What is an overseas medical internship WITH WORK THE WORLD?

A medical internship abroad is a clinical placement you undertake in a fast-paced, low-resource hospital in the developing world.

You’ll see a healthcare system totally different from your own and get experience with conditions and practices you’ve never seen before.

You can choose the departments you want to rotate through — oncology, surgical, pediatrics, the ED…. It’s completely customizable.

You’ll see unfamiliar conditions like tropical diseases, learn how sociocultural issues affect how care is delivered, and get real-life, in-person experience with global health.

"I saw things I’d only seen in textbooks. TB, meningitis, altitude sickness..." - Zabrina, Midwestern University

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A MEDICAL INTERNSHIP ABROAD?

We’ve designed our medical internships overseas to help you (and your resumé) stand out from the tens of thousands of med students who graduate every year.

On our internships for medical students, you’ll:

Expand your clinical knowledge and skill set
Develop your confidence and resourcefulness
Build your personal and professional network
Sharpen your verbal and non-verbal communication
Become more attractive to employers

Your placement runs Monday to Friday. So, your evenings and weekends are free to explore a beautiful country you might never again get the chance to visit. You can to do your internship in Asia or Africa, choosing from a range of destinations.

WHO ARE WE?

We're Work the World — The experts in planning, customizing, and building medical internships abroad. Founded in 2005, we've built internships for over 18,000 students from 400+ universities worldwide.

We provide a personal, end-to-end service that includes:

Internship customization (choose your destination and departments) | Comprehensive pre-trip support | 24/7 in-country support team | Private, catered accommodation

See full inclusions

Arrivals are every Sunday, 52 weeks a year, with durations from one week upwards.

For more detail about how our service works click here.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

As long as you are a college student enrolled in or have been accepted on a professional medical degree (in medical school) you are eligible.

You can also travel if you are already graduated. However, please note that our placements are educational in their nature and designed to give you experience abroad in a low resource hospital setting under the supervision of local qualified professionals. Read more about our professional placements.

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 48 hours.

TEST MEDICAL ELECTIVE PAGE clinical image 11

"It gave me an appreciation of what could be achieved without modern technology." - Hope, Michigan State University

DESTINATIONS

Sri Lanka - Kandy

Kandy is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, and is home to temples, delicious food, and 5000 years of tradition. You’ll find adventure nearby — trek through jungles, go on safari, and try watersports off the coast.

While medical shadowing abroad, you’ll gain insight into how tropical diseases like malaria and dengue fever are handled by local professionals. Spending time in the Renal Transplant Unit, which performs 80% of all kidney transplants in the country, will highlight the challenges of providing care with limited resources. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kandy.

Explore Kandy

Ghana - Takoradi

Takoradi isn’t your typical African city. It’s surrounded by fishing villages, thriving jungles, and African plains where familiar African wildlife can be spotted on safari. The town itself is a melting-pot of bustling markets, bars, and restaurants.

Local specialists in the medical field keen to share their intimate knowledge of Ghanaian healthcare will open doors to top departments on this medical internship in Africa — A&E, Female Surgical, and NICU to name a few. Assisting in the hospital’s HIV clinic will highlight the challenges of providing adequate care with limited drugs and technologies. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Takoradi.

Explore Takoradi

The Philippines - Iloilo

Iloilo is the perfect place if tropical beaches and clear blue seas float your boat. Discover vibrant marine life, join in on local festivals, and visit local bars and restaurants after hours.

A proactive attitude on your medical internship program will open doors to increased patient interaction, where you could assist in examining diseases like malaria and dengue fever. The high-sugar Filipino diet means cases of hypertension and cardiac arrest are commonplace. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Iloilo.

Explore Iloilo

Nepal - Kathmandu

The winding streets of Nepal’s energetic capital, Kathmandu, play host to street markets, free-roaming monkeys, ancient Buddhist temples, and buzzing nightlife. What’s more, adventure activities like paragliding, white water rafting, and bungee jumping are all close by.

On your medical placement you’ll have the chance to assist in a range of specialisms like Biochemistry, Psychiatry, Forensic Medicine, Microbiology, and Cardiothoracics. Proactivity will open doors to get involved in daily lectures and community-based programmes. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kathmandu.

Explore Kathmandu

Vietnam - Hue

A bustling hub of Southeast Asian culture and popular with backpackers. Busy markets, popular bars and delicious street food across the city. Nearby, find tropical beaches, rainforests, and ancient temples and pagodas.

To provide medical internships in Asia, we've partnered with an enormous university teaching hospital in the city of Hue. This allows you to gain experience across a wide range of specialisms. These include oncology, reproductive endocrinology, gastrointestinal endoscopy and even traditional Vietnamese medicine.

Explore Hue

Tanzania - Dar es Salaam

The energetic city of Dar es Salaam is encompassed by natural beauty — think views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, safaris, and the nearby island of Zanzibar, which boasts some of the world’s best beaches.

Our medical internship opportunities allow you to assist in busy departments like infectious diseases and emergency medicine, where you’ll encounter advanced cases like dengue fever, malaria, HIV, and cholera. Time in the psychiatric ward’s secure wing will give invaluable insight into African approaches to mental health. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Dar es Salaam.

Explore Dar es Salaam

"It was definitely an incredible experience! The healthcare system I observed during my placement in Sri Lanka differed significantly from my experiences in the UK. I am really thankful to the Work the World team and the staff at the hospital".

Saarah Nomani, Cardiff University, 2026

"To anyone considering doing a Work the World placement, I cannot recommend it enough"

George Hart, University of Sheffield, 2026

"The staff are so warm and welcoming, the food was amazing, and the whole house felt very cosy."

Amber Rollier, Ghent University, 2026

"All of the in-country team are so supportive and kind... you can talk to them about anything."

Rachael Jamieson, Edinburgh Napier University, 2026

"It was amazing to spend time with such lovely people and we created many memories together"

Anya Willsea, University of Brighton, 2026

From our blog

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What is a medical internship?

A medical internship is a clinical rotation medical students can undertake in low-resource hospitals overseas. Every year, more and more medical students are doing their medical internships abroad. To create your own customized medical internship overseas, learn more here.

How old do you have to be for an internship?

You have to be at least 18 years old to undertake a hospital internship with Work the World. Apart from age, you need to be a college student enrolled in or accepted on a professional medical degree.

What kind of cases will I see on a Work the World medical internship?

You will see cases like:

Tropical infectious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and chikungunya
Advanced conditions that have been left untreated
A high number of cases of HIV, sickle cell and other haematological diseases
Much higher numbers of RTAs than you’re used to at home
Conditions arising from socioeconomic issues, like pesticide-induced renal failure (at epidemic levels)

How long is a Work the World medical internship?

A medical internship is as long as you want it to be. Our minimum placement duration is one week with a maximum duration of 12 weeks. Costs vary depending on location and duration.