Medical Elective at TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu

Gain Clinical Exposure at One of Nepal’s Leading Teaching Hospitals

The Medical Elective at TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu offers international medical students an opportunity to observe clinical practice, experience Nepal’s healthcare system, and learn alongside local doctors, professors, residents, and medical students.

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TU Teaching Hospital), located in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, is a major teaching and referral hospital connected with the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University. The hospital receives patients from Kathmandu as well as referrals from different parts of Nepal, providing medical students with exposure to a wide variety of clinical conditions and specialties.

Gap Bridge Nepal coordinates the elective placement, assists with the application process, provides orientation and accommodation arrangements, and supports students throughout their stay in Nepal.

Who Is This Program For?

This elective is designed primarily for medical students who have already entered the clinical stage of their medical education.

Applicants should normally have completed their basic pre-clinical studies and started clinical rotations.

Required Qualifications

Applicants should:

Be currently enrolled in a recognised medical school or university
Have started their clinical years of medical study
Normally be in at least the third year of medical school or equivalent
Have basic clinical knowledge and experience with patient observation
Be able to communicate effectively in English
Be willing to follow hospital rules and professional standards
Respect patient confidentiality and Nepalese culture
Have appropriate travel and medical insurance

Students who are still entirely within their pre-clinical years may contact Gap Bridge Nepal, but acceptance will depend on the hospital and the nature of the requested placement.

Final-year medical students are particularly well suited to this program.

Clinical Departments

TU Teaching Hospital offers a broad range of specialties. Placement availability varies according to hospital capacity, university schedules, and departmental approval.

Students may request areas such as:

Internal Medicine
General Surgery
Emergency Medicine
Paediatrics
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Orthopaedics
ENT
Dermatology
Psychiatry
Anaesthesiology
Radiology
Ophthalmology
Cardiology-related services
Neurology-related services
Intensive Care
Outpatient Services
Other specialist departments where available

Applicants should indicate their first and second department preferences when applying.

Gap Bridge Nepal will make every effort to arrange the preferred department, but a particular specialty cannot be guaranteed until the hospital confirms the placement.

What Will Students Do?

The elective is primarily an observational clinical-learning experience.

Depending on the department, students may have opportunities to:

Join morning ward rounds
Shadow consultants, professors, residents, and medical officers
Observe outpatient consultations
Attend clinical discussions
Observe patient history taking and examination
Observe diagnostic procedures
Attend departmental teaching sessions where permitted
Observe emergency assessments
Observe surgical procedures when authorised
Learn about patient management and referral
Discuss clinical cases with local medical staff
Observe the use of diagnostic and laboratory services
Interact academically with Nepali medical students
Learn how healthcare is delivered within Nepal’s public teaching-hospital system

The exact experience depends on the department, patient situation, hospital regulations, and the student’s level of training.

Hands-On Clinical Activities

Students should understand that hands-on medical procedures are not guaranteed.

The placement is primarily intended for observation, clinical learning, and professional exchange.

Any direct clinical participation must be:

Approved by the hospital
Appropriate to the student’s level of training
Conducted under direct supervision
Permitted by the responsible doctor or department
Acceptable to the patient
Consistent with professional and ethical standards

Students must never independently diagnose, prescribe medication, perform procedures, or provide treatment.

Patient safety and dignity always take priority over the educational interests of visiting students.

Typical Working Day

A normal elective day generally begins in the morning.

A typical schedule may be:

8:30–9:00 AM – Arrival at the hospital
9:00 AM – Ward rounds or departmental activities
10:00 AM–1:00 PM – Clinical observation, outpatient consultations, procedures, or departmental work
1:00–2:00 PM – Lunch break
2:00–3:00 PM – Continued observation, academic discussion, or departmental activities

Typical working hours are approximately 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, although this varies by department.

Students interested in emergency medicine or other departments may occasionally have opportunities to observe evening or night activities, subject to hospital approval and supervision.

Duration of the Elective

Because TU Teaching Hospital has its own administrative and placement requirements, elective duration may differ from other Gap Bridge Nepal medical programs.

Placements may normally be arranged for:

4 weeks
Additional weeks by prior arrangement

Students seeking a shorter placement should contact Gap Bridge Nepal to check whether an exception is possible.

Applying early is strongly recommended because teaching-hospital placements can require additional processing and departmental approval.

Application Documents

Students will normally need to provide:

Completed Gap Bridge Nepal application form
Current CV or résumé
Copy of passport
Recent passport-sized photograph
Official university or medical-school letter
Confirmation of current year of medical study
Evidence that the applicant has entered the clinical stage of medical training
Preferred department or specialty
Proposed elective dates
Elective learning objectives, if required by the home university
Travel and medical insurance before arrival
Vaccination information where required

The hospital may request additional documents depending on current administrative requirements.

University Letter

The university letter should ideally confirm:

Student’s full name
Name of the university or medical school
Current year of study
Confirmation that the student is currently enrolled
Confirmation that the student has begun clinical training
Proposed elective dates
Purpose of the elective

If the student’s university has its own elective approval form, Gap Bridge Nepal can assist with coordinating the required placement information.

Orientation in Kathmandu

Before starting at the hospital, students receive an orientation from Gap Bridge Nepal.

Orientation normally covers:

Introduction to Nepal
Nepalese culture and customs
Introduction to the healthcare system
Hospital expectations
Professional conduct
Patient confidentiality
Appropriate clothing
Transportation
Safety in Kathmandu
Accommodation arrangements
Emergency contacts
Basic Nepali language useful in the hospital

Students will also receive guidance regarding travelling between their accommodation and the hospital.

