Medical elective placements abroad

A medical elective abroad is a structured clinical placement at an overseas hospital where medical, nursing, dentistry, midwifery or physiotherapy students observe and assist under local supervision. With Med Trips, every elective is supervised, includes accommodation and in-country support, and medical insurance is included in the programme fee.

A Med Trips elective typically covers a supervised placement, accommodation, medical insurance and in-country support — flights, visa, vaccinations and spending money are extra. See our transparent prices page for current fees by destination and duration, and our funding guide for bursaries, grants and Erasmus+ options.

The best country depends on your specialty and learning goals. Med Trips runs supervised electives in 12 destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe — Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya are the most popular. See our destination guides for what each one teaches best.

Most students choose a 2–4 week medical elective; some extend to 6–8 weeks or longer. Two weeks gives a meaningful clinical immersion; longer placements deepen exposure across departments and specialties. The right length depends on your degree requirements, budget and the time you have available.

Most students fund their elective through a mix of royal-college and university bursaries, charitable trusts, Erasmus+ Traineeship (Italy and Spain), the Gilman Scholarship (US) and fundraising. See our full funding guide for UK, US, Italy and Spain students, plus a step-by-step fundraising hub with events, sponsors and online profiles.

Med Trips electives are open to current healthcare students — medicine, nursing, dentistry, midwifery, physiotherapy and allied fields — and to pre-med students. Exact entry requirements vary by specialty and hospital; we confirm what you need before you book.

Many universities accept a Med Trips elective for credit. We provide a completion certificate plus the supervision, placement and risk-assessment documentation your medical or nursing school needs to approve the trip — always confirm with your elective coordinator first.

Safety is built into every Med Trips elective: vetted hospitals and accommodation, a 24/7 in-country coordinator, airport pickup and a pre-departure briefing. We are a member of WYSE Travel Confederation and a certified B Corporation, with safeguarding standards your university can sign off.

Yes — we run tailored group medical electives for universities, medical schools and student societies, with custom dates, specialties and supervision. Tell us your numbers and learning objectives and our Groups Team will build a proposal, with institutional invoicing available.