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International Internships in Health & Life Sciences

Health and life sciences internships abroad provide a transformative experience for aspiring healthcare professionals and researchers, offering the opportunity to engage in hands-on medical and scientific practices within diverse cultural and healthcare contexts. These internships encompass a wide range of activities, from clinical observations and patient care to laboratory research and public health initiatives. Interns collaborate with local medical facilities, research institutions and health organizations, contributing to areas such as disease prevention, medical research, healthcare policy and community health outreach. Through these experiences, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of global health challenges, medical practices, and cross-cultural healthcare dynamics, while developing crucial skills in patient interaction, data analysis, and scientific methodology.

During these internships, individuals might be involved in conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing medical data, shadowing clinicians or supporting community health campaigns. The exposure to different healthcare systems and medical traditions fosters adaptability and a well-rounded perspective on healthcare disparities and solutions. By learning about patient care and contributing to groundbreaking research, health and life sciences interns abroad develop the expertise and empathy needed to address complex health issues on a global scale, ultimately contributing to improved medical practices and the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide.

Every World Endeavors Internship Program Includes

Our internships are as unique as the countries that host them, but there are program features that unify all of our internship experiences.

YOUR INTERNSHIP

  • Professional customized internship placement
  • Year-round program availability
  • Flexible durations from 1 to 6 months, depending on the destination

CAREER READINESS PROGRAM

  • Resume clinic and interview skills workshop
  • One-on-one coaching
  • Professional competencies development

ACCOMMODATION

  • Housing vetted and selected with quality, safety and proximity to your placement in mind

CAREER AND ACADEMIC INTEGRATION

  • Re-entry handbook and support
  • Academic credit facilitation
  • Post-program assistance with resume updates and completion certificate
  • World Endeavors Alumni Network

TEAM OF EXPERTS

  • Dedicated one-on-one advisor
  • Local on-site coordinator
  • Internship placement supervisor

PEACE OF MIND

  • Comprehensive travel medical insurance (not included with internships in the UK)
  • Mental Health First Aid-certified staff
  • 24/7 emergency travel assistance (not included with internships in the UK)
  • Professional liability insurance

Our Top Intern Abroad Destinations

World Endeavors volunteers support communities in several destinations in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. Our programs are located in a variety of sites, including urban and rural, economically developed and developing, and English-speaking and non-English speaking.

How to choose the best Internship program

Choosing your internship program is easy when you evaluate your priorities. Follow these steps to guide you toward your ideal program.

Explore a New Career

Interning abroad offers a great opportunity to explore your professional and personal interests, and help define your career path. Peruse our internship fields and past examples to find the best fit.

Choose Your Dream Destination

Finding a meaningful way to combine interning and travel to your dream location is a big incentive. Carefully consider which destinations suit your interests and international internship goals.

Improve Language Skills

Immersing yourself in a language-rich environment is the ultimate method for developing fluency. If language-learning is your goal, favor destinations that use your language of choice.

Fit your budget

Explore scholarships and financial aid to determine if these may impact your destination options. Consider the overall cost of the program and cost of living in-country to identify the optimal match.

Try our program finder to filter based on your choices.

SEARCH

All our Health & Life Sciences Internships

Explore our range of internship options and embark on a transformative journey of personal and professional growth in the ever-evolving realms of health and life sciences. If you would like to refine your search further then please use our Program Finder tool.

Internship Cohort
Costa Rica

Marine and Environmental Conservation Cohort Internship in Costa Rica

Immerse yourself in Costa Rica's rich biodiversity and make a direct impact on marine and environmental conservation efforts through this hands-on, 4-week internship. You’ll work alongside local communities, participate in critical research, and help preserve some of the world’s most precious ecosystems.

Marine and Environmental Conservation Cohort Internship in Costa Rica

Experience Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity through hands-on conservation work and cultural immersion. Begin in San José with a welcome dinner and a tour of local environmental initiatives, then head to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge for activities like wetland tours, bird counts, and environmental education with locals.

Along the coast, intern in Cuajiniquil to support coral reef conservation and sea turtle protection, and in Camaronal, assist with data collection and beach patrols for endangered sea turtles. Wrap up in Uvita, contributing to coral restoration and beach clean-ups before a final gathering in San José. This immersive program offers invaluable experience and a lasting impact on Cost

Intern Abroad
Italy

Occupational Therapy Internship in Italy

By immersing themselves in clinics and hospitals, Occupational Therapy interns in Italy receive comprehensive exposure to patient care and other dimensions of their field through their interactions with experienced occupational therapists.

Occupational Therapy Internship in Italy

By immersing themselves in clinics and hospitals, Occupational Therapy interns in Italy receive comprehensive exposure to patient care and other dimensions of their field through their interactions with experienced occupational therapists.

Intern Abroad
Spain

Occupational Therapy Internship in Spain

In Spain, the realm of Occupational Therapy presents a captivating opportunity for interns to embark on a transformative journey. Within this dynamic landscape, they find themselves in the heart of clinics and hospitals, collaborating closely with experienced occupational therapists.

