Study Abroad Programmes Available For Pre-Med Students

Study abroad programmes are available for those undergraduate students who are still deciding on the career path they want to follow. They are also enticed by the opportunity for self-discovery and growth that a programme such as this can offer.

A situation which allows you to experience other customs, cultures and learn other languages can be beneficial when you enter the work force. Studying abroad can also help you build confidence as you become more independent. 

Being enrolled in a pre-med programme offers quite a bit of flexibility. These students usually haven't decided on a specific concentration for their studies yet, but there is an inclination that they want to help people. There's still many decisions to make before deciding to attend a medical or nursing school and at this stage of your studies, participating in study abroad programmes could be a good idea that strengthens your C.V. and career. 

Types of study abroad programmes available for pre-med students

There are many pre-med study abroad programmes which are available. They include those that allow you to take your time with your studies, to extensively scheduled courses on a foreign university campus. You may also be provided the opportunity to shadow doctors and nurses in hospitals in a foreign country to see what their responsibilities and roles are there, all while completing the internship needs your programme back home requires.

If medical study abroad interests you but you are not keen on spending the whole programme year in another country, there are shorter options such as pre-med summer programmes available. These types of programmes can offer condensed study or internship opportunities without an entire academic year’s worth of commitment.

For students who want to understand the medical terminology of a particular foreign language, language study abroad programmes may be available with a focus on medically relevant language. If you are looking at finding out how multiple countries handle their healthcare system, then there are also programmes available where you can visit multiple countries within a single term.

Semester programmes are the most common programme type available for students who are interested in studying abroad during one or two semesters during the academic year. The options include spring, autumn or the full academic year.

Summer programmes take place during the summer months and can last anywhere from a few weeks to up to a couple of months (the programme length depends on each programme offered). High school programmes also take place during the summer months and are specially designed for high school students in grades 9-12.

READ Questions To Ask Yourself When Wanting To Study Medicine

Intersession programmes take place during the short term breaks of the regular academic semester, usually over winter and spring breaks, and are designed to make the most of your undergraduate education.

Abroad graduate programmes

Students who are looking to pursue a career as a doctor or a full nursing degree, in a certain specialty, are likely to have a few more years of education ahead of them. For these students, graduate programmes abroad may also be available after completing a pre-med programme. 

Attending such a graduate programme overseas can offer many benefits to these students. 

Available Study Abroad Programmes For Pre-med And Medical Students

Forum-Nexus Study Abroad

This is a summer programme which consists of visiting 8 countries - which include Spain, France, the U.K., Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands - over a 1 month period. Up to 7 credits can be earned which are deferred to the pre-med programme you are enrolled at in your own country.

This is an excellent programme as you get to travel with professors and students from other countries all the while learning, socializing and building a network of contacts which will be beneficial later on in life.

Atlantis Fellowship Programme

This is a programme which lasts for 1-10 weeks during spring, summer or winter break periods, and it is a shadowing programme specifically developed for pre-med and pre-health undergraduate students.

The students are placed in public European hospitals and will then shadow and observe doctors in different specialties for around 20 hours per week. This allows you to experience the different medical specialties which are available and may even provide the motivation to further your studies in a specific medical discipline.

Not only will you gain medical knowledge and a better understanding of other countries' healthcare systems, as well as compare your countries' healthcare system with theirs, but you can also give back to the community by performing volunteer work or by teaching English to others.

READ Questions To Be Answered By Medical Schools When Wanting To Study Medicine

Ginsburg-Ingerman Overseas Student Programme

This programme was developed for students who want to experience the academic setup in Israel. The courses are given in English, but Hebrew is offered in order to help students acclimatize into the local society.

The other courses which can be taken include sociology, health sciences, anthropology and there is a month-long summer global health option available as well.

Medics Africa

This is a programme based in Mombasa, Kenya and is offered to the 3rd, 4th and final year medical students. Here, the students rotate around the different medical and surgical disciplines and attend ward rounds to get them used to real-life situations.

This programme allows for the exposure to various techniques and procedures which would otherwise be less commonly seen in a 1st world setup. These procedures could include lumbar punctures, nasogastric and tracheal intubations, suturing of wounds, placing inter-costal drains and small surgical procedures such as abscess drainage and removal of lumps. There may also be exposure to obstetric and gynaecology procedures such as caesarian sections and tubal ligations.

Work the World

This is an organization which helps place undergraduate students who are interested in midwifery in countries all over Asia, Africa and South America depending on their requirements and interests.

You will be introduced to your supervisor and the hospital where you will be attending ward rounds and obstetric and gynaecology procedures. In this case you may also be involved with helping deliver babies, attending to neonates in their ICU and as well as being involved with new mothers and fathers. You will also receive free weekly language lessons in order to boost your communication skills with the locals.