Radiography Elective Placements Abroad

A radiography elective abroad is a supervised placement in a hospital imaging department where radiography and medical-imaging students observe how diagnostic imaging is carried out in a different healthcare system. Working alongside radiographers and radiologists, you see how imaging fits into patient care — from how examinations are requested and prepared to how images support the wider clinical team.

With Med Trips, every radiography placement is supervised in a vetted hospital and supported by an in-country team, with accommodation, insurance and university sign-off support included. Most placements last 4 weeks (minimum 2). Browse the placements below, then read on to choose a destination and understand what an imaging-department placement involves. (This page uses radiography terminology; you may also see these placements described as radiology electives.)

Who radiography electives abroad suit

These placements are designed for radiography, radiology and medical-imaging students, and for recent graduates who want international experience before starting their careers. No previous hospital experience is required — placements can be tailored to first-time observers as well as those with some prior exposure — and the learning is observational and supervised throughout.

How to choose your destination

Consider the imaging modalities you most want to see, the language used at the hospital, and how long you can travel for. Med Trips arranges radiography placements in several countries, each with a dedicated page:

• Tanzania — a broad case mix in an English-speaking system.
• Ghana — a safe, English-speaking introduction to African healthcare.
• Greece — an EU healthcare setting for a shorter European placement.
• Morocco — a North-African, French/Arabic-speaking system.
• Nepal — high patient volumes and observational, low-resource learning.
• Cambodia — low-resource learning with NGO and community links.

What a supervised placement involves

Radiography placements abroad are observational. You will shadow radiographers and radiologists and observe imaging workflows — which may include X-ray, ultrasound, CT and, where available, MRI — and see how images support diagnosis and treatment across the hospital. You will not operate imaging equipment independently or make diagnoses; your role is to observe how examinations are performed and reported, and to learn how the department works, always within the scope set by your supervising team.

Placements are flexible, typically two to six weeks, and run year-round. A shorter stay gives you a focused look at a busy imaging department; a longer one lets you see a wider range of examinations and how radiographers and doctors collaborate on patient care. The available equipment and modalities vary from hospital to hospital, so it is worth discussing your interests before you choose a destination.

Questions worth asking before you choose

• Which modalities do you most want to observe — plain film, ultrasound, CT or MRI?
• Are you looking for a high-volume department, or a smaller setting where you can ask more questions?
• How long can you travel for, and does a shorter European placement or a longer trip further afield suit you?
• Does your university have specific documentation or supervision requirements to confirm first?

Planning and approval

Most UK universities can approve a Med Trips placement as an elective when it is agreed in advance; we provide the documentation you need, with final approval resting with your university. Your fee covers the placement, accommodation, insurance and in-country support, along with pre-departure guidance and visa support; flights and daily spending are usually your own. Placements are flexible, typically 2 to 6 weeks. For help with costs, see our funding guide and fundraising hub.