated by transcripts, letter of recommendation, etc.

(*Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.  Funds are awarded upon completion of the elective. Receipts must be submitted for reimbursement.)