The University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine is able to arrange a number of elective placements each year. These placements are split into eight blocks of six weeks throughout the year*.
Each block offers different specialties and, when you apply for Stage 1, you will be able to list up to five preferred specialties for each block you wish to apply to. Please note that you can only list preferences within the block you are applying to (eg: 1.1, 1.6, 1.9, 1.10, 1.13). Students must submit one application for each block they wish to apply to. Therefore, you are not allowed list different blocks in the same application (eg: 1.1, 2.1, 3.1…).
To help with filling in the application form, students are asked to make a note of the placement numbers for the blocks/specialties of interest.
The Clinical School will make every reasonable effort to allocate students to their preferred block and specialty; however, due to the ‘first come, first served’ nature of our recruitment process, we cannot guarantee that you would get your top choices. The Clinical School is limited to a certain number of students per block, so it is not possible to allocate a student to every specialty within each block.
Important Note: Applications for Blocks 1 and 2 will be processed first. The outcome for these applications will be announced in April/May 2023. Therefore, although applications will stay open until July 2023, please ensure you apply as soon as possible if you are interested in the Blocks mentioned above.
* Please note that due to Bank Holidays, Blocks 2 and 3 will be one day shorter than normal.
Block 1: 8th January – 16th February
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
1.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
1.2
ENT
ENT
1.3
Haematology
Haematology
1.4
Haematology
Haematology
1.5
General Surgery
Transplant
1.6
General Surgery
HPB
1.7
Institute of Metabolic Science
Endocrinology
1.8
General Surgery
Colorectal
1.9
Paediatrics
Paediatrics
1.10
Department of Ophthalmology
Paediatric Ophthalmology
1.11
Neuroscience
Neurology
1.12
Radiology
Radiologgy
Block 2: 19th February – 28th March *
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
*Due to Friday 29th March 2024 being a Bank Holiday, this Block will be one day shorter and end on a Thursday.
2.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
2.2
ENT
ENT
2.3
Haematology
Haematology
2.4
Haematology
Haematology
2.5
General Surgery
Transplant
2.6
General Surgery
HPB
2.7
Institute of Metabolic Science
Endocrinology
2.8
Clinical Neurosciences
Neurosurgery (paediatric)
2.9
Neuroscience
Neurology
2.10
Surgery
Trauma & Orthopedics
Block 3: 2nd April* – 10th May
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
*Due to Monday 1st April 2024 being a Bank Holiday, this Block will be one day shorter and start on a Tuesday.
3.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
3.2
ENT
ENT
3.3
General Surgery
Transplant
3.4
General Surgery
HPB
3.5
Institute of Metabolic Science
Endocrinology
3.6
Surgery
Urology
3.7
Department of Ophthalmology
Paediatric Ophthalmology
3.8
Neuroscience
Neurology
3.9
Radiology
Radiology
Block 4: 13th May – 21st June
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
4.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
4.2
ENT
ENT
4.3
Haematology
Haematology
4.4
Haematology
Haematology
4.5
General Surgery
Transplant
4.6
General Surgery
HPB
4.7
Institute of Metabolic Science
Endocrinology
4.8
General Surgery
Colorectal
4.9
Paediatrics
Paediatrics
4.10
Paediatrics
Paediatrics
4.11
DME
Elderly Medicine
4.12
Neuroscience
Neurology
4.13
Surgery
Trauma & Orthopedics
4.14
Radiology
Radiology
Block 5: 24th June – 2nd August
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
5.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
5.2
Haematology
Haematology
5.3
Haematology
Haematology
5.4
General Surgery
Transplant
5.5
General Surgery
HPB
5.6
Institute of Metabolic Science
Endocrinology
5.7
Clinical Genetics
Clinical Genetics
5.8
Paediatrics
Paediatrics
5.9
Paediatrics
Paediatrics
5.10
Neuroscience
Neurology
5.11
Surgery
Trauma & Orthopedics
Block 6: 5th August – 13 September
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
6.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
6.2
Haematology
Haematology
6.3
Haematology
Haematology
6.4
General Surgery
Transplant
6.5
General Surgery
HPB
6.6
Clinical Genetics
Clinical Genetics
6.7
Department of Ophthalmology
Paediatric Ophthalmology
6.8
Neuroscience
Neurology
6.9
Cambridge Breast Unit
Breast Surgery
6.10
Surgery
Trauma & Orthopedics
Block 7: 16th September – 25th October
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
7.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
7.2
ENT
ENT
7.3
Haematology
Haematology
7.4
Haematology
Haematology
7.5
General Surgery
Transplant
7.6
General Surgery
HPB
7.7
Institute of Metabolic Science
Endocrinology
7.8
General Surgery
Colorectal
7.9
Surgery
Urology
7.10
Rehabilitation Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
7.11
Neuroscience
Neurology
7.12
Cambridge Breast Unit
Breast Surgery
7.13
Radiology
Radiology
Block 8: 28th October – 6th December
Placement Number
Department
Specialty
8.1
General Surgery
Upper GI Surgery
8.2
ENT
ENT
8.3
Haematology
Haematology
8.4
Haematology
Haematology
8.5
General Surgery
Transplant
8.6
General Surgery
HPB
8.7
Institute of Metabolic Science
Endocrinology
8.8
Paediatrics
Paediatrics
8.9
Department of Ophthalmology
Paediatric Ophthalmology
8.10
Rehabilitation Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
8.11
Neuroscience
Neurology
8.12
Surgery
Trauma & Orthopedics
