Students

Visiting Students

The Lebanese American University Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine welcomes applications from visiting medical students for clinical electives and observerships during the 2026–2027 academic year, subject to availability.

Clinical training opportunities are offered at the School’s two main teaching hospitals, LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital and LAU Medical Center–Saint John’s Hospital, providing exposure to diverse medical specialties, clinical settings, and patient populations. Eligible applicants must be in good academic standing and have satisfactorily completed their preclinical coursework and core clinical clerkships.

Visiting students are required to apply at least two months before the intended start date. The minimum duration of an elective is four weeks, subject to departmental availability and approval.

Students are responsible for arranging and covering the costs of their accommodation, meals, transportation, and any associated parking expenses.

In case of emergencies such as pandemics, conflicts, or other unforeseen disruptions, a hybrid or online learning mode may be adopted. This includes online lectures and assignments to ensure educational continuity.

Requirements

Following preliminary acceptance, applicants must submit the following documents within 30 days of receiving the acceptance email, before further consideration of the application:

  1. Complete elective application form (Elective application)
  2. Letter of Intent
  3. One recent passport-sized photograph
  4. Copy of a valid identity card or passport
  5. Letter of good academic standing
  6. Updated curriculum vitae (CV)
  7. Official academic transcript
  8. Letter of recommendation from the Dean’s Office, including information on completed or ongoing clinical clerkships
  9. Completed immunization form, including documentation of hepatitis B vaccination and recent tuberculosis screening, in accordance with institutional requirements
  10. Proof of medical health insurance coverage
  11. Proof of professional liability insurance coverage (for clinical rotations)
  12. Drug screen results (for international applicants)

All visiting students must comply with the infection prevention and control policies of the assigned clinical training site, including any applicable health screening, immunization, and orientation requirements.

A final acceptance or rejection decision will be communicated within two weeks of receipt of all required documentation.

At the end of the rotation, visiting students are responsible for requesting a performance evaluation through the Office of Medical Education (OME) and ensuring its submission to their home institution. Evaluations may be completed using the School’s standard form or an evaluation form provided by the student’s home institution.

Application Process

Visiting students interested in clinical electives or observerships should follow the steps below:

  1. Check availability: Contact the Office of Medical Education at  micheline.chaar@lau.edu.lb to inquire about available elective rotations and preferred dates. 
  2. Submit an online application: Once availability is confirmed, complete the online application.
  3. Pay the application fee: A nonrefundable application fee of USD 75 is required at the time of online submission.
  4. Submit supporting documents: Upload or provide the required academic and administrative documents as instructed by the Office of Medical Education.
  5. Await confirmation: Final acceptance is subject to the review of all required documents and approval by the relevant clinical department.

Applications will not be considered complete without an updated CV and academic transcript.

Electives Offered

The School of Medicine offers clinical electives in the following specialties and sub-specialties, subject to availability and departmental approval:

  1. Dermatology
  2. Internal Medicine sub-specialties: Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hematology Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Neurology, Pulmonary Medicine, Rheumatology.
  3. Obstetrics & Gynecology.
  4. Surgery and surgical specialties: General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Urology.
  5. Pediatrics
  6. Ophthalmology
  7. Otolaryngology (ENT)
  8. Radiology
  9. Pathology
  10. Anesthesiology

Elective availability and the assigned clinical training site may vary according to specialty, departmental capacity, and scheduling arrangements.

Rotation Schedule

Applicants should confirm rotation availability with the Office of Medical Education before submitting their applications.