Visiting Students
The visiting students elective program of the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine is accepting applications for the 2026/2027 academic year. The school of medicine will continue to monitor the status of the coronavirus pandemic and will provide updates on this page. See guidelines pertaining to COVID-19, below.
The Lebanese American University Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine and its main affiliated hospital, LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, accept only visiting students who are in good academic standing and who have satisfactorily completed their pre-clinical courses and core clerkships.
The school of medicine welcomes visiting students according to the schedule of the rotations below based on availability. Visiting students should apply at least two months before the start date of the elective. The minimum duration of electives at the school of medicine is four weeks.
Students are responsible for arranging on their own expenses, housing and boarding, as well as their own transportation in addition to all gasoline and parking fees incurred.
Additional guidelines concerning COVID-19:
- Students must show their COVID-19 vaccination card upon arrival at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital; an electronic copy must already be on file with the Office of Medical Education.
- Students’ COVID-19 vaccination status should be up-to-date: Two doses of vaccine only IF the second dose was within the past five months – OR – Third (booster) dose required IF the second dose was received more than five months earlier. Note that in view of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination requirements may be subject to change according to WHO recommendations.
- Local students must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test that is no more than 72 hours old, before the start date of their elective.
- International students must take a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, at their own charge, and be in quarantine for five to seven days before taking a second PCR test; the Infectious Diseases team will determine the status of each student’s case according to the latest updated recommendations from WHO.
- All visiting students will have an orientation session held with the Infection Control team on the first official day of their elective rotations.
Requirements
Once a preliminary acceptance has been issued, the student must provide the following additional documents within 30 days of the acceptance email before further consideration of the application:
- Elective application form (Elective application)
- Letter of Intent
- One recent passport-sized photo
- A photocopy of the identity card or passport
- A letter of good standing
- CV
- Transcript
- A letter of recommendation from the Dean’s Office including information regarding clinical clerkships that were completed or are in progress
- A completed immunization form confirming evidence of vaccination including hepatitis B and a recent PPD test, and a COVID-19 vaccination card.
- Medical health insurance coverage
- Liability insurance coverage (in case of clinical rotation)
- Drug screen test (for international applicants)
A final acceptance (or rejection) email will be issued within two weeks of receipt of all pertinent documents. It is the responsibility of the visiting student to ask for a performance evaluation through the Office of Medical Education and to make sure the evaluation is processed and delivered to home institution. The school of medicine may use its own form or any other evaluation form provided by the home institution of the student.
Application Process
Visiting students may apply for an elective/observership by sending an email to micheline.chaar@lau.edu.lb, for checking elective availability. Upon confirmation, visiting students need to submit an online application. A 75 USD non-refundable fee will be charged at the time of application (online payment). Online application will not be considered until the applicant submits a transcript and an updated CV.
Electives Offered
The school of medicine offers electives in the following departments as well as their respective available sub-specialties:
- Dermatology
- Internal Medicine sub-specialties: Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hematology Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Neurology, Pulmonary Medicine.
- Obstetrics & Gynecology.
- Surgery sub-specialties: General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Urology.
- Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology
- Radiology
- Pathology
- Anesthesiology
Rotation Schedule
- May 25, 2026 to June 07, 2026
- June 08, 2026 to June 21, 2026
- June 22, 2026 to July 05, 2026
- July 06, 2026 to July 19, 2026
- July 20, 2026 to August 02, 2026
- August 03, 2026 to August 16, 2026
- August 17, 2026 to August 30, 2026
- August 31, 2026 to September 13, 2026
- September 14, 2026 to September 27, 2026
- September 28, 2026 to October 11, 2026
- October 12, 2026 to October 25, 2026
- October 26, 2026 to November 08, 2026
- November 09, 2026 to November 22, 2026
- November 23, 2026 to December 06, 2026
- December 07, 2026 to December 13, 2026 (NO electives)
- December 14, 2026 to December 27, 2026
- December 28, 2026 to January 10, 2027
- January 11, 2027 to January 24, 2027
- January 25, 2027 to February 7, 2027
- February 8, 2027 to February 21, 2027
- February 22, 2027 to March 7, 2027
- March 8, 2027 to March 21, 2027
- March 22, 2027 to April 4, 2027
- April 05, 2027 to April 18, 2027
- April 19, 2027 to May 2, 2027
- May 3, 2027 to May 16, 2027
- May 17, 2027 to May 30, 2027