Faculty of Medicine | University of Peradeniya

Introduction

The University of Peradeniya is heir to a eighty-year-old university tradition in Sri Lanka and endeavours to offer a globally recognized education. The faculty of medicine of the University of Peradeniya is one of the oldest faculties and is considered the epitome of a “well-rounded” education. The faculty of medicine is committed to providing an education that conforms to international standards of excellence. Over the years, the faculty, in collaboration with the Teaching hospital Peradeniya, has been producing skilful and compassionate doctors. The Teaching hospital Peradeniya is a leading tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka and a prime teaching centre for undergraduates of the University of Peradeniya. The Professorial unit of the hospital is composed of more than 15 main specialities and has a bed strength of 1000.

In view of developing international collaborations and global health initiatives, the faculty of medicine has initiated elective courses for international medical students. Elective courses are short-term programs designed for international medical undergraduates to gain a better understanding of healthcare in a global context during their undergraduate training. The primary health care system of Sri Lanka has been the foundation of the country’s remarkable health care achievement. Hence the elective courses will help the international students to learn about the Sri Lankan health system, enhance medical knowledge, and develop new collaborations. It also provides them with the opportunity to travel around the island nation and explore the hill-top hideaways, lush green, deep forests, and warm sandy beaches.

Aim

The primary aim of the elective program is to enable international students to understand the process of delivery of hospital-based healthcare in Sri Lanka. The program will help the participants to develop communication and organizational skills in identifying a suitable elective and making arrangements with host institutions; learn to work independently within the constraints of circumstances at the host institution; deal with issues of culture and ethics as they pertain to clinical and research practice.

Objectives

At the end of the elective appointment, students should be able to:

Describe the authenticity and functioning of various specialities and subspecialties in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

Describe the primary health care system and community medicine program in Sri Lanka

Demonstrate a holistic approach to patients with various medical problems in regard to history taking, examination, investigations, and management

Compare and contrast how the diagnostic tools can be used rationally in low-resource settings in accordance with the clinical findings

Describe diseases and medical conditions unique to Sri Lanka and other tropical countries

Please note that the specific objectives of the course and the format might vary based on departments and their elective courses.

Program Outline

Eligibility:
- Students should be registered for a medical degree in a recognized overseas university or medical school
- Students possessing some basic knowledge in the field they intend to do the elective course would be beneficial

This is an observership program intended solely for students who are required to complete it by their universities. Therefore, only those with a mandatory requirement are eligible to participate.
You are requested to submit a letter of recommendation from your university as proof.
All programs are open for application throughout the year
At the beginning of the program, students would be asked to discuss their personal development goals and action plans related to the elective course.
Fees: 100 US dollars per week
Duration: 4-5 days a week for 2-4 weeks (can vary based on the relevant courses)
Venue: Teaching Hospital Peradeniya and Faculty of Medicine University of Peradeniya.
Dress code: smart casuals/ surgical scrubs

Available Courses

01. Anaesthesiology, Intensive care & Emergency medicine	09. Neonatology
02. Community medicine	10. Nephrology
03. Forensic medicine	11. Paediatrics
04. Full body dissection	12. Psychiatry
05. Haematology	13. Radiology
06. Infectious diseases and Tropical medicine	14. Respiratory medicine
07. General Medicine	15. Surgery
08. Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Completion of the Program

End of the program, students would be expected to write a reflection on their experiences and what they learned in the course
Candidates who successfully complete the course will receive a letter and a completion certificate

How to Apply

Please follow our simple four-step process to apply for the elective course

STEP 1

Download and fill out the application form
e-Application Form
Attach a copy of your passport data page

STEP 2

Pay the non-refundable application processing fee of US$10 to the following bank account, including your name on the bank receipt, and scan or copy it.

Bank name	People’s Bank, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Account name	Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
Account number	057-1-001-8-3373667
Swift code	PSBKLKLX
Bank code	7135
Branch code	057

STEP 3

Obtain a letter of reference/recommendation pertaining to your application from the institute you are currently studying at. This letter can be from one of your senior academics

STEP 4

Scan and e-mail or fax these three documents to the following:

E-mail	elective.programme@med.pdn.ac.lk
Fax	0094812389106
Post	The Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya (20400), Sri Lanka.

Link for Visa Application Process

Resource Persons

The resource persons will depend on the availability and the specialty

Professors
Consultants
Senior Lecturers/ Lecturers
Senior Registrars/ Registrars

Student's Feedback

"One of the best parts of the placement was how much time the consultants were willing to give to teach — both to students at the University of Peradeniya and to us.”

“The medical students, consultants, and registrars were all very welcoming, whichever team we joined for the day.”

“The placement provided excellent learning opportunities and helped me think about my future career prospects.”

“The range of placements — from paediatrics and neonatology to surgery, psychiatry, and community medicine — gave us a really broad understanding of healthcare in Sri Lanka.”

“We were impressed by how the placements combined hospital-based learning with community experiences, giving us insight into how health is managed both within and beyond the hospital.”

“During my surgical placement, I was lucky enough to work with Dr. Manjula, a general surgeon who ran clinics and theatre lists that I was able to join. He was incredibly helpful and an excellent teacher, taking the time to discuss conditions, patient histories, and management in detail with both me and the Sri Lankan medical students.”

“I had an awesome time here — the patients were really keen to talk to us and allowed us to examine them freely, which made learning much more engaging.”

“The local medical students were amazing — they made me feel involved in everything, shared their knowledge, and taught me many things I felt I was missing in other placements.”

“I learnt a lot about tropical diseases and toxicology, which we don’t experience much in the UK.”

“I joined the final-year medical students for ward rounds and teaching sessions, which was a really valuable learning experience.”

“We had the chance to observe a wide range of surgeries — from renal transplants to caesarean sections — which was an amazing learning opportunity.”

“Our time in the ICU was especially valuable. We saw a variety of patients with both acute and chronic conditions, which really enhanced our understanding and clinical learning.”

“I was able to get involved in so many aspects of hospital life — procedures, ward rounds, and clinics — which made the placement incredibly valuable.”

“The only thing that could have made it better is if I could have stayed a little longer!”