All cancelations must be received in writing by email to IVMS@uab.edu.

1. For cancelation of your elective more than 90 calendar days before the start date of the elective, only half of your course elective fee will be refunded, minus any administrative or financial processing fees.
2. For cancelation of your elective fewer than 90 calendar days before the start date of the elective, there will be no refund given ($0 - U.S.).
3. If you cancel more than 90 calendar days before the start date of the elective due to Visa refusal by US Embassy and you provide proper proof of registration and proof of refusal, there will be a full refund of the elective fee minus any administrative or financial processing fees. Please note: The inability to obtain a Visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy within time to receive Visa prior to elective start date does not qualify under this cancelation policy for Visa refusal.
4. The application fee of $300 (U.S.) is non-refundable. (Cost of nonrefundable application fee and elective fee subject to change without prior notice.)
5. Failure to respond to emails or complete pre-matriculation requirements at least two weeks prior to the start date will be considered a cancellation, and no refund will be given.
6. If you choose not to participate and drop out of the program, or we are notified of non-participation on or after the elective start date, no refund will be given.
7. If unacceptable behavior is exhibited by any student, we reserve the right to withdraw the student’s enrollment in the program with no refund given.

No, you can only attend training/seminars for your elective. IVMS students are not allowed to attend classes for MS3 UAB Clerkship students.

No, just a transcript in English and approval from the dean.

Lasting between four and eight weeks, at most schools, the core clinical clerkships consist of internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, psychiatry, neurology, and radiology.

UAB IME follows the advice of the U.S. Department of State and Foreign Affairs Manual followed by the U.S. consulates and embassies (FAM) in recommending that students participating in the IVMS Program Enter the United States on a B-1/B-2 Visa with passport stamp for B-1 (Business) per the U.S. Department of State and Foreign Affairs Manual - section - 9 FAM 402.2-5(E) (3) (U).Should you present a B2 to the IME office on your first day of orientation, we will recommend that you go to the BHM airport and have the US Customers and Border Protection Officer update your status to B1.

The apartment complex is within walking distance to UAB’s campus, the UAB hospital, and Children’s of Alabama.

Please contact our office via email, IVMS@uab.edu as soon as possible.

IVMS students have free access to UAB’s Blazer Express Bus transportation on campus and also the Safety Escort service provided by UAB Transportation.

No, IME cannot get involved in course evaluation forms. We recommend that you coordinate these types of requests through your course contact, attending, or resident.

You can arrive earlier but will need to find your own accommodations since UAB housing is only provided from the Sunday prior to the rotation start date until the last Saturday of the rotation at 11 a.m. UAB IME will provide a transfer one time for arrival and one time for departure, so you can send us the full address of the hotel/accommodation and the requested pickup time on Sunday. The shuttle driver will have your keys to get into housing on Sunday since the office at UAB housing is closed on Sunday.

Please visit UAB Student Affairs website for recommendations on accommodations and hotels.

No, ONLY IVMS students are allowed to stay in their assigned suite/room in the housing provided by IME. Overnight guests are strictly prohibited, meaning no parents, siblings, spouses, relatives or friends are allowed to stay the night with you during your IVMS rotation.

Yes, in special circumstances and with prior approval from UAB IME. However, the fee cost per 4-week non-credit elective is $5,150. This includes tuition, housing and transport to and from the airport (excludes travel to and from the U.S.). This cost is a package deal and we cannot remove the housing fees. You can choose to stay in other accommodations, but the fee cannot be reduced.

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella: All students must satisfy this requirement, either by two vaccine doses against each of the three diseases or laboratory evidence of immunity to all three diseases.)
• TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis: All students must have had one dose of the adult Tdap given 2006 or later. If the last adult Tdap is greater than 10 years old, a Td booster is required.)
• Hep B Series (All students must have a series of three Hepatitis B vaccinations (initial dose, dose two at 1 month, dose three at 6 months). A post-vaccine surface antibody titer (to demonstrate immunity) is required one month after 3rd vaccine dose.)
• Varicella (chickenpox or shingles): All students must have documented history of Varicella, a positive Varicella antibody titer, or two doses of Varicella vaccines given at least 28 days apart.
• Meningococcal: All students 21 and younger are required to show documentation of a meningitis vaccine given on/after their 16th birthday. Students age 22 and older are exempt.
• Tuberculosis: All clinical students must meet UAB’s Tuberculosis screening requirement. **International Visiting Medical Students will complete a chest x-ray during the International Medical Education (IME) Orientation to fulfill requirement. Do NOT get TB testing in your home country.
• Flu Vaccine: Required for all clinical students yearly from Oct 1 - Mar 31.
• Physical Examination: A physical examination is required for all clinical students within 1 year prior to matriculation.

o All IVMS students still have to complete training through UAB prior to starting their rotation. You will not gain access to IMPACT training until you have completed the UAB HIPAA training.

It depends on each elective. Please check with the course coordinator for specific requirements.

Ordering Scrubs: Scrubs can be ordered directly from UAB Hospital. To order, visit https://www.suitestyles.com/ and use username: uab and password: scrubs1. Click on med students, make your selections, and proceed to checkout.

No, UAB Student Health requires that IVMS students have major medical health insurance that covers pre-existing conditions, unlimited coverage per illness or injury (only exception is if maximum amount of policy is $1,000,000 Million USD), Repatriation of at least $25,000 USD, Medical Evacuation of at least $50,000.

o No, please purchase a short white lab coat (no patches or letters) prior to your arrival as you will be required to have it on your first day of orientation.

No, you must attend orientation which involves reviewing the policy and code of conduct, receiving a chest x-ray (TB) and other medical reviews before being cleared to report to your elective site. This clearance usually is issued by the third day after arrival.

No, IVMS students are not allowed to have remote access – this is a HIPAA violation.

No, IME cannot get involved nor receive or save any LORs for students. We recommend that students follow the guidelines of ECFMG regarding the early submission of LORs. More information can be found online from the ECFMG and from the AAMC.