The Essential Guide for Medical Students on Elective in the UK
Struggling to Make Your Dream Elective a Reality?
Start cracking the NHS code with UK Elective Success for medical students
Learn how to navigate your elective in the UK.
Start building a NHS career you can be proud of.
Learn how to avoid wasted time, make a real impact, and turn your UK elective into a launchpad for your NHS career.
If you’re a UK or a international medical student preparing for UK elective — you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
How do you find the right supervisor? What should you focus on each day? How do you stand out without seeming pushy? And most importantly — how can you turn this short experience into something that actually helps your future career?
This eBook was written exactly for you — to take the guesswork out of your elective and replace it with clarity, confidence, and a proven step-by-step approach.
Who is this book for?
I am so excited to be at medical school, and find almost everything interesting. I`m not 100% sure what speciality I want to persue, but I am considering neurosurgery. My medical school doesn`t do neurosurgery so I am looking to spend some time at a UK hospital with neurosurgery to see if it is a good fit for me. I also really want to work up close with a busy team to see how things are done. A UK elective is the best option for me to learn more.
MBBS Student
Leicester
I am studying medicine in Bulgaria and after graduation plan to get a FY2 job in the UK. It is going be tough as competetion is intense. but this is the best option for me to get a training post in the UK. I know that if I make the most from an elective in the UK, I will give myself the best chance for success. The connections and portfolio building potential that could come from a successful elective in the UK are significant. I plan to make the most out of a UK elective.
MBBS Student
Bulgaria
✔️ Why a UK elective isn’t just a formality — it’s a career-defining opportunity
✔️ How to choose the right UK elective that aligns with your long-term goals
✔️ What to do before you start — and what to prioritise on day one
✔️ The proven strategies top medical students use to build trust, get mentorship, and stand out
✔️ How to complete audit and QI projects that actually matter (and get noticed)
✔️ What UK consultants really look for — and how to become unforgettable
✔️ How to avoid the most common medical student mistakes (that quietly ruin your chances)
✔️ Practical tips for CV-building, LinkedIn, feedback, and more
✔️ How to turn your UK elective into long-term opportunity: QIPs, clinical audits, job offers
✔️ The exact questions to ask, templates to use, and frameworks to follow
Building a career you’ll love in the UK`s NHS
“Written by a Consultant Neurosurgeon with over 30 years of NHS experience and mentoring IMGs.”
"As a registrar, I have had the pleasure of working with Mr Andrew Kay at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. It is always a teaching moment - his eye for detail and focus on developing the clinical acumen of trainees are remarkable.
One of the most useful skills I learned while working for Mr Kay was how to debias my clinical decisions and identify my blind spots. He is a meticulous surgeon when it comes to skull-base surgery. His safe operative approach, detailed preoperative planning, and the personalised care he offers his patients ensure the best outcomes.
He is always respectful and available to offer advice to his juniors, and he helps out his peers in situations that require an experienced perspective; he is undoubtedly England’s finest. I recommend him as an excellent skull-base surgeon and an equally great mentor and clinician."