What Requirements Do I Need for a Medical Internship Abroad?

Medical internships are an excellent way to expand your horizons, garner global experience of healthcare systems and practices, and apply your education between formal classes. However, unlike volunteering abroad programs, medical internships aren’t open for everyone. There are specific requirements that must be met before you can be accepted into your chosen program. 

If you’re considering applying for a medical internship abroad, you need to make sure you’re eligible for acceptance. Today, we’ll explore the requirements necessary for medical internships abroad, so there are no surprises when you start applying. 

Who Can Apply for Medical Internships Abroad? 

The application requirements for medical internships abroad will differ depending on the organisation you choose to work with. At Med Trips, our medical electives are designed for students and aspiring healthcare professionals who are looking for early exposure to the medical field. 

We choose to focus on passion and drive rather than simply experience. Our programs are open to: 

• Undergraduate med students

Most of our interns are current undergraduates pursuing a career in medicine. Our internships include opportunities to shadow doctors, observe clinical procedures and gain exposure to global health issues. These opportunities all strengthen medical school applications and give you a better understanding of theoretical studies. 

Med Trips offers internships for several electives, including pre-medicine, medicine, midwifery and nursing. The topic of your undergraduate studies will often coincide with the medical internship you apply for. 

• Gap year students

Gap years are common for students pursuing a career in medicine, as they give you a short amount of time to explore other interests and avenues before heading into multiple years of training and studies. You can also gain experience from medical internships during this time. 

An internship helps you use your gap year productively, providing valuable shadowing hours, cultural immersion and personal growth opportunities that make you a stronger candidate moving forward into formal education. 

• Students exploring healthcare or career changers

It’s normal to have doubts or reservations about continuing your education in medicine. A medical internship can help you test your interests and passion surrounding medicine, while giving you the opportunity to participate in international experiences, both personally and professionally. 

At Med Trips, we invite anyone interested in the medical profession to apply for one of our internships, even if you’re only using it to test the waters for your future.

• High school graduates considering medicine

If you’re finishing high school and are thinking about a career in medicine, we welcome you to join our pre-medicine initiative to get a real-world feel of healthcare before committing to your studies. This is a great way to confirm your passion and get a head start on the shadowing experience. We have specialized programs in Thailand for high school graduates. 

Do I Need Qualifications to Apply for a Medical Internship Abroad? 

Most of our internship electives will require specific qualifications depending on the program. Most require you to be enrolled in or have recently completed a medical-related field of study, like pre-med, nursing or dentistry. 

Here’s who can apply for each of our Med Trips electives:

• Pre-Medicine: Pre-med internships are often available to current students or recent graduates of all medical studies programs, as well as those in biomedical science and health sciences. High school diplomas are required. 
• Medical: Participants must be currently enrolled in a medical university, or have recently graduated from one. First and second year medical graduates seeking additional experience can also enroll. 
• Dentistry: Pre-dental and dentistry students can all enroll in this elective, along with those studying dental hygiene. 
• Midwifery: Midwifery students and new graduates can apply for midwifery medical internships with Med Trips. Pre-university students considering a midwifery career can also apply. 
• Nursing: BSc and MSc Nursing students are eligible to apply, and newly qualified nurses are welcome to earn extra experience. Pre-nursing students can also apply.
• Physiotherapy: Undergraduate physiotherapy students of all years can apply, along with postgraduate physiotherapy students, recent graduates and pre-university students. 
• Radiotherapy: Individual students studying radiotherapy are welcome to apply, as well as pre-med, medical and nursing students. 

You don’t always need qualifications to apply for a medical internship with Med Trips. We welcome people with all skill levels, as long as they have a passion and suitable understanding of their medical elective. 

However, those with more qualifications in relevant fields may get more out of their experience, as they can lend a helping hand rather than simply shadowing healthcare professionals. 

Am I Eligible to Apply for a Med Trips Program?

Eligibility for our Med Trips electives varies between programs, particularly in terms of qualifications and current studies. However, as a general guide, our interns must adhere to the following requirements to be eligible: 

• Be at least 18 years of age 
• Pass a criminal background check report
• Have an up-to-date CV and statement of motivation ready to upload
• Have a valid passport and relevant travel documents
• Know roughly when they’d like to join the program
• A basic understanding of the language of your chosen country

We may also request supporting documents after you’ve applied for an internship program, which we will use to verify your eligibility for your chosen elective. 

Do I Have to Speak Another Language? 

Not necessarily, although knowing a basic understanding of the language your chosen country speaks will help you get to know the doctors and healthcare professionals much quicker. Once we’ve confirmed your place on your chosen program, we’ll send you an orientation pack including language training materials to help get you ready before you start. 

We’ll also go over basic words and phrases during your in-country orientation. However, the better your understanding of the language, the quicker you’ll be able to get stuck into making a difference rather than learning how to communicate with peers and patients. 

What Should I Include In My Statement of Motivation? 

We ask all of our interns for a statement of motivation which describes why you want to join one of our programs. This isn’t mandatory, but it gives us a much better idea of who you are as a person and why our partnering hospitals would be lucky to work with you. 

Your motivation can be as short or long as you like, so don’t worry about crafting a full A4-page letter. We encourage you to write from the heart and tell us why you truly want to apply for our medical internship. As a guide, consider following one of these starting points: 

• “I want to be an intern for Med Trips because…”
• “I admire … most about the mission and want to continue making a difference.”
• “I believe that I’d make a good candidate for the internship because…”
• “My qualifications and experience will make me a good intern because…”

We ask for this because we get a lot of applications and want to get to know our interns before accepting their applications. Let your personality shine through and help us get a better idea of your goals before we work together. 

How Much Does It Cost to Intern with Med Trips? 

The cost of your internship depends on a number of factors, including the elective you choose, how many weeks you plan to intern for and more. For example, a two-week medical internship in Nepal costs $800 (£680), while our dental internship in Greece costs $2000 (£1700) for two weeks. 

The longer you plan to intern for, the higher the program fee will be to accommodate your lodging, food, in-country support, internship fee and more. 

All applications require an application fee. This is a one-off payment that will be refunded should your application be rejected for any reason. This is $249 USD, £179 (GBP), Є229 (EUR), or $350 (AUD). 

To learn more about our pricing, check out our Med Trip Placement Prices resource.

Ready to Plan Your Medical Internship Today? 

Now you know the requirements to become a Med Trips intern, what’s stopping you from taking the leap and planning a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Not only will you garner incredible knowledge of global healthcare and be able to shadow some of the best professionals in the world, but you’ll also meet amazing people and make a meaningful contribution to underserved communities. 

If you have any questions about the requirements for your ideal placement, one of our advisors will be happy to help. Get in touch today to learn more about your chosen elective and whether you make an ideal candidate.