Group Medical Electives Abroad

Group medical electives abroad with Med Trips

Med Trips runs customisable group medical elective placements abroad across 11+ destinations, built specifically for universities, medical and nursing schools, colleges, training institutes and student societies. With access to 20+ structured healthcare placements, our group programmes are ideal for faculty-led trips, MedSoc and society trips, and cohorts of aspiring healthcare professionals who want supervised international clinical exposure organised end to end.

Whether your group is made up of medical, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, physiotherapy or pharmacy students, we design a tailored programme around your academic objectives, dates and budget. From two-week placements to extended rotations, every group gets hands-on learning in real hospital and clinic settings, paired with the chance to explore the host country together.

As a certified B Corporation with in-country teams in every destination, we are accountable for how our placements affect host hospitals and patients — so your students learn in a way that is safe, ethical and appropriate to their stage of training. That accountability, and the supervision and support that come with it, is exactly what your university’s placement and safeguarding leads will want to see.

Who we run group electives for

Our group trips are organised by, and built for, a range of institutions and student leaders:

• Universities, medical and nursing schools arranging credit-bearing electives or placements for a cohort
• Faculty and elective leads who want a vetted, fully supported provider so they don’t have to coordinate hospitals, housing and logistics themselves
• Student medical societies (MedSocs) and nursing/midwifery societies organising a group trip for their members
• Groups of friends and coursemates who want to travel and learn together
• Colleges and training institutes delivering international experience as part of a programme

How to organise a group elective with us

We handle the heavy lifting so your elective lead or society organiser doesn’t have to. The process is simple:

1. Tell us your brief — group size, specialties, preferred destinations, dates and any learning objectives or university requirements your placement must meet.
2. We build a tailored proposal — hospital and clinic placements, accommodation, in-country support, an itinerary and transparent group pricing.
3. We confirm and prepare your group — placement paperwork, pre-departure guidance and the documentation your university needs to approve the trip.
4. You travel fully supported — our in-country team runs the placement, orientation and 24/7 support on the ground.

New to planning a cohort trip? Our step-by-step guide, how to organise a group medical elective for your university or medical society, walks through timelines, sign-off and funding. Talk to our Groups Team to start a tailored plan.

Safeguarding, supervision and risk assessment

For universities and faculty, the placement only goes ahead if it clears your safeguarding and risk-assessment process. We are set up to support that:

• Vetted hospitals and clinics with established relationships, not ad-hoc placements
• Supervised, observation-appropriate learning — students observe and assist within their competence, under local clinicians, rather than acting beyond their training
• In-country teams and 24/7 in-country support for every group
• Medical insurance included in the programme fee (students still arrange their own professional indemnity — we’ll point you to the right cover)
• Documentation for your approval process — destination and placement information, supervision and accommodation arrangements and emergency support details, so your elective lead can complete their risk assessment

Always confirm current placement, insurance and indemnity requirements with your medical school and your own insurer before you travel.

Group sizes, dates, pricing and invoicing

We build trips for cohorts of all sizes — from a small society group to a full year-group — and confirm the minimum numbers and group pricing when we scope your trip. Group rates are tailored to your numbers and what’s included, and typically improve as the group grows. A group programme generally covers vetted placements, accommodation, in-country support and orientation; flights are arranged separately so your group keeps full flexibility. See our pricing for an idea of what’s included, then ask us for a group quote. Need the university to be invoiced directly, or a purchase order raised? Let our Groups Team know and we’ll work with your finance office.

Destinations and specialties for groups

Group placements run across Asia and Africa, with popular ready-to-tailor group experiences in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Tanzania, plus India, Nepal, Ghana and Vietnam. Every group can be matched to a specialty: medicine, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, physiotherapy, radiology and pre-medicine. Browse everything on our placement search or read more about Med Trips.

Group elective FAQ for organisers

How far in advance should we book a group elective?

As early as you can — popular destinations and dates fill up, and a cohort booking needs lead time for placements, travel and university sign-off. Six to twelve months ahead is a good guide; get in touch early and we’ll hold dates while you confirm numbers.

Can the placement be tailored to our course’s learning objectives?

Yes. We build the specialties, departments and duration around your curriculum and any minimum-hours or setting requirements your university sets, so the elective counts toward your students’ programme.

What support do students get on the ground?

Every group is run by our in-country team, with orientation, supervised placements, accommodation and 24/7 in-country support throughout the trip.

Is insurance included?

Medical insurance is included in the programme fee. Students still arrange their own professional indemnity for clinical activity, and we’ll point you to the right cover — always confirm current requirements with your medical school.

Can a faculty member or lecturer travel with the group?

Yes — faculty-led groups are welcome, and we’ll factor a travelling staff member into the itinerary and arrangements. Just tell us in your brief.

Our past student groups

Get in touch with our Groups Team