At a glance
- A tailor-made internship that balances learning, impact, and adventure
- Shadow medical professionals to gain valuable insights
- Complete 40 hours of direct observation in a South Asian hospital setting
- Contribute to the community through 15 hours of impactful medical outreach
- Plus, join medical-based workshops and lectures
- Rotate through different hospital departments to discover your area of interest
- Live and work with local people and meet other medical students from around the world
- Marvel as you explore the majestic Himalayan foothills
- Download a sample itinerary for this project
Is an Undergrad Medical Internship in Nepal right for me?
Calling all future doctors! Are you ready to combine medical work experience with an unforgettable adventure? This medical internship in Nepal is just what you’re looking for.
Use your summer holiday to elevate your academics. Shadow medical professionals, perform community outreach, and forge connections with passionate students who share your dream.
This internship has it all — medical learning, community impact, adventure, and friendship! Give yourself a head start and get set up for success in your postgraduate training and beyond!
This internship provides:
- Experience: Shadow medical professionals and participate in community outreach programmes, putting your classroom knowledge into action.
- Exposure: Discover your passion as you rotate between departments and learn if you would like to specialise or go into general practice.
- Access: Our curated itineraries give you structured access to the daily realities of a medical professional.
- Skills: Develop valuable skills like cross-cultural communication, teamwork, and problem-solving — essential for your medical future.
This Undergrad Medical Internship is for you if:
- You want to make a real difference, contributing to the wellbeing of local communities while getting practical experience.
- You believe you should experience a range of medical departments to uncover your calling.
- You want to showcase your adaptability and resilience by challenging yourself in a South Asia healthcare environment.
- You want to discover Nepali culture, living and working alongside local people.
Please note that this internship rotates between different departments on fixed dates. As such, it may not fulfil the requirements of your medical elective.
What will I do on a Medical Internship for undergraduate students?
This Undergrad Medical Internship provides unmatched opportunities to take your medical knowledge to the next level!
Here’s what to expect:
- Dive deep into Nepali healthcare: Immerse yourself in a real-world hospital setting and see how doctors handle challenges in a developing country.
- Learn from the best: Shadow experienced doctors, observe their patient interactions, and witness medicine in action.
- Develop your bedside manner: Hone your communication skills by talking with patients and participating in community outreach programmes.
- Unlock hidden knowledge: Attend workshops and lectures on Nepali healthcare issues, gaining insights beyond your textbooks.
- Build your medical arsenal: Explore diverse healthcare practices and build a strong foundation for your future medical career.
But wait, there's more! This internship isn't just about medicine. Connect with local people, explore Kathmandu and its surroundings, and immerse yourself in a vibrant new culture. Plus, if you stay for three weeks or more, visit the incredible city of Pokhara in the shadow of the Himalayan Mountains.
Where in Nepal will I be working?
Kathmandu
You’ll be based in Kathmandu, Nepal’s colourful capital. Here, you’ll gain world-class clinical experience by shadowing top medical staff in bustling city hospitals.
Kathmandu is a sprawling city where Himalayan adventurers rub shoulders with ascetic holy men. Every day will be an adventure – you’ll never run out of things to do.
With a population of over three million, hospitals in Kathmandu are often overcrowded and resources are spread thinly. You’ll learn quickly by observing how medical staff manage in such difficult circumstances.
Nepal is dealing with many diseases rarely found in the UK, such as tuberculosis, dengue fever, and cyclosporiasis.
There will be plenty of practical cases for you to observe, such as:
- Cleaning wounds
- Suturing
- Administering injections
By travelling to Nepal, you’ll see how healthcare operates in a different cultural setting. This will help you develop a more empathetic bedside manner that will serve you for a long time to come.
Outside of your placement, you can explore city markets, travel to Pokhara, or hike in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas.
What are the aims and impact of this Undergrad Medical Internship in Nepal?
The aims of this internship for medical students are to:
- Facilitate first-class medical experience, setting you up for your postgraduate training and beyond.
- Complement your academic studies with real-world medical experience.
- Develop your bedside manner as you interact with patients and learn to communicate across cultures.
- Exposure to how healthcare is managed and delivered in a low-resource environment.
At the same time, you’ll visit Nepal to leave a positive impact, treating disadvantaged community members. Up to 25% of the population in Nepal falls beneath the poverty line, meaning access to basic healthcare is limited for vulnerable groups.
The health concerns facing Nepal include:
- Diarrhoeal disease, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, and cyclosporiasis.
- Dengue fever, which reached a new peak in 2022.
- Malnutrition, especially among children living in poverty.
- Injuries caused by natural disasters, particularly floods and earthquakes.
- Overburdened and often understaffed hospitals.
- A lack of education in poverty-stricken and remote areas.
You’ll help to treat vulnerable community members in Nepal while raising awareness of healthy living. This will give you the experience you need to succeed in medicine. It will also contribute to our long-term aims of addressing health needs globally.
Food and accommodation
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay: You’ll stay in a hotel in Kathmandu. This will be close to the hospital or clinic where you’ll work. Our staff will show you how to get to your placement during your induction.
Comfort level: Your accommodation in Kathmandu will be modest, but comfortable, with hot showers and Wi-Fi. It’ll be clean and in a safe area.
Who you’ll live with: We’ll try to ensure you share a room with at least one other volunteer or intern, who may even be a medical student themselves. The number of people you live with depends on when you travel. Whoever you meet, they’ll become a friend to explore Nepal with.
Learn more about our accommodation.
Food
Daily meals: Three meals a day are included in the project fee. We'll ensure you eat well and can enjoy all that Nepali cuisine has to offer.
Dietary requirements: Our projects cater to a wide range of dietary preferences. We can provide vegetarian, vegan, and halal food. In fact, vegetarianism is widespread in Nepal! You’ll have access to a wide variety of delicious food, no matter what diet you follow.
Nepali cuisine: You’ll eat like a local as you sample traditional food from Nepal. The national dish of Nepal is Dal Bhat, which combines lentil curry, steamed rice, and countless spices. There will be plenty of fresh local vegetables to try as well as endless restaurants for a broad range of meals to choose from.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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