Medical Work Experience Abroad for Teenagers

We understand that getting work experience in a medical setting as a student can be extremely difficult. That’s why we offer young people in Years 9, 10, 11, and 12 a safe, guided experience into the world of medicine through our High School Specials.

Our medical work experience abroad projects focus on experiential education, so you learn by doing. This provides you with not only an incredible international travel experience, but also a strong differentiator on your university application.

You can expect to:

Shadow doctors and other medical professionals in local hospitals and clinics
Attend medical workshops and seminars
Get first-hand insight into the healthcare challenges people face everyday
Participate in community healthcare outreaches that serve people in need
Learn essential medical skills like measuring blood pressure and blood sugar levels

Our High School Specials take place for two weeks on fixed dates during the summer. Join an ethical international medical project that benefits local communities and demonstrates your commitment to healthcare today!

Watch: Teens share their experience of a Medical Internship in Nepal

Frequently asked questions about medical student volunteering abroad

At what age can you do work experience in a hospital?

Our international opportunities allow participants aged 14 to 18 to get work experience in a hospital as a volunteer. That means students currently in year 9, 10, 11, or 12 at high school.

Our medical High School Specials will give you exposure to life working in hospitals and other key medical facilities around the world. They are designed specifically for young people, with age-appropriate activities and safety at their core.

“As soon as I turned 16 I started looking for work experience that would help me with my application [for a medical degree]. Projects Abroad came up with an amazing choice of fantastic countries that ran a two week special programme for Medicine, perfect!” - Medicine High School Special in Tanzania by Elena L

What kind of medical work experience can I do as a student?

For students interested in getting medical work experience overseas, we have two kinds of volunteer opportunities:

Medicine High School Specials
Public Health High School Specials

Medicine

This mainly focuses on clinical experience. Here are some highlights:

Observe doctors in different hospital departments, like General Medicine or Paediatrics
The departments you work with vary between destinations. For example, in Nepal, you can spend time in departments like oncology, and sit in on lectures with local medical students. In Spain, you’ll get experience in a state of the art “virtual” hospital, usually reserved for medical students!
Learn important, basic medical skills like suturing, measuring vital signs, or treating minor wounds.
As treatment is just one of many aspects involved in healthcare, you’ll also focus on preventative care through outreach and education. This element is not only deeply rewarding, but crucial to providing communities with effective healthcare

These projects are ideal for young people interested in becoming doctors and nurses. It may also help inform your decision that a medical career is right for you before committing to a university course.

Public Health

During Public Health High School Specials, most of your time will be spent out in the field. Here are the project highlights for a public health volunteer abroad:

Help medical professionals provide healthcare services through community outreaches, in countries like Cambodia and Mexico
Assist with education, and help spread awareness around relevant topics. For example, you may educate communities about nutrition in an effort to prevent diabetes
Have opportunities to practice healthcare in a clinical setting. We offer this to better inform your approach to preventative care

Public Health Projects are a great option for people interested in Healthcare, Advocacy, International Studies, and Social Sciences.

“The most exciting part for me was to be able to go into the surgery room and see a C-section and a hip replacement. I feel that being able to see these surgeries gave me experience that will be very useful when I pursue a career in medicine.” - Public Health High School Special in Mexico by Erica S

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A group of teenagers do basic health checks under supervision during their medical internship in Sri Lanka.

A high school student doing summer medical work experience in Peru checks a child's blood sugar levels.

A group of high school students doing a medicine internship take a break between shifts at a clinic in Kenya.

A group of high school students and a local doctor work together at a community healthcare outreach in Mexico.

What will I learn through medical volunteering abroad?

Beyond the practical skills you will learn by shadowing medical professionals, a medical volunteer experience abroad will also help you develop transferable, personal skills.

We regularly survey our participants to find out about their experiences and what they learned on their trip. Here are some of their answers:

96% feel more confident interacting with people from different cultures
94% reported that they have a better understanding of global challenges
93% think the skills and knowledge they developed will help them in future
91% are more confident in handling life’s challenges

We also ask additional questions to medical participants, and found that:

96% felt their medical internship improved their experience of studying medicine
93% claim their experience improved their medical school application
88% believe the experience they had with Projects Abroad could not be accessed at home

Where can I get medical experience abroad?

We offer more than 15 medical placements abroad that are exclusively available for teen volunteers aged 14 to 18. Each project has its own dedicated itinerary

Due to local requirements, some projects are only available for participants who are 15+ or 16+. You can find out the eligibility requirements of all our High School Specials here.

How do I ensure my medical work experience abroad is ethical?

We have a strict code of conduct for medical volunteering. This policy helps us ensure that our projects are ethical, and that we really help the local people we work with.

Plus, all our projects are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and prioritise the needs of local communities. Our partnerships are set up and directed by local medical professionals, so we are always targeting the needs of the community.

Get in touch to discuss your options

Not sure which project is right for you, or simply want to talk through all your options? Our Project Experts can guide you to the perfect medical volunteer abroad project based on your needs and aims.

Have a conversation with us today!