Study Abroad Opportunities for Pre-Health Students

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School for International Training

A wide range of programs for students interested in: medical school, physician’s assistant, public health, nursing, dental school, and working in healthcare in diverse communities.

Current Programs

Argentina: Epidemiology & Healthcare Management

Examine urban epidemiology, health inequalities, and the challenges of managing health services and policies to expand access to healthcare in Buenos Aires.

Duration: 6 weeks
Credits: 6
Courses taught in: Spanish
Program Base: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Argentina: Public Health in Urban Environments

Duration: 15 weeks
Credits: 16
Program Base: Buenos Aires
Language of Instruction: Spanish
Homestay: Buenos Aires, 12 weeks
Other Accommodations: Small hotels or hostels
Prerequisites: Previous college level courses in the health and social sciences, 3 recent semesters of Spanish and the ability to follow assignments in Spanish.

Chile: Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment

Duration: 15 weeks
Credits: 16
Courses taught in: Spanish
Language of Study: Spanish
Program countries: Chile
Program Base: Arica
Prerequisites: Previous college level courses in the health and social sciences, 4 recent semesters of Spanish and the ability to follow lectures, coursework, and readings in Spanish.

India: Traditional Medicine and Healthcare Practices

Gain a deep understanding of how India nurtures its vibrant, traditional medicine systems while experiencing economic growth and modernization.

Duration: 6 weeks
Credits: 8
Program countries: India
Program Base: New Delhi
Language of Instruction: English

India: Public Health, Gender, and Community Action (Fall 2023)

Understand how and why India's approaches to health, gender, sexuality, and identity are changing.

Duration: 16 weeks
Credits: 16
Program Base: New Delhi
Language of Instruction: English
Language of Studyy: Hindi

Italy: Food Security and Nutrition

Delve into sustainable agriculture on a Tuscan estate and explore how experts in the international community are confronting challenges of food security, nutrition, and health

Duration: 6 weeks
Credits: 6
Program Base: Montespertoli, Tuscany
Language of Instruction: English

Jordan: Counseling and Humanitarian Action Internship

Learn the principles of humanitarian action in crisis situations in Jordan, home to millions of displaced persons and refugees. Observe the workings of UN agencies during a five-week internship.

Duration: 7 weeks
Credits: 7
Program Base: Amman
Program countries: Jordan
Language of Instruction: English

Jordan: Psychology, Well-being & Mental Health

Explore approaches to mental health and well-being in Jordan and the Middle East, focusing on human resilience and self-care in conflict and post-conflict environments.

Duration: 16 weeks
Credits: 16
Program Duration: 16 weeks
Language of study: Arabic
Courses taught in: English

Jordan: Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action

Duration: 15 weeks
Credits: 16
Program Base: Amman
Language of Instruction: English
Homestay: Amman, 12 weeks
Other Accommodations: Hostels, research institutions, or small hotels
Prerequisites: None

Kenya: Global Health and Human Rights

Understand some of Kenya’s most pressing contemporary and societal challenges, including rapid urbanization, access to healthcare, and human rights.

Credits: 16
Duration: 16 weeks
Language of Study: Kiswahili
Language of Instruction: English
Program countries: Kenya
Program Excursion countries: Uganda, Rwanda
Program Base: Kisumu

Kenya: Virtual Internship in Public Health & the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Tropics

Intern with an organization working to bolster health systems in the tropics despite resource constraints and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Credits: 4
Program Duration: 16 weeks
Language of Instruction: English
Program countries: Kenya
Program Base: Online

Kenya: Internship in Public Health in the Tropics

Explore the complexities of public health promotion and practice in Kenya and the tropics while gaining practical professional experience in public health.

Credits: 7
Program Duration: 6 weeks
Language of Instruction: English
Language of Study: Kiswahili
Program countries: Kenya
Program Base: Kisumu

Kenya: Virtual Internship in Public Health in the Tropics

Gain professional experience working remotely with research organizations, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations and learn about the dynamics of public health in western Kenya.

Credits: 5
Program Duration: 6 weeks
Language of Instruction: English
Program countries: Kenya
Program Base: Online

South Africa: Community Health and Social Policy

Examine community-based health in South Africa, exploring the roles of the state, the media, and nongovernmental organizations in mobilizing community assets.

