Where are the best undergraduate medical internships? Calling all Meredith Grey, Patch Adams, and Dr. House wannabes! Are you an undergraduate pre-med student looking to break into medicine but worried about the dreaded “prior experience” requirement? There is one solution: medical internships for undergraduates! Whether you’re a bio major applying to med school or an undecided freshman looking to test the waters, medical internships for undergraduates abroad will be the perfect next step for you.
Medical internships abroad will give you boatloads of experience to tack on your resume. (Credit: IMA)
There are so many reasons to do a medical internship abroad, so it’s no surprise that there are just as many program providers and internship options. Not all undergraduate medical internships are in developing countries, but the majority are in order to serve a higher purpose: further educate pre-med students and help those in need.
The lack of access and funds for basic health care means the patients with whom interns interact will often be suffering from diseases and conditions people rarely see in developed regions. Talk about getting real experience. Read on for the best of the best!
9 hands-on medical internships abroad for undergraduates worth checking out
If you’re ready to take your education to the next step, accumulate some awesome travel tales, and make lasting friendships like J.D. and Turk, check out one of these top undergraduate medical internships abroad (in no particular order):
1. International Medical Aid
International Medical Aid (IMA) provides global internship opportunities to students across multiple disciplines, including pre-med, medical, physician assistant, nursing, dental, nutrition, and physical therapy studies. IMA takes students to countries in East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean, where healthcare is limited and populations are underserved.
Through mobile medical clinics, public health education programs, and first responder training, IMA strives to develop sustainable, community-led initiatives that attack the root causes of disease and illness, thus creating a healthier community.
Students shadow healthcare providers in these settings, gaining valuable experience that they can implement into their own future medical practice. The global and cross-cultural awareness that students gain will help them in every aspect of life!
Step 1: medical internship abroad. Step 2: Chief of Medicine (that’s how that works, right?). (Credit: IMA)
2. Connect-123
You can guess based on the name of this program that their internship options are tight. Connect-123 offers both medical and biomedical science internships in 6 different cities, and placements can be in hospitals, clinics, or international medical centers. Some placements even offer special interest training, and allow interns to work in departments as specific as surgical, pediatric, or neurological.
Connect-123 really focuses on engaging the local communities, so interns can expect to work both inside and outside of clinical work and take on public health projects or work in community medical centers. The program cost includes central housing in your host city, and they even offer flexible start dates so that you can go abroad whenever fits your schedule best. Get started with World Internships now.
- Related: Read Connect-123 reviews
3. African Impact
African Impact provides some of the best medical internships for undergraduates, sending hundreds of young healthcare professionals abroad every year. Their internship placements focus on fields from medical and veterinary to nutrition and public health and are known for being impactful. The cost includes housing in volunteer cottages, WiFi, and meals on the weekdays.
Because medical internships with African Impact are multifaceted, you'll be able to avail of provided mentorship and professional development while learning about patient care in hospitals and clinics. You'll also have the option to participate in community outreach. Whether you have limited experience or you’ve been studying up for many years, you can apply for an African Impact internship to boost your career!
- Related: Read African Impact reviews
You might not be scrubbing up for the OR, but you’re well on your way to becoming Doogie Howser.
4. Roots Interns
Roots Interns offers tons of internships in the healthcare arena. This provider is particularly great for current students, as interns can use their experience for university credit afterwards. Why sit in a boring classroom when you can fulfill your academic requirements by shadowing a doctor in Kenya? Because these internships are aimed at college students, the focus is on gaining experience and do not require previous experience in the area. Newbies, rejoice!
Interns have the choice between medical and healthcare internships from Peru to South Africa, and will enjoy observing local healthcare professionals working at hospitals, clinics, and outreach facilities. Prices include accommodations, meals, and work-related transportation.
