Medical & Healthcare Internships Abroad

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.

Prepare yourself by completing a Medical, Healthcare or Pre-Med internship with Projects Abroad. Here, you will witness healthcare challenges (and solutions) in an international healthcare environment.

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 healthcare internships to be age and education appropriate, plus offer a variety of summer 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 specialize in as you continue your education or start your career in healthcare.

Choose from:

High School Specials, for ages 15 to 18 who want to follow a structured schedule
Pre-Med 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

This is what you can expect from one of 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 programs
Explore different medical specialties to decide on a career path
Strengthen your resume or medical school applications with international experience

Why do a medical internship abroad?

In our connected world, healthcare crosses borders. A healthcare emergency across the globe can quickly become of concern right here in the United States.

Don’t believe us? We just lived through a pandemic...

This new reality has given rise to the field of global health, a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of health issues worldwide.

Interning in global healthcare environments offers more than just career preparation — it's a transformative journey.

Imagine immersing yourself in diverse cultures, forging deep connections with communities in need, and witnessing the profound 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, international internships provide valuable hands-on experience and a unique edge for your resume or medical school application.

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 specialties for your internship program, such as:

How do I apply for my medical internship?

Our internships are open to anyone aged 15 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+ projects above to get started.

If you already know what you want to achieve, the exposure you get can vary by destination (we have 11 to choose from).

Get in touch with a Project Expert today to discuss your needs and they can help you to select the best medical, healthcare, or pre-med internship for you.

If you answer 'Yes' to any of the following questions, a medical internship abroad is right for you:

Are you struggling to find the right experience at home in the United States?
Do you want the opportunity to shadow trained medical professionals?
Do you want to join a short term, but valuable medical program?
Do you want to add pre-med clinical experience to your resume?
Do you want an internship experience in an international hospital environment?
Do you want to get more from your summer medical internship by going abroad?
Do you want to help increase access to healthcare globally?
Do you want real medical work experience before taking your next step at college or in your career?

Having this kind of global health care 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.

Our 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.

What opportunities do you have available for Pre-Med students?

Our Pre-Med 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 AAMC 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 programs 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 will I gain from my internship?

Our international medical internship opportunities will prepare you for your next stage of education or career.

Here are some of the things are 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.

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:

We record our work in a secure database

We created a Global Impact Database so we can track the positive impact our medical projects have. This is a secure and anonymous database that we use to identify specific areas of need. It allows us to use data to shape community outreaches and health awareness projects. We can also monitor individuals we see often, report our results, and collect data for research.

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’re likely to get more insights into the front line of medical care than in your home country.

A tailored approach

We're often able to tailor your internship to suit your interests. You can work in more than one department or focus on one particular area, and experience outreach work in the local community.

Contact a Project Expert today to discuss your requirements.