In the modern world, medicine and healthcare goes well beyond our own borders. It’s essential to understand how healthcare is increasingly connected on a global scale.
A medical internship abroad will help prepare you for work by giving you real and impactful medical work experience in different contexts. You’ll shadow professionals and witness healthcare challenges (and solutions) in international healthcare environments.
So, pack your bags and embark on an adventure that will enrich your education, career, and life, while contributing to a healthier world.
What to expect
We tailor our year-round healthcare internships to be age and education appropriate, plus offer a variety of summer medical internship options.
For younger participants, the insight you get will help you understand if a career in medicine is right for you. It also gives you something to talk about in interviews and when applying to medical schools.
For all ages, exploring different departments can help you decide what you want to specialise in as you continue your education or start your career in healthcare.
Choose from:
- High School Specials, for ages 14 to 18 who want to follow a structured schedule during school vacations
- Undergrad Medical Internships, for ages 18 and over who want guaranteed physician shadowing and volunteer service hours
- Flexi Internships, for ages 16 and over who value independence with the right support, travelling at any time
This is what you can expect from one of our medicine and healthcare internships:
- Gain practical medical experience in professional environments like hospitals and clinics
- Shadow doctors and nurses to learn about different healthcare systems and issues
- Develop essential medical skills like measuring blood pressure and blood sugar
- Contribute to community health through outreach programmes
- Explore different medical specialities to decide on a career path
- Strengthen your resume or medical school applications with international experience
Choose your internship
Our medical internships abroad cater to your level of experience, making them ideal for aspiring high school students, undergraduates and pre-meds aiming for medical school, as well as medical students.
1-3 of 76 Projects
Medical Internship for High School Students in Tanzania
See this project- Price: £1,995 for 2 weeks
- Extra Weeks: £290
- Start Date: During school holidays
- Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
- Age: 14-18
Medical Internships in Nepal for Teenagers
See this project- Price: £1,895 for 2 weeks
- Extra Weeks: £290
- Start Date: During school holidays
- Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
- Age: 15-18
Medical Internship in Cambodia for Teenagers
See this project- Price: £1,895 for 2 weeks
- Extra Weeks: £290
- Start Date: During school holidays
- Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
- Age: 14-18
Why do a medical internship abroad?
Completing an international medical internship prepares you for a career in global healthcare as part of a transformative travel experience. You’ll immerse in new cultures, build connections with communities in need, and see the impact of healthcare first-hand.
These experiences can create lifelong bonds and broaden your perspective in ways you never imagined.
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, a medical internship abroad provides valuable hands-on experience and a unique edge for your resume or medical school application.
We regularly survey our participants to find out about their experiences. Here’s what teen participants on our medical internships abroad said:
- 96% say they could not have had this experience at home
- 88% believe they are now more confident in clinical environments
- 87% think it helped them confirm or rule out medicine as a career path
- 76% feel they can now more clearly think about future education and employment
- 75% believe they gained skills that will help them succeed at college
- 73% agree that it boosted their college applications
Across all projects, 97% of teen participants say they feel more independent and capable of managing new situations, 93% are more confident in themselves and their abilities, and 91% feel more confident interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds.
So, pack your bags and embark on an adventure that will enrich your life and contribute to a healthier world.
You can choose from a range of specialities for your internship programme, such as:
- General Medicine
- Nursing
- Midwifery
- Physiotherapy
- Public Health
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Therapy
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
Projects can be adjusted to your level of experience, making them ideal for pre-meds aiming for a medical degree, and students looking to do a medical elective abroad.
How do I apply for my medical internship?
Our internships are open to anyone aged 14 and above. To apply for your internship, all you need to do is check that you meet the requirements.
Simply choose from one of the 60+ international medical internships above to get started.
If you already know what you want to achieve, the exposure you get can vary by destination (we have several to choose from). The best way to find out which medical internship abroad is right for you is to discuss your options with a Project Expert.
Having this kind of global healthcare experience will strengthen your resume and give you great discussion points in interviews and essays. It could also help you decide if you want to pursue a medical degree.
What will I gain from my medical work experience abroad?
Our international medical internship opportunities will prepare you for your next stage of education or career. Here are some of the things past participants had to say about the opportunity to work in healthcare abroad:
- "I gained invaluable experience in the medical field in Mongolia, something I never could have got in the US."
- "We were given a number of incredible opportunities and saw many interesting things that, previously, I never would have even dreamt of. The team also brought in a number of guest lecturers that gave us valuable insight into the field of medicine and the medical system in Nepal."
- "The medicine project in Peru was amazing in all aspects. People in the hospital were really polite, all of them taught me lots of things."
- "My placement at a hospital in Mexico exceeded my expectations. It was very hands-on and the doctors were very keen to have students and taught me a lot."
- "I am so happy I decided to go, I experienced so many things I never would have if I didn’t go. I was able to experience a new culture, learn about a different healthcare system and improve my Spanish massively. And that’s not even mentioning the new friends I made!"
Visit our Trustpilot profile to read fully independent reviews about our medical projects.
Get in touch to find the perfect project for you
Looking for a particular project or speciality? Fill in the form below to contact a Project Expert to discuss your requirements and find the perfect international medical internship for you.
Frequently asked questions about medical work experience abroad
What opportunities do you have available for Pre-Med students?
Our Undergrad Medical internships abroad offer a unique opportunity for aspiring medical professionals to gain hands-on experience in a global setting. They’re the ideal platform for developing your core competencies.
Participants can shadow experienced doctors and nurses in Peru, Nepal or Tanzania, gaining a deeper understanding of global healthcare issues and essential medical skills.
The programmes not only provide valuable clinical exposure but also allow for community service, contributing to healthcare initiatives that directly benefit the local communities.
By immersing yourself in a different medical environment and engaging in community outreach, you’ll gain a competitive edge for your medical school applications, showcasing your passion for medicine and commitment to making a real difference in the world.
What is your Medicine & Healthcare policy?
We take the safety of our volunteers, interns, and the people they work with very seriously. That’s why we’ve put in place a comprehensive Medical Ethics Policy.
The amount of hands-on experience can vary between destinations, and we ensure that you learn essential skills wherever you go. Due to these ethical standards, we cannot allow our interns to be directly involved in surgery; however, certain destinations may have more opportunities to view surgery than others.
How are your Medicine, Healthcare & Pre-Med Internships different?
At Projects Abroad, our first aim is to benefit the communities we work in. You can be assured that your medical internship is ethical, well supported, and part of a better future. Here are just a few elements of our work that set it apart from other internships:
Annual impact reports
Every year, we document the successes of our participants across all projects and publish them in our impact reports. For medical internships abroad, this includes providing free tests, medicines, and vaccines, measuring vital signs, and educating local communities.
Our work, in every destination, is guided by local experts who can use our resources in the areas they are most needed.
Learn more about Our Impact.
Real work with trained professionals
On our medical internships abroad, you’ll work alongside real healthcare professionals. You can observe them in their everyday work, ask questions, and hear more about their experiences.
You will shadow and learn alongside these local professionals as they conduct vital medical work with limited resources. That exposure means you’re likely to get more insights into the front line of medical care than in your home country!
A tailored approach
We are often able to tailor your internship to your interests. You can work in more than one department or focus on one particular area, or experience outreach work in the local community.
Next Steps
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
We’d be happy to talk about creating a custom medical project for you. Most of our staff have been volunteers themselves, so they’re well placed to answer your questions, big or small.
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