We can create tailored placements and electives suitable for those studying (or qualified in) the vast majority of healthcare degrees. If you're looking for a placement or elective that isn’t listed on our website, please get in touch using the enquiry form at the bottom of this page.
Our healthcare placements abroad are suitable for both students, graduates and professionals. As every element of your overseas professional placement is tailored to you, we can create a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is directly matched with your clinical interests.
This is a really popular choice and each year a considerable number of students and graduates take the plunge and travel out to one of our programmes on their own. For some this can be a daunting thought, so we wrote this blog post to cover off any questions you might have about travelling solo. A massive benefit of travelling with us is that you’ll be sharing your accommodation with other healthcare students and graduates, so you’ll never be on your own and you’ll make friends quickly.
Whilst the majority of expenses are covered by Work the World there are a few things you will need to arrange independently. Things such as your flights, insurance, visas, vaccinations and any travel you wish to take outside of your placement. You can find more information about what’s not included here.
The majority of participants register to secure their place on their chosen programme at least 9 months in advance. This helps to ensure you’re guaranteed your first choice of destination and also gives you plenty of time to save or fundraise for your placement.
You don’t! All we need to secure your spot and start planning your placement is your £300 registration fee. You can then spread the cost of your placement by breaking it into smaller payments and paying in instalments. You can pay in as many instalments as you wish, whenever you wish, as long as your full balance is clear 90 days prior to departure. More information on this can be found on our flexible payments page.
Once you have paid your registration fee you have a 14 day cooling off period where you would qualify for a full refund if you changed your mind.
Yes, everyone that takes part in one of our placements will need to ensure they have a travel insurance policy in place to cover them for the duration of their trip.
Visa requirements vary depending on the destination you have chosen and the type of passport you hold.
Your dedicated MyTrip portal will have all the relevant information you’ll need including online embassy application forms, visa costs, the type of visa you’ll need to apply for and most importantly the time frames in which you’ll need to complete this by. We’ve been doing this for over 15 years so we’ll be able to guide you every step of the way, should you need any further visa application assistance.
The destination you have chosen and the vaccinations you have previously received will affect which vaccinations you need and it may be that you don’t need any vaccinations at all.
Our advice is that you check with your local travel clinic or GP, who will have access to your medical files and who will be best placed to advise you on what you’ll need.
We are accepting registrations as normal for all programs for 2021/2022. We understand the concern associated with Covid-19 and we would like to assure you that you are in expert hands. We look forward to welcoming you onto our programs in the very near future.
Our healthcare internships abroad are for both students and professionals. Every element of your experience is tailor-made depending on your level of experience.
Every Work the World program will have its own specific protocols and safety measures in place. Your personal online placement planner (MyTrip) will have all the latest information on all measures for the country you’re travelling to. Your Operations Manager will contact you well in advance of your departure to go through all of these measures for your arrival.
When you arrive in-country you will also receive an in-depth induction from our overseas teams and updates if there are any changes you need to be aware of whilst in country.
We want to give you total peace of mind when booking your overseas placement. We understand that future travel plans may need to change, and in these unprecedented times we know how important it is for you to have flexibility. With this in mind, we are offering you more flexibility than ever before.
We have now relaxed our Terms and Conditions, meaning you can now make as many changes to your booking as you like should you need to. Whether you need to change your travel dates or your chosen destination, you can do so easily and we have waived all amendment costs.
We have long-standing relationships with all our partner hospitals and we’ve been liaising closely with them, as well as local health authorities, regarding any changes implemented in the hospitals where our placements are undertaken. Every country differs slightly in their approach and there will be a continual assessment of all aspects of placement delivery, ensuring we adapt, advance and update you on what may be required at your time of travel.
Covid-19 testing is available in every one of the program locations we operate in. This includes within local government hospitals as well as private medical facilities. Our dedicated supervisors working with you on placement will be following all hospital transmission-prevention protocols.
As long as you are enrolled or have been accepted on a professional healthcare degree you are eligible to travel with us.