Credits: 16
Program Duration: 16 weeks
Language of Study: isiZulu
Language of Instruction: English
Program countries: South Africa
Program Base: Durban

Madagascar: Traditional Medicine and Healthcare Systems

Examine how history, geography, biodiversity, and demographics shape traditional and allopathic healthcare, and explore plant-based and traditional medicine.

Credits: 9
Program Duration: 7 weeks
Language of Study: Malagasy
Language of Instruction: English
Program countries: Madagascar
Program Base: Antananarivo

Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy

Explore global health issues and compare public health systems within the framework of international and sustainable development, humanitarian action, human rights, and social justice.

Credits: 6
Program Duration: 7 weeks
Language of Study: French
Language of Instruction: English
Program countries: Switzerland
Program base: Geneva

Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy

Duration: 16 weeks
Credits: 16
Program Base: Nyon/Geneva
Language of Instruction: English
Language of Study: French
Prerequisites: None required, but students with at least basic French proficiency will be at a linguistic advantage.

Vietnam: Traditional Medicine and Community Health

Gain a deep understanding of how Vietnam nurtures its vibrant, traditional medicine system while expanding and strengthening its far-reaching community health network.

Credits: 6
Courses Taught in: English
Duration: 6 weeks
Program countries: Vietnam
Program base: Ho Chi Minh City

The School for Field Studies

While any student can participate in these programs, students hoping to enter veterinary medicine will find them the most beneficial.

Current Programs

Cambodia: Elephants of the Cambodian Highlands

Spend your summer in the lush Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, studying the behavior and ecology of the endangered Asian elephant. Examine human-wildlife conflict and conservation pressures and discuss elephant welfare and management practices. Visit the vibrant city of Phnom Penh and the ancient temples of Angkor to explore the history and culture of Cambodia.

Duration: 4 weeks
Credits: 4

Kenya: Fundamentals of Wildlife Management

In this two-country fundamentals course, the world-famous national parks and reserves of Kenya and Tanzania are your classrooms. Through safari drives and field excursions, study wildlife found nowhere else on the planet – in person. Discuss different approaches to wildlife management and conservation, and learn about traditional knowledge and culture from Maasai and other community groups.

Duration: 4 weeks
Credits: 4

Kenya: Elephants of the African Savanna

The African elephant is a keystone species with a profound influence on the landscape and dynamic in which it coexists with other African wildlife. As the largest (and one of the most charismatic) animal walking our planet, its conservation continues to attract concern within and beyond Africa. Join SFS Faculty and leading elephant scientists to learn about these animals in the elephant conservation strongholds in and around Amboseli National Park. Hear the perspectives of local communities living at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, including their day-to-day interactions with the African elephant. Duration: 4 weeks

Duration: 4 weeks
Credits: 4

Tanzania: Wildlife Management Studies

Explore the iconic landscapes of Tanzania. Meet the country’s charismatic wildlife – from magnificent lions and elephants to thunderous herds of wildebeest and zebras – as you learn about their ecology and behavior. Experience the rich culture and traditions of Tanzania’s Maasai, Iraqw, and Hadzabe tribal communities while collaborating on issues of human-wildlife conflict and climate change. Finish the semester with an in-depth field research project.

Duration: 15 weeks
Credits: 18

Tanzania: Carnivores of the African Plains

Study the behavioral ecology and conservation challenges facing the African lion, cheetah, leopard, and wild dog – all of which are on the IUCN Red List, while observing some of Africa’s largest remaining carnivore guilds up close.

Duration: 15 weeks
Credits: 18

ISA Internships and Service Learning

Ireland: Business, Liberal Arts, and Nursing

The Business, Liberal Arts, & Nursing program is offered through the University of Limerick (UL). This program offers a wide variety of courses in many fields of study, including the Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Nursing. Popular subject areas include Business, Irish Studies, Health Sciences, and Engineering. Unique offerings include UL's Service-Learning course and UL's traditional Irish music and dance courses, which are available through the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Courses are taught in English by UL faculty with local and international students.

