Policy & Procedure for Visiting Medical Students

Visiting student applications are accepted beginning in April of each academic year.

USF uses VSLO, Visiting Student Learning Opportunities, to receive visiting student applications. To apply to our school, please complete and send us a VSLO application for your preferred electives and dates. For more information on VSLO, please visit the VSLO webpage.

In order to complete a fourth year medical student rotation at the University of South Florida, students must attend an LCME or COCA accredited school.

Learn more  about Visiting Student Communicable Disease and Blood-borne Pathogen Exposure Protocol

Mistreatment - USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is committed to assuring a safe, encouraging, and supportive learning environment that reflects commitments to professionalism, respect, and virtues such as integrity, compassion, and kindness. All MCOM faculty, residents, students, and staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and contribute to creation of a culture that is supportive of learning. Mistreatment, bullying, discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment are prohibited at MCOM. The College forbids any retaliatory action against reporters who present grievances in good faith. Visiting students are required to be familiar with the MCOM student mistreatment guideline and the reporting form.

1. Students must be in their 4th year, in good academic standing, and have completed all required basic clinical clerkships before enrolling. Visiting students may only apply for elective courses.


2. Visiting students may receive academic credit from their own medical schools for elective course work completed at the USF Morsani College of Medicine. Transcripts of elective coursework will not be issued. The USF Morsani College of Medicine does not assess tuition or fees for visiting students.


3. Evaluations of performance will be sent on request to the visiting student's home school. If required, the form should be uploaded to VSAS or provided by the student.


4. In order to take elective courses at the USF Morsani College of Medicine, the student must submit a completed USF Visiting Student Application as noted on VSAS at least 1 month prior to the start of the elective.


5. The USF Morsani College of Medicine does not provide student health, liability, or malpractice insurance for visiting students. Visiting students must provide their own health insurance and be responsible for their health care. Malpractice insurance is required and it is the responsibility of the visiting student to obtain a policy if not covered by the home school.


6. Visiting medical students are required to obtain a USF student ID at the cost of ten dollars for the duration of their elective rotation(s). The requirement may vary by department; therefore, students are encouraged to contact the department for further information.


7. The USF Morsani College of Medicine does not accept students for a year's clinical clerkship training that is required by their home school. Neither do we offer a year's supervised training in clinical clerkships similar to a Fifth Pathway Program. ONLY USF Morsani College of Medicine approved students will be allowed "hands-on" patient interaction. AT NO TIME will a student visiting in an "observer" status be allowed to participate in "hands-on" medical procedures with patients.


8. Available elective positions are assigned on a first come first-served basis. Applications will not be acted upon until all required information has been received.


9. Once the application is deemed complete by the Registrar's Office, the application form will be made available to the appropriate USF Morsani College of Medicine Departmental Chair/Elective Coordinator to determine course availability. The department coordinator will then inform the student of approval/denial via VSAS, and, if approved, will become the primary contact/sponsor for the student for the remainder of their experience at USF to include issuance of grade/evaluation.