- Related: Read Roots Interns reviews
[Explore ALL International Medical Internships for Undergraduates]
5. Czech Hospital Placements
As you can guess, this internship route is very specific and perfect for anyone looking for a challenge. The Czech Hospital Placements Program is specifically designed to provide real-world experience in one of the largest hospitals in Europe under doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, and others. Unlike most professional settings, the CHP provides interns with study materials related to each department to ensure participants are as prepared as possible before coming to the hospital. Can’t beat an internship that comes with a free crash course!
The CHP is open to any English-speaking student ages 17 to 26 and offers short-term hospital work placements all year long. The program costs include a minimum of 25 hours per week shadowing your team, accommodations in the Prague area, food, study materials, and on-site tutorials up to three times per week. Enjoy learning at a rapid rate and observing professionals during surgeries, treatments, and patient interactions, all from a major Czech medical center!
You will get some kind of hands-on experience and be able to work on your bedside manner with patients.
6. Volunteering Journeys
Despite the name of this program, volunteer projects only scratch the surface here. Volunteering Journeys also offers medical internships in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Peru for both medical students and professionals. At a minimum of four weeks long, these internships are geared towards getting as much hands-on experience as possible while totally immersing yourself in a new culture.
Interns have the choice between general placement or something more specialized, and can also manage outreach work and clinical camps in nearby villages with local doctors. Internship placements are 100% customized and fit within academic requirements for students, so you can even get credit for your experience! Accommodations and meals are included in the program cost as well as placement fees at the medical institutions. Why haven’t you applied yet? Do it now!
- Related: Read Volunteering Journeys reviews
7. Child Family Health International
With 30 different health care programs in ten countries, Child Family Health International is a champ when it comes to undergraduate medical internships abroad. Labeled as internships, clinical electives, away rotations, service-learning, and global health externships, this program heavily combines all types of health care exposure not just to clinical practices, but also public health, social services, human resources for health, and social determinants of health on a global scale.
Each placement is customized to the intern’s education level, as well as their overall interests and goals. All you have to do is apply to get an idea of the type of placements available that fit your interests. An official partner of the American Medical Student Association, CFHI welcomes students over the age of 20 from all fields and levels of education, and their options range from pediatric care to remote island medicine. Yes, you heard us right— get college credit to work in a clinic on the beach!
- Related: Read CFHI reviews
You’ll learn all the ins and outs of health care and working in a hospital or clinic.
8. Intern Abroad HQ
Intern Abroad HQ offers dozens of medical and health care internships around the world. Grab your stethoscope and passport and fly onwards to destinations like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania. You can even participate in medical internships abroad in Europe through Intern Abroad HQ's programs in Italy or Spain! Focus and project areas range from dentistry to midwifery, as well as physiotherapy, nursing, and nutrition. If you have your heart set on becoming a Physician's Assistant, you'll be happy to learn more about their programs in Peru.
- Related: Read Intern Abroad HQ reviews
9. The Intern Group
Check out the Intern Group's international medical internships in Europe and Latin America! Record and analyze diagnostics in Medellin, perform lab research in London, or assist doctors with clinical needs in Dublin. With program lengths ranging from two weeks to six months, your Intern Group advisor will work closely one-on-one with you to find the perfect placement. What are you waiting for, doc?!
- Related: Read The Intern Group reviews
These pre medical internships abroad will put you on the right track.
Secure your own internship for premed students
Beyonce might not want no scrubs, but you know exactly what you want in life and with your career. Regardless of where or how you intern abroad as a pre-med student, you are embarking down a life-changing and meaningful path, and helping others in the process! So, who’s a scrub now, Bey? There is no better way to get experience than by working with actual health care professionals, and doing it in a global way is the cherry on top of the sundae.
Make the most of your experience abroad and ensure that you’re choosing the right program for you by reading reviews for medical internships for undergraduates, reaching out to program alumni, and, ultimately, comparing your favorite programs with MyGoAbroad.
Then, scrub up and hit the ground running!
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