University Collaborations
Join us in providing ethical, fair-trade medical electives
Fair Trade Electives works in collaboration with leading UK medical schools to support ethical, community-led global health electives.
We are proud to collaborate with the medical schools at: Bangor University · University of Birmingham · University of Cambridge · University of Dundee · University of Edinburgh · King’s College London · University of Leeds
These collaborations reflect a shared commitment to high-quality, academically aligned electives that centre local leadership fair-trade principles and responsible global health practice. Through close engagement with elective leads, we ensure alignment with university standards, safeguarding requirements and academic expectations. Students from our collaborating universities can book their placements further in advance and are eligible for our early-booking discount, helping to make ethical electives more accessible.
Explore our elective destinations
The FTE Network includes UK medical schools that support ethical, community-led global health electives and align with our fair trade principles.
Current Network members: Sheffield University Medical School · Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Network membership reflects a shared commitment to responsible global health practice and strengthened coordination between FTE and elective teams.
We welcome conversations with other medical schools interested in joining the Network.
Who we are working with
Collaborating Universities
Network Universities
Our placement programmes
Why universities choose to work with Fair Trade Electives
Ethically Led Placement Design
Our elective programmes are grounded in fair trade principles. Placements are co-designed with host partners ensure meaningful learning for students and, delivering benefits to local healthcare systems.
Minimal Impact on University Workflow
FTE coordinates opportunities while ensuring the usual oversight and responsibility structures at your university remain unchanged.
Enhanced Student Experience
Students receive structured pre-departure preparation, clear in-country support pathways, and formal placement confirmation. Our quality assurance framework provides reassurance that placements meet agreed standards of safety, ethics and educational value.
Quality Assurance
All host partners operate under formal Memoranda of Understanding. Structured student feedback, ongoing partner dialogue and a clear review process ensure standards are maintained and continuously improved.
Opportunities for Academic Research
We are keen to facilitate medical education research, allowing universities to expand the literature on global health placements and involve students in impactful research projects
Tailored Placement Programs
FTE offers diverse placement options designed to fit the academic goals of your students while promoting responsbile and sustainable practices.
- Clinical: Electives in a variety of clinical settings, focusing on hands-on experience under professional supervision.
- Public Health and Community based: Partnerships with local healthcare organisations provide students with a broad understanding of healthcare systems in the Global South.
- Medical schools: For those interested specialised or diverse clinical experiences, research initiatives and engaging with local students.
How Partnerships Work
How We Support Your Students
Comprehensive Student Support
FTE provides structured support before, during and after each elective, working alongside university systems.
Pre-Departure Preparation
Students receive detailed pre-departure guidance covering travel, visas, accommodation, cultural context and safety considerations. All FTE students are required to complete online modules focused on global health awareness, ethical engagement and maximising learning outcomes.
Our preparation complements and supports but does not replace university-led training and approval processes.
In-Country Support
Universities retain their existing duty-of-care and emergency arrangements. FTE ensures host partners understand their role in supporting students locally and have appropriate contact information in place. We provide students with clear guidance on accessing local support and emergency services, ensuring they feel informed and prepared throughout their placement.
Quality Assurance and Feedback
Students are required to submit structured feedback following their placement. This informs our ongoing monitoring, partnership review and continuous improvement processes.
Placement Documentation
FTE manages the administrative coordination required for placements, ensuring documentation is completed accurately and provided in a timely manner to meet university requirements.
Quality Assurance System based on Fair Trade Principles
Our quality assurance framework is designed to provide universities and students with clear standards, ongoing monitoring, and accountable partnerships.
We ensure that:
All placements are grounded in fair trade learning principles.
Host sites are selected through trusted relationships, careful due diligence, and positive student feedback.
Formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are in place with each host, clearly outlining expectations and responsibilities.
Structured feedback is collected from every student and incorporated into an ongoing monitoring and review process.
We maintain active dialogue with host institutions to support continuous improvement and ensure placements remain beneficial for both students and communities.
A graded review and intervention process is in place, including suspension or removal of host sites where standards are not met.
If a placement is disrupted, we can arrange alternative electives within our partner network wherever feasible.
Our long-term vision includes developing an FTE certification pathway for other placement providers, supporting the wider adoption of fair trade principles and more ethical practice across the sector.
How it works for Universities
We encourage universities to promote FTE as we are not-for-profit and our approach is designed to be simple, transparent and aligned with fair trade principles.
Minimal Change to Existing Processes
FTE acts as the facilitating partner, coordinating placements while your existing approval, oversight and duty-of-care structures remain unchanged. Students apply through FTE and we provide placement confirmation. Host payments are processed by FTE to optimise costs, security and efficiency. Students continue to follow your universities normal approval processes, risk management procedures, insurance requirements and other elective requirements.
Collaborating Medical Schools
We have a formal collaborative relationship with a number UK medical schools whose elective leads have been working with us to shape FTE’s structure and governance. In recognition of this partnership their students receive preferential booking arrangements.
The FTE Network
All UK and Irish medical schools are welcome to join our ‘FTE Network’ which simply requires:
- Your elective lead engages with us to ensure they understand and support our ethos.
- Completion of a short questionnaire on elective timing and likely demand.
- FTE is offered access to promote placements to students via online or other elective focused events.
There is no cost or other requirements of the university beyond supporting your students as normal through their elective. Students fron Network institutions receive preferential booking arrangements.
Please note: We welcome and accept applications from students at any UK or Irish university, but it is advantageous for them if your elective team is working with as within our Network structure.
University Collaborations
