Student
Exchange
Program

Each year, more than 15.000 medical students embark on a journey to explore health care delivery and health systems in different cultural and social settings.

A group of students taking a photo together.

0 Exchanges each year

0 Countries available

0 Different exchange programs

History

IFMSA was created to foster cooperation and collaboration among medical students by breaking down social barriers through promoting opportunities for dialogue and creating clinical exchanges via the Standing Committee On Professional Exchange (1951). The Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE) was founded in 1991 as the Standing Committee on Electives Exchanges (SCOEE) and in 1998 it was named back to SCORE. Both exchanges programs are endorsed by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME), the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA), the Federation of European Neurosciences Societies (FENS), the European Society for Emergency Medicine (EuSEM), the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), the International Pediatric Association (IPA) and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).

What to expect

Each year, more than 15.000 medical students embark on a journey to explore health care delivery and health systems in different cultural and social settings. This is achieved by providing a network of locally and internationally active students that globally facilitate access to research and clinical exchange projects, which usually last four weeks. Through our programming and opportunities, we aim to develop both culturally sensitive students and skilled researchers intent on shaping the world of science in the upcoming future. Our exchanges programs are key promoter of intercultural understanding and cooperation amongst medical students and health professionals, which much needed in our globalized world as IFMSA believes.

All exchanges last for four weeks, and are handled in a bilateral basis. The students are offered a spot in the department or the research project of their choice, as well as lodging, accommodation and often a social program. They are assigned a tutor during their entire exchange, that make sure that the students are actively participating and improving their skills.

A lot of measures are taken to provide a good academic quality of the program. The most important one being the student handbook, that is a book of records of the tasks performed by the student and that also contains checklist of skills of certain departments. Some of those checklists have been developed in the previous years in collaboration with WONCA, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the World Federation of Neurology.

The other second important measure is the official certificate, that is only delivered to the students if all the requirements are met, if the student handbook is fulfilled, and if at least 80% attendance of the clerkship is secured. This certificate is signed by both the tutor and hosting exchange officer, and allows most of the student to get credits from their home university.

How to apply

Participation in the IFMSA Professional Exchange Program is open to medical students from any of our National Member Organizations. If you would like to apply for the IFMSA Professional Exchange Program, you must apply through your National Member Organizations. If you are from a country where IFMSA is already represented, you should contact our representative in your country. Please contact the Local or National Exchange Officer who will provide you with all necessary information of how to apply for IFMSA Professional Exchange Programme.

For any questions related to exchanges, students are invited to read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page (Click here) or to contact their respective local professional exchanges officers (LEO) and/or their local research exchanges officers (LORE).

Unfortunately, many medical students do not have the opportunity to experience research while in medical school. Research is essential for the development of medicine and without it, the medical field could never have reached the stage it is at now with innovative methods of diagnosis and treatments.

The Professional Exchange program is a full educational program offering clerkships to medical students abroad. Since the very beginning, in 1951, it was evident that exchange of medical students would be one of the main fields of action in IFMSA.

Unfortunately, many medical students do not have the opportunity to experience research while in medical school. Research is essential for the development of medicine and without it, the medical field could never have reached the stage it is at now with innovative methods of diagnosis and treatments.

The Professional Exchange program is a full educational program offering clerkships to medical students abroad. Since the very beginning, in 1951, it was evident that exchange of medical students would be one of the main fields of action in IFMSA.

Pro-trip World
Insurance Packages

Endorsements for the exchanges:

World Federation of Medical Education (WFME)

It was agreed that these exchange programmes remain very professionally organized and absolutely worthy of endorsement by WFME. They are commended to medical schools and medical faculties, world-wide.

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

FENS values and fully supports the IFMSA research exchange programme, (SCORE) which provides medical students a chance to experience new research settings.

World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)

WONCA believes [IFMSA Exchange Programme] affords students a chance to experience new health settings, with clear academic aims and objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can find answers for the most common questions by clicking on the button below.