International Rotations

International rotations may be done for elective credit only. They may not be used to fulfill Core or Selective requirements. The office of Clinical Education approves these rotations based upon the following guidelines that are outlined in the Clinical Training Manual:

​​UNE’s Global Education Office can provide information and guidance as well as travel insurance for UNECOM approved international rotations. They also can register the student with the U.S. State Department via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It is best to schedule an appointment. 

  • Submit a complete application packet and appropriate supporting documentation to your COM contact person no later than 90 days before the anticipated start of the rotation. The application and Release of Liability are available in the Forms, Docs and Syllabi section of the Clinical Education Essentials course on Blackboard. E-mail or FAX (207) 602-5908 the completed documents or deliver or mail it to:

UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Education Office
226 Stella Maris Hall
11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005

  • Students do not have to submit an application packet for rotations in Canada, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Submit a CRA as you would for a rotation in the United States. The university provides professional liability insurance coverage for approved rotations in these three countries.
  • If the rotation is designated “Medical Spanish” or any other language, the course description must clearly outline a classroom/clinical schedule of at least 40 hours per week, with a minimum of 20 hours spent in a clinical setting. 
  • Approval is subject to review of student’s documentation by the Clinical Education Office and that office’s interpretation of the U.S. State Department’s assessment of current conditions in the destination country (see “Alerts and Warnings"). Do not book travel until you have a determination regarding your application.
  • The Clinical Education Office will not approve a rotation in any country that is on the U.S. State Department’s Travel Warning List — no exceptions. Travel Alerts, which tend to be seasonal or event specific, will be considered on a case by case basis.
  • The evaluation of the student must be completed and submitted by a D.O. or M.D.
  • UNECOM’s professional liability insurance covers rotations in the 50 United States, Canada, Guam and Puerto Rico. If professional liability insurance is required for rotations in other countries, contact the rotation sponsor or the UNE Office of Global Education for assistance in obtaining coverage.
  • Travel insurance is required. Contact the Office of Global Education to obtain travel insurance to cover costs of emergency medical care, evacuation or repatriation of remains in the event of death. There is no cost for this coverage to the student on an approved international elective.
  • The student may schedule a maximum of eight weeks of international electives in years 3 and 4. 
  • Due to concerns regarding receipt of post-rotation documentation and potential delays in return travel, international electives must be scheduled with an end date no later than April 30 of year 4.
  • If, at the conclusion of the rotation, online submission of the Evaluation of Medical Student Clinical Competency is not feasible, the student will obtain the physician’s written evaluation and return it to the COM Clinical Education Office. Do not rely on international mail.
  • The international political climate is ever-changing. COM Clinical Education reserves the right to withdraw approval for an international elective at any time that it determines the destination country to be an unsuitable training locale.