You can also travel if you are qualified, but please note that our placements are educational in their nature and designed to give you experience in a low resource hospital setting under the supervision of local qualified professionals.
Remember: you have to be on a clinical degree. We cannot accept pre-medical, pre-nursing, etc. students.
Our experienced in-country team members will be monitoring and working closely with local government and tourism agencies to get first-hand information and insight on travel within the country you decide to travel to. This may mean that places of interest have differing opening hours or capacity levels than normal, but with the correct planning and information in advance, you will be well informed ahead of arranging your weekend adventures.
If you were unable to travel, depending on the notice period given for cancellation you may be due a refund from Work the World. The cancellation and refund policy is set out in section 6.3 of the Terms and Conditions.
Depending on the reason for cancelling, your travel insurance may well cover you for any costs you can’t recover from Work the World. Once you have registered onto the programme, you will have access to MyTrip which has a great deal of information including help on choosing an appropriate travel insurance policy. If you did need to make a claim through your insurers, we will help by providing all supporting documentation necessary.
As our programs start to reopen, we will be following enhanced procedures to minimise the risks of Covid-19 transmission.
Our locally-hired, highly trained teams on the ground maintain strong and constant communication with our Head Office. This allows us to have first-hand information and insight in real time. We have incredibly strong relationships with our partner hospitals and the local authorities in all locations, ensuring that as the new world evolves every part of our service offering will too.
You can also feel safe knowing that you’ll live in our privately run accommodation, accessible only to you, your housemates and our in-country team. Whichever Work the World program you decide to travel to, our enhanced procedures will be in place. And, as with every other aspect of our service, these protocols will be tailored to the specific needs of each destination.
STEP 1. SUBMIT AN INQUIRY
First, submit an inquiry using the form at the bottom of the page. Tell us where, when and why you want to travel as well as your current level of study.
STEP 2. WE'LL GET IN TOUCH
Next, a member of our consultation team will review your inquiry then call you to discuss your eligibility. They will also answer any questions you may have.
STEP 3. APPROVAL AND CONFIRMATION
Once we have confirmed your eligibility, you need to submit your application form and pay your registration fee. We will then confirm your placement and availability within 24 hours.
Unfortunately not. We carefully pick the destinations in which we operate to ensure they meet our own strict internal criteria, focused on safety and stability. We also work hard to build sustainable relationships in all of the countries we are based and as a result we only operate in the destinations listed on our website.
Once we have confirmed your eligibility, you need to submit your application form and pay your registration fee. We will then confirm your placement and availability within 24 hours.
You will receive a welcome call from a member of our team, confirming your dates and running through how we plan your internship.
You will also get access to MyTrip — our online internship planner. The planner has everything you need such as a step-by-step timeline, full details of your itinerary, and access to your Information Pack, which contains everything you’ll need to know before your trip; packing lists, language guides, visa requirements and a lot more.
Yes! Having the flexibility to choose the departments you’re most interested in is one of the great reasons to travel with us.
You will have in-depth conversations with our team about your clinical interests, and we’ll confirm and secure everything well in advance of your trip.
As long as you are enrolled or have been accepted on a professional healthcare degree you are eligible to travel. We do not accept anyone on a pre-degree course such as undergraduate medical students etc.
Yes, however it is worth noting that our placements are educational in their nature and designed to give you experience in a low resource hospital setting under the supervision of local qualified professionals.
This may be your first time on a placement in the developing world and you therefore will need to be supervised due to your lack of low resource hospital experience and lack of cultutal awareness.
Depending on the nature of your course, it is highly likely you're elgible to travel with us. Fill out the short inquiry form and our team will be in touch as soon as possible.
Placements start from one week and there's no maximum.
You may also be able to split your internship between two hospitals or undertake one of our add-on experiences like the Village Healthcare Experience, Ayurvedic Medicine Experience or Intensive Spanish Course, all of which will broaden your understanding of healthcare overseas.
Placements run all year round!
Hospital placements are typically Monday to Friday (with weekends to explore the country you're living in) so we ask that students arrive on a Sunday so that we can do a hospital and city orientation on the Monday morning.
