IFMSA Exchanges
The IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students' Associations) is the largest student organisation in the world. It is responsible for mobilising over 8000 medical students on clinical exchanges each year.
Why?
Professional Exchanges aim to promote understanding and cooperation amongst medical students and all health professionals. The exchange program offers a unique educational and cultural experience giving students insight into medical and social conditions in different countries. It is also a great opportunity to escape from the UK for a month, improve a foreign language maybe and make lots of fun new International friends. Finally, it is not only you that benefits in that you give someone from another country the chance to visit the UK. Everyone wins!
What?
The exchanges are 4 week clinical or pre-clinical placements in a specialty of your choice. 95 different countries are currently involved each with slightly differing exchange conditions (some sticter than others). Placements are all in English and/or the language of the country.
How?
In the UK exchanges are coordinated by the two National Exchanges Officers, or NEOs. They are responsible for signing the contracts with medical student organisations in other countries to allow the exchanges to take place and also oversee the local exchange officers (LEOs) around the country.
This Year 2010-11
We have 101 students heading off on exchange this year to 38 different countries around the globe. Destination countries include... Canada, Rwanda, Australia, Croatia, Indonesia, Brazil, Ghana and many more. Our annual Regional Training for LEOs takes place in the Autumn. The IFMSA March meeting, 2010 was held in the Thailand, while the following August meeting shall be held in Canada where we hope to sign plenty more contracts with other countries.
Sub Regional Training (SRT)
An exchanges training weekend took place in Santiago de Compostela, from 23rd April - 26th April 2009. This is for LEOs from around Europe to get together and further their work in the exchange program. It is also a great opportunity for anyone intersted in getting involved or setting up the program in their medical school. Email us if you want more details on applying for the SRT the following
I want to go on exchange! What do I need to do?
Find out if your medical school has an active local committee and LEO(check the list below for branches where Medsin exchanges are active). If your medical school hasn't yet started exchanges, then you could be their first LEO!
For more information on how to start exchanges at your medical school, or for the contact details of your LEO, contact the NEO's on neo.outgoing.uk@gmail.com (Charley) and neo.incoming.uk@gmail.com (Paul)
Don't miss out on a fantastic opportunity!
I'm coming to the UK on an exchange, is there anything I need to do?
Get in touch with neo.incoming.uk@gmail.com if you have any questions:
Some universities may require you to fill in some documents before you apply or arrive. You can find those documents here.
SCOPE Exchanges exists at
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Last updated on Friday 20 August 2010 at 17:28
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