International Visiting Medical Students
We are delighted you have expressed interest or have chosen to apply for an away rotation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine! If your institution participates in the VSLO Global Network, you must apply there. If your institution does not participate in the VSLO Global Network, you will apply through the External International Visiting Student application below.
The CUSOM Academic Year 2025-2026 VSLO Catalog will open and begin accepting applications on March 3, 2025. We will also begin accepting applications through the form on March 3rd. Departments review applications and will begin making rolling offers on April 1, 2025. Below are the courses and dates available to visiting students.
Courses Available to International Students
- Select Early Match Specialties only: May 26, 2025 – June 22, 2025
- June 23, 2025 – July 20, 2025
- July 21, 2025 – August 17, 2025
- August 18, 2025 – September 14, 2025
- September 29, 2025 – October 26, 2025
- October 27, 2025 – November 23, 20245
- November 24, 2025 –December 21, 2025
- January 5, 2026 – February 1, 2026
- February 2, 2026 - March 1, 2026
External International Visiting Student Application
Application Process for International Visiting Medical Students
- Review Application Requirements, Courses Available to International Visiting Medical Students, and available dates.
- Obtain a Sponsor in the Department of the course you will be applying for. See Sponsor Document for more information. The Office of Student Life will not find a sponsor for you. We recommend reaching out to the education coordinator in your department of interest so they can help connect you with a sponsor.
- Apply through the VSLO Global Network. If your institution does NOT participate in the VSLO Global Network, apply through the link above. You will upload all required documents there.
- Await decision from the Office of Student Life.
Requirements
- Student must be in good academic standing at their home institution.
- Student will be in their final year of study before beginning of elective.
- Student will have successfully completed their required core clerkships prior to beginning this elective.
- Student will receive academic credit from home institution.
- Student will pay tuition at home institution during the period indicated.
- Student has passed USMLE Step 1.
- Student is covered by health insurance.
- Student will be covered by home institution’s worker’s compensation insurance*.
- Student has been instructed in safety measures and infections control precautions.
- Student is certified in Basic Life Support or Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
- Student has approval from and recommendation from home institution to participate in elective requested.
- Students for whom English is not their primary language must also show proof of English language proficiency. English language proficiency may be demonstrated by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. A minimum TOEFL score of 90 is recommended for students who will be engaged in patient care activities.
Documents to be uploaded in VSLO or through Application Form
- Application Form
- Sponsor Agreement Form
- AAMC Immunization Form
- Proof of Medical Malpractice Coverage**
- Background Check Form or Proof of Completed Background Check
- HIPAA Training
- Official Transcript
- CV/Resume
- TOEFL Examination Results (if applicable)
Policies and Procedures
- International visiting students are limited to one four-week rotation of clinical course work at the University of Colorado.
- Students are only allowed to rotate with CUSOM during our available dates. Dates are fixed and inflexible.
- A complete application must be on file at least 8 weeks prior to the start date of the requested elective.
- International Medical Students must find a faculty member who wishes to invite and sponsor them for an elective in their department. Once established, the faculty member must complete the Sponsor Agreement form. (The student can only participate in course work within the sponsors’ specialty, if accepted by the course director).
- Students should be comparable to U.S. fourth year students (will have completed 48-weeks of clinical training in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry and Neurology) and will be accorded the same experiences as a fourth year Colorado student.
- Students from international medical schools who are not United States citizens must obtain the appropriate visa according to immigration law. Students from countries that are part of the U.S. State Department's Visa Waiver Program must apply through ESTA (the Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Students from countries that are not part of the Visa Waiver Program must apply for a B1 visa, once their application has been approved and they have been offered a clerkship.
- International students are required to pay a fee of $4,000 per 4-week elective plus the $150 application processing fees. Once accepted, students have two weeks to submit the payment made payable to the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The fee is non-refundable.
- An Affiliation Agreement between the home institution and University of Colorado School of Medicine is required. ***
*University of Colorado School of Medicine is not responsible for worker’s compensation issues or injuries and claims for which workers’ compensation coverage is required in Colorado.
**International Medical Students can purchase personal medical malpractice insurance via AMPI or other provider.
***If home institution cannot or will not enter into an Affiliation Agreement, students can complete an alternative Onsite Learning Agreement and Waiver with their department, unless student is rotating at Children’s Hospital of Colorado, then the agreement is absolutely required.
Please contact our Visiting Students team at som.visitingstudents@ucdenver.edu with any questions!