All the countries we work in are safe for travel. We follow advice from the US State Department when it comes to the countries we work in and the countries that border them.
We also have overseas teams—based out of our private accommodation—in all our destinations. The teams are there to support you 24/7 with anything and everything.
You can, yes. We work with hundreds of schools, colleges and universities worldwide whereby their students go abroad on a healthcare placement to gain credit. Speak to our team for further information.
No, our placements are educational learning experiences.
Internships start from $1590 USD and you can secure your place from $400 USD. Once you are registered your internship will be confirmed within 24 hours. We'll then start collaborating with you to build your internship.
You can also make flexible payments to spread the cost of your internship. More information on this can be found on our pricing page.
Included in your placement cost is: A dedicated internship coordinator, exclusive access to Mytrip, your personlized placement planner, online a supervised and customized hospital placement for the duration of your time in country, private and fully catered accommodation, airport pickup, twice weekly local language lessons and 24/7 support by our in-country teams. Further information regarding pricing and inclusions can be found on our pricing page.
There are many ways you can fund your internship.
There are plenty of bursaries and grants available, and you can raise money through sponsorship—lots of companies and organisations are willing to invest in future clinical professionals.
Register with us and we will give you exclusive access to our fundraising hub, which contains all the information you’ll need to start getting the funds together.
Our internship consultants have extensive knowledge of all our programmes—both inside the hospital and out. They will help you discover which of our destinations best suit your areas of clinical and personal interest.
We recommend about $200 for every week you are overseas. This will cover travel to and from your internship hospital, any weekend trips you might choose to go on, and any meals and drinks you have during the week (if you decide to not eat at the Work the World house).
Full and specific details are available in your online placement planner. You will gain access to this once you have registered.
In all our destinations, there are limited numbers of places available. Booking as early as possible is advised.
Yes. However, as there are a maximum number of internships available in each of our programs, we advise you to book as early as possible to secure your internship. This is especially true if you are travelling as a group.
About 60% of people travelling with us travel alone. On one of our placements you’ll live in a shared house with all the comforts of home. You will live with fellow students from different healthcare disciplines all over the world. You’ll get to know each other well. Most people travel to placement together, socialise in the house (or out and about) in the evenings, and organise weekend trips together.
Our aim is to continually build fair, sustainable, long-term partnerships with all of the hospitals and clinics with whom we're partnered. With both cultural and skills exchanges at the heart of what we do, we facilitate sustained and reliable communication at all times. All the relevant information about our hospital partnerships and our impact overseas can be found here.
We have agreements in place with each of our partner hospitals and clinics that guarantee supervision levels and support throughout your internship.
We also follow guidelines laid out by regulating bodies and professional associations to ensure the safety of both patient and student, making sure each internship is structured according to your level of skill.
Many universities and colleges have specific requirements regarding internships, and want a more formal agreement to guarantee standards. We have contracts in place with many institutions, and are happy to provide health and safety audits and risk assessments if required.
No — unlike a number of other placement providers, you will not be staying in a homestay. You’ll stay in our private Work the World houses with all the comforts that you’re used to at home. You’ll be living with healthcare students and graduates from all over the world, benefiting your interprofessional learning and meaning you’ll have a new group of friends to travel to placement with, share stories and experiences with after placement, and travel with on the weekends.
We are neither an NGO nor a charity.
We do, however, take our ethical and moral responsibility seriously, providing sustainable internships all over the world.
You can read more about our hospital partnerships and our impact in local communities, here.
Unfortunately not. To keep the Work the World houses secure they’re only accessible by Work the World staff and students undertaking an internship with us.
We will always try and recommend somewhere close to the Work the World house for partners or friends to stay in if they are visiting.
A member of the Work the World team will come to collect you.
The first thing you’ll see upon leaving the airport is a member of our staff in a blue Work the World t-shirt, waiting to take you back to the Work the World house.