Accommodation

Students normally stay with an experienced Nepali host family or in suitable guesthouse accommodation in Kathmandu.

Host-family accommodation provides an opportunity to experience daily Nepali life while having local support throughout the elective.

Accommodation normally includes:

Private or shared room
Bed and basic furniture
Bathroom facilities
Breakfast
Dinner
Wi-Fi where available
Local family support

Gap Bridge Nepal aims to arrange accommodation within reasonable travelling distance of the hospital.

Meals

Host families normally provide breakfast and dinner.

Meals may include:

Dal Bhat
Rice
Lentils
Seasonal vegetables
Curry
Roti
Eggs
Noodles
Other traditional Nepali dishes

Students normally arrange their own lunch while at the hospital.

Vegetarian meals can usually be arranged. Students should inform us in advance about significant dietary requirements or food allergies.

Program Fee

TU Teaching Hospital has a different fee structure from some of our other medical placements because hospital admission and administrative charges may be higher.

The current program fee will be confirmed when the elective dates and department are requested.

The quotation will clearly state:

Hospital admission or elective fee
Gap Bridge Nepal coordination fee
Accommodation
Included meals
Airport pickup
Orientation
Local support
Any additional applicable charges

A €100 confirmation deposit is normally required after the placement is provisionally accepted. This amount is deducted from the total program fee.

What Is Included?

Depending on the confirmed quotation, the program normally includes:

Pre-arrival consultation and support
Elective application assistance
Communication with the hospital
Hospital placement coordination
Airport pickup in Kathmandu
Orientation
Accommodation during the agreed program period
Breakfast and dinner
Introduction to the hospital
Local coordination
Emergency support
Assistance with local transportation
Gap Bridge Nepal participation documentation
Support with optional travel or trekking arrangements

Exact inclusions will be confirmed before payment.

What Is Not Included?

Unless specifically stated, the program fee does not include:

International airfare
Nepal visa
Travel and medical insurance
Vaccinations
Personal medication
Lunch
Bottled drinks and snacks
Personal transportation
Personal expenses
Optional sightseeing
Trekking or tours
Additional hotel stays
University charges from the student’s home institution
Expenses caused by flight delays or circumstances outside our control

Dress Code

Students should dress professionally and modestly while attending the hospital.

Recommended clothing includes:

Clean professional clothing
White coat if required by the department
Closed shoes
University or student identification
Hospital identification where issued

Students should bring their own stethoscope and other basic personal clinical equipment if required for their elective.

Professional Conduct and Patient Confidentiality

All visiting students must maintain professional standards.

Students must:

Respect patients and their families
Protect patient confidentiality
Follow hospital rules
Follow instructions from supervising doctors
Obtain permission before observing sensitive examinations
Never photograph patients without appropriate permission
Never photograph confidential medical records
Never share identifiable patient information on social media
Remain within their level of training
Respect cultural and religious differences
Attend the placement punctually
Maintain professional relationships with staff and patients

Serious violations of professional or hospital rules may result in termination of the placement.

Health and Insurance

Students must obtain suitable travel and medical insurance before travelling to Nepal.

Insurance should ideally cover:

Medical treatment
Hospitalisation
Emergency evacuation
Repatriation
Personal accident
Travel disruption

Students should consult an appropriate medical or travel-health professional regarding vaccinations and health precautions before travelling.

Combining TU Teaching Hospital with a Rural Elective

Students who want a broader understanding of healthcare in Nepal can combine a TU Teaching Hospital placement with a Rural Community Medical Elective.

For example:

4 weeks at TU Teaching Hospital + 1–2 weeks in a rural community hospital or health post

This allows students to compare:

Urban and rural healthcare
Teaching-hospital medicine and community medicine
Specialist and primary healthcare
Advanced diagnostics and resource-limited healthcare
Different patient-referral systems

This combination can be particularly valuable for students interested in global health.

Why Choose This Medical Elective?

A medical elective at TU Teaching Hospital gives students an opportunity to experience clinical medicine within one of Nepal’s major academic healthcare environments.

Students can:

Observe a wide range of medical conditions
Learn from experienced Nepalese clinicians
Experience a different healthcare system
Develop cross-cultural communication skills
Understand challenges faced by healthcare providers in Nepal
Compare medical education and clinical practice between countries
Build greater confidence and adaptability
Gain insight into global health and resource-conscious medicine

The purpose of the elective is not simply to observe unfamiliar medical cases, but to understand how healthcare is delivered within Nepal’s social, cultural, and economic context.

Explore Nepal During Your Elective

Outside placement hours and on weekends, students can experience Nepal’s culture and natural beauty.

Gap Bridge Nepal can assist with:

Kathmandu heritage tours
Mountain sightseeing
Short hiking trips
Meditation experiences
Wildlife tours
Himalayan trekking
Rural community visits
Cultural activities

Students may also extend their stay before or after the elective to explore other parts of Nepal.

Apply for Your Medical Elective

Students interested in joining the Medical Elective at TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu should apply as early as possible.

When applying, please provide your proposed dates, current year of medical study, preferred department, and university information.

Applicants should normally have entered their clinical years and be at least in the third year of medical school or equivalent.

Gap Bridge Nepal will review your application, communicate with the hospital, and guide you through the placement process from application to arrival in Nepal.