How to Apply for a Summer Medical Internship Abroad with Med Trips

A medical internship abroad is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience that you can use to further your education and real-world experience. If you’re thinking about applying for a summer medical internship this year, you may be wondering what the application process may look like. 

When working with a reputable organization, most internships are surprisingly simple to apply for. Today, we’ll walk you through what a typical application may look like so you can feel confident throughout the process. 

Step One: Research and Find Programs

First things first, you’ll need to garner a good idea of the types of electives you want to spend your time on as an intern. Your internship can boost your future career and education, so this is an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

There are two vital steps to consider when finding the right internship for you: your chosen elective and country. 

Choosing Your Elective

Electives determine what you’ll learn and be responsible for during placement. At Med Trips, we offer several beneficial electives for students, including: 

• Pre-med: Observe and gain valuable insights into the fundamentals of medicine, which you can use to help you as you begin med school. 
• Medicine: Shadow doctors and gain hands-on experience in a variety of cases to earn knowledge on a new healthcare system.
• Dentistry: Boost your knowledge and practical skills by interning with some of the best dentists from unique, underserved countries. 
• Midwifery: Study maternal health and support mothers all over the world as they journey through pregnancy and birth. 
• Nursing: Learn from the best and develop insightful practices, bedside manner, and intuition to become the best nurse possible.
• Physiotherapy: Support individuals with new or existing injuries that are impacting their everyday lives. 
• Radiotherapy: Use high-energy radiation for a number of practices to see how it can improve quality of life, and develop essential skills for future progression.

When choosing the right elective for you, you’ll most likely need to consider your experience. Most internships will require some experience with your elective, such as being currently enrolled in med school in the same subject. 

Finding the Right Country

Choosing the country you want to explore is one of the most exciting parts of planning your internship! Once you’ve determined the right elective for you, you can research where in the world it's currently offered. 

Med Trips hosts internships in 12 countries, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. You’ll have the opportunity to choose the country you want to visit based on: 

• Which type of healthcare system you want to learn about and experience first-hand.
• The wide variety of medical cases not commonly seen at home that you’ll get to observe. 
• Where in the world you want to explore during your free time, such as white-sand beaches, tropical rainforests, wildlife centres or historic landmarks. 

If you’re uncertain of where you want to complete your internship, our experienced team of advisors will be happy to help. We’ll take the time to understand your career goals, academic requirements, and personal preferences, then work with you to find a location that best suits you. 

Step Two: Check Eligibility and Reserve Your Place

Summer internships abroad are highly competitive, and spaces are limited to make sure placements remain as insightful and beneficial to interns as possible. This means that securing your spot is essential, especially when you want to go abroad during the most popular season. 

Fortunately, securing your spot with Med Trips is incredibly simple. To reserve your space, simply: 

1. Click ‘Apply Now’ on your chosen program
2. Complete the application form online
3. Pay the application fee to confirm your place
4. Within one week of receiving this payment, we’ll confirm your hospital placement and accommodation
5. We will send you an outstanding balance for the remaining program fee, which can be paid in instalments

When Should I Book My Internship? 

Booking as early as possible gives you the best choice of dates, electives, and destinations. Many of our students book their placements between 6 and 12 months in advance, especially for summer dates.

However, some programs are more popular than others, meaning you may be able to find your ideal placement just a few weeks in advance. Our helpful team of advisors will be able to help you book the right dates for you, including how long you want to volunteer for and what date you’ll want to fly out. 

Do I Need Any Supporting Documents to Apply? 

No, you don’t need to submit any documents to Med Trips to apply for your elective. We will ask about your personal information, such as medical conditions and dietary requirements, to ensure we can accommodate you before your internship begins. 

The application process also asks three questions of you, regarding: 

• Your qualifications, skills or relevant experience
• Your motivations to join the program
• Any special requirements you have that we need to know about

We may ask for supporting documents after your application has been submitted, such as your passport for identification purposes, but we’ll give you plenty of notice to get the materials together if they're required. 

Step Three: Get Ready for Departure

Now for the exciting stuff: getting ready for your once-in-a-lifetime experience! Once you’re registered with Med Trips, we’ll assign you a dedicated trip coordinator. They’ll serve as your point of contact throughout your experience and guide you through your internship with ease. 

As you get ready for departure, you’ll need to consider: 

• Placement planning: You’ll most likely get the opportunity to request rotations between departments during your placement, so plan where you’d like to spend your time learning and request this from your coordinator. 
• Travel logistics: Our helpful advisors will support you with booking flights, applying for visas and insurance, and any other paperwork required by your educational institution. 
• Cultural preparation: To make your internship as smooth and beneficial as possible, we’ll provide you with packing guides, destination handbooks, and language videos to help you settle in and make the most of your experience. 

Why Choose Med Trips for Your Internship? 

At Med Trips, we take pride in our programs specifically designed for medical students who want to further their education while making a meaningful difference in underserved countries.

No matter whether you’re looking to gain international exposure, fulfil education requirements, or simply broaden your perspective, Med Trips has a program for you. Here’s why students love working with us: 

• Affordable programs: We host internships worldwide across a variety of electives without compromising quality or increasing costs. 
• Tailored clinical placements: Our placements are all conducted in trusted hospitals that have been extensively vetted to ensure their safety and effectiveness for our students. 
• Included amenities: Your program fee covers the cost of placement, accommodation, meals, transport, orientation and support, so you don’t have to worry about organizing these things yourself. 
• Safety first: Your safety is our top priority, so we do everything in our power to ensure a safe trip where you can feel confident and protected. 
• Round-the-clock support: Our in-country team will be on hand to support you whenever you need us, and our advisors are just a phone call away before your flight. 
• Customizable programs: Choose your ideal country, elective, and trip duration to ensure your internship doesn’t clash with your education timetable. 

Ready to Plan Your Summer Internship Abroad? 

There’s no better time to plan a medical internship than summer. You’ll have a well-deserved break from your studies, the weather will be glorious, and you’ll be able to make lasting memories without the stress of assignments or deadlines. Med Trips makes applying for your internship easier than ever, so what are you waiting for? 

Check out our medical electives abroad to find one that complements your studies, and click ‘Apply Now’ to get the ball rolling on your most exciting, meaningful adventure yet.