Occupational Therapy Internship in Spain

Through this immersive experience, they not only gain insights into patient care but also explore various facets of their field. From understanding therapeutic interventions to honing their skills in assessment and treatment planning, these interns acquire invaluable practical knowledge that lays the foundation for their future in the realm of Occupational Therapy in Spain.

Intern Abroad
South Africa

Occupational Therapy Internship in South Africa

As they work alongside occupational therapists in clinics and hospitals, Occupational Therapy interns in South Africa acquire a holistic understanding of patient care, as well as invaluable experience in various aspects of their field.

Occupational Therapy Internship in South Africa

As they work alongside occupational therapists in clinics and hospitals, Occupational Therapy interns in South Africa acquire a holistic understanding of patient care, as well as invaluable experience in various aspects of their field.

Intern Abroad
Ecuador

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Internship in Ecuador

Work with an organization that provides therapies to children and teens with diagnoses like Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Internship in Ecuador

Work with an organization that provides therapies to children and teens with diagnoses like Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy. In addition to shadowing an OT, you can also help with therapies in a pool (hydro therapy) and with horses (equine therapy).

Intern Abroad
Costa Rica

Pediatric or Geriatric Occupational Therapy Internship in Costa Rica

Intern with an organization that provides therapies and early interventions for children with developmental delays - regardless of their income.

Pediatric or Geriatric Occupational Therapy Internship in Costa Rica

Intern with an organization that provides therapies and early interventions for children with developmental delays – regardless of their income. This clinic uses play as the main vehicle for teaching. Interns have exposure to other therapies like physical therapy and speech/language therapy to get a big picture view of developmental interventions.

Join the welcoming team at an elderly care facility, where you will assist with OT sessions along with daily health and wellness routines. Interns also gain experience with a wide range of therapeutic techniques, in addition to OT.

Intern Abroad
Costa Rica

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Internship in Costa Rica

Intern with an organization that provides therapies and early interventions for children with developmental delays - regardless of their income.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Internship in Costa Rica

Intern with an organization that provides therapies and early interventions for children with developmental delays – regardless of their income. This clinic uses play as the main vehicle for teaching. Interns have exposure to other therapies like physical therapy and speech/language therapy to get a big picture view of developmental interventions.

Intern Abroad FAQs

Where will I intern?

While some organizations have a list of open internships and place applicants in those positions, we work in the opposite direction. We first learn about you, your interests, goals and experience, and then actively pursue the internship that provides you with experience directly relevant to your future career. 

What will I be doing at my internship?

Our internships are customized to fit each individual’s goals, interests, and skill level. We consider all of these things and then make a placement accordingly. Therefore, we don’t have specific internships “set aside” waiting for people to fill them. We have placed interns in both small and large companies, but due to confidentiality of our host companies and organizations we are not able to provide a list of companies.

If I am accepted into the program, am I guaranteed an internship?

We are confident in our ability to find impactful,  skill-building internships. If you are accepted into our program, we guarantee that we will find you a placement in your first or second choice field.

Do I need to have experience?

We arrange rewarding internship placements for people with all levels of experience. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an expert in your field, a successful experience requires a positive approach and a mind open to learning, growing and strengthening your skills.

Are the internships paid?

We really wish we could offer paid internships, but all of the internships we coordinate are unpaid placements. Paid internships abroad are few and far-between, as they require a different type of visa that is difficult to attain, and they also require sponsorship by the host company, which is quite costly for them. The goal of our program is to provide meaningful, hands-on experience in your specific profession or field of study that will give you a competitive edge in the job market and make you valuable to employers who are globally minded. If you are seeking a placement to help you gain international experience, improve your skills in your field and enhance your resume, our program provides the perfect opportunity.

What companies do you work with?

Our internships are customized to fit each individual’s goals, interests, and skill level. We consider all of these things and then make a placement accordingly. Therefore, we don’t have specific internships “set aside” waiting for people to fill them. We have placed interns in both small and large companies, but due to confidentiality of our host companies and organizations we are not able to provide a list of companies.

Is there a cost to particiate?

We strive to provide immersive, life changing, and professionally rewarding programs for our interns. Our programs are designed as a comprehensive “program” instead of just the internship so that we can provide a full experience for our participants. The program fees we charge include the in-country expenses (housing, insurance, orientation, etc.) and also the dedicated work that goes behind finding a customized, one-of-a-kind, international internship placement.

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How to apply for an Internship Abroad

You’ve decided to intern abroad – congratulations! Applying for your World Endeavors program is easy and stress-free. Get ready to PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!

STEP 1
EXPLORE & ASK

Research and compare. If you can’t decide on a program, we can guide you toward the best fit.

STEP 2
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Fill out our online application form to share all your relevant details with our team.

STEP 3
ENROLL & PREPARE

Receive your official acceptance and enroll. We’ll give you all the info you need to get ready!

STEP 4
START YOUR ADVENTURE!

You’ve researched, planned and saved. Now you’re ready to gain skills and grow your network abroad!

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