We have spacious private houses in all our destinations. One of the Work the World houses will be your base for the duration of your internship. Students always tell us that after a busy day in the hospital, coming home to a comfortable, friendly environment where they can relax with a group of international peers is a crucial part of the experience.
Bedrooms are split into male and female dorms. If you are traveling with a friend of the same sex then we will try to place you together.
Bathrooms are shared, and your housekeeper will make sure they are meticulously cleaned and well maintained.
In the unlikely event that something goes wrong while you’re overseas with us, we have a team of trained staff in all of our destinations. The team are based in the Work the World house, and are there to support you 24 hours a day.
Whether you have an issue with the hospital you’re spending time in, the Work the World house, your housemates, or anything for that matter, the team will step in to resolve it.
Typical hours in the hospital are Monday to Friday from around 7am until 2pm. Note that this does vary with each of our hospital partnerships and based on the departments you are gaining experience in.
You can expect to spend, on average, around 35 hours per-week in the hospital. If you need to do a set number of hours based on your university requirements we can assist with this.
You can confidently choose Work the World as we are the recognised authority on customising and building overseas placements.
Since 2005 we have tailored, facilitated and overseen placements for more than 16,000 students and graduates from over 450 universities worldwide.
Read more about our offering as compared to other providers.
If you want to go to your placement hospital in the evenings or at weekends, you can. Extra shifts can be arranged with our overseas teams.
Normal shifts take place during the daytime, but it is possible to do night shifts. Again this can be arranged once you arrive.
Yes, but it will likely be expensive.
During one of your in-country orientations, our local team will take you to buy a local SIM card for your cell phone. This is a more cost effective way of keeping communication channels open with the local Work the World team and your housemates.
Shortly before your placement begins, your MyTrip portal will be updated to show everyone that will be living in the house at the same time as you. Their placements may not be starting on the same week as yours, however you will be living in the house together for at least some, if not all of your time overseas.
Yes (subject to availability).
With the exception of Mexico (where we ask that all students & professionals display a basic conversational level of Spanish and enthusiasm for learning the language), you don’t need to be able to speak the local language. However, learning a few everyday phrases can really help you build relationships with hospital staff and get the most from your internship!
With years of experience customizing overseas internships, we’ve developed the ultimate language support. Once you’ve registered with us, you’ll get access to comprehensive language guides and accompanying videos to help you find your feet.
To give you an even deeper understanding of the local language and customs, a language teacher will provide language lessons—twice-weekly—in the Work the World house. Designed with your clinical internship in mind, these language lessons are an added bonus to help you get to grips with clinical words and phrases. By making an effort with the local language you’ll demonstrate your commitment to your internship and earn the respect of your hospital supervisors. Which, in turn, will help open up new opportunities and experiences during your time overseas.
In the hospitals and clinics we partner with, most senior consultants are required to study in English-speaking countries as part of their learning. So, they’re likely to have a good level of English.
Staff in the Work the World houses, of course, speak English exceptionally well.
Yes, every Work the World house has Wifi.
The placements we create are inclusive of accommodation and in order to get the full experience of being overseas we strongly recommend you stay in the Work the World house.
You should not book your flights until we have officially confirmed your internship.
Once your internship has been confirmed, we suggest you book your flights no later than three months before your trip.
The airports we recommend for each destination are as follows:
Yes. We have an emergency number which is managed 24 hours a day. The number is +1 877 879 8811.
We’ve been operating for over 15 years and our in-country operation is what makes our service unparalleled. A huge part of the service we offer is the on-the-ground support from our in-country teams and they are there to provide as little or as much support as you require.
Find out more about what you can expect on our In-country Support page. You can read more about our in-country teams here.
Yes. The placements we offer are completely structured, so when you’re on placement you’ll be supervised every day. Once you arrive in your chosen destination you’ll be taken for an orientation of your placement hospital where you’ll be introduced to your supervisors and key department staff ready for your first day. Our local teams have strong in-person relationships with all of our partner hospitals, so you can expect 24/7 support from the Work the World team, and regular monitoring to ensure you’re getting what you want from the experience.