Location: University of Limerick, Ireland
Credits: 24-30
Program Duration: 16 weeks

Spain: Health and Natural Sciences

Alongside a variety of courses strongly focused on health, sciences, business, and humanities that are taught in English, you could have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a field of choice by participating in the host university internship course or other service-learning courses.

Duration: varied based on term and optional service weeks
Credits: 12
Requirements: minimum 2.5 GPA, there is no language requirement but at least one semester is recommended
Students with advanced level of Spanish conversation/comprehension can be placed in UCV Health Clinics, Oncology Hospitals, Education, Speech Therapy, Special Education and Psychology, Podiatry, and Physiotherapy. A lot of these placements also have internships available in English, those which are bolded.

Health Study Abroad Programs in the Pacific

Health and health care are deeply rooted in cultural and social contexts. Studying Health on a study abroad program with TEAN will give you access to unique courses and different perspectives on global health. Whether you are looking for some hands-on internship experience, a short-term summer program, or advanced courses through TEAN’s host university partners, we offer a range of programs designed to meet your academic goals.

Health Areas of Study

Sample Health Courses

Social Determinants of Indigenous Health (University of Wollongong – Wollongong, Australia)
Human Health and Disease (Monash University – Melbourne, Australia)
Improving Mental and Physical Health in Communities (Victoria University of Wellington – Wellington, New Zealand)Health and Globalization (Korea University – Seoul, South Korea)
Listen! Soundscapes, Well-Being and Musical Soul Searching (Mahidol University – Bangkok, Thailand)

Health and Exercise Science

Interested in learning more about a different health care system or how culture plays a role in sport and exercise? Study abroad exposes you to the social and cultural context of health, health care, and exercise science. This exposure can help you gain a greater understanding of how people's cultural or social background impacts their perspectives on health and well-being. ISA offers a range of programs with global health courses, allowing you to learn more both in and beyond the classroom.

Areas of Study

Exercise Science
Global Health
Health Science
Kinesiology
Nursing
Nutrition and Food Science
Occupational Therapy
Public Health
Sport and Leisure Sciences

Sample Courses

Discovering Self as a Healthcare Practitioner | University of Limerick – Limerick, Ireland
Global Health and Epidemiology | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome Campus – Rome, Italy
Community Medicine Service Learning | Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia – Lima, Peru
Applied Exercise Physiology | University of Stirling – Stirling, Scotland
Metabolism and Nutrition | Universidad Católica de Valencia – Valencia, Spain

Council on International Educational Exchange

While any student can participate in these programs, students hoping to enter veterinary medicine will find them the most beneficial.

Botswana: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Duration: 18 weeks
Credits: 17
Program Base: Gaborone
Language of Instruction: English*
Homestay with host families in Gaborone
Other Accommodations: Dorms at the Okavango Research Station
Program Requirements
- 2.5 Overall GPA
- 2 semesters of college level Biology, Environmental Science or equivalent

*Setswana Language and culture courses are taught in Setswana

CIS Abroad

Veterinary Science Semester in Thailand

This once-in-a-lifetime experience for pre-vet students does not waste a moment of your semester. With your cohort, you will gain over 250 hours working with veterinarians as you explore different parts of Thailand including the mountains and jungles around Chiang Mai, the metropolis of Bangkok, and the island of Koh Tao. This program is designed to provide you with technical knowledge and animal handling experience while building your cultural and communication skills as you work with amazing experts in incredible locations. The courses that are built into the program will provide you with experience in different areas of veterinary medicine and veterinarian-supervised training, including work with small animals, exotic animals, aquatic animals, wildlife, and zoological medicine.

Thinking about a career in veterinary medicine and applying to vet school? This program is ideal for gaining practical skills, building relationships with animal experts around the world, and gaining an insight into the life of a practicing veterinarian. Not to mention the hundreds of hours of unique experience that will give you a competitive edge applying to vet schools and in the field. Join us for animal experiences that you can’t get anywhere else on the planet while developing hands-on veterinary skills, building your resume, and having an amazing guided adventure in Thailand. Not planning to apply to vet school but interested in hands on-learning of animal and marine science? This is still the program for you!
Location: Thailand
Language of Instruction: English
Credits: 20
Duration of Program: 14 weeks
SSI Open Water or Advanced SCUBA certification included

UTC Study Abroad Office: Learn More

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