Science students interested in health professions are involved in international experiences for good reason. An international experience can develop professional skills and the ability to work with an increasingly diverse U.S. population. Graduate schools, professional programs and employers in health care, academia, non-profits, industry and government agencies value the skills and experiences gained by students who go abroad.

Considerations

  • IE3 Global Internships: IE3 Global Internships provides opportunities for junior and seniorstudents to gain credit and professional experience in in a wide variety of contexts and professional areas. Students earn 12 internship credits per term.
  • Study Abroad: Students can study abroad in a variety of settings focusing on majorrequirements, mostly in English. Students can also choose to focus on a foreign language or do an intensive, field-based program which includes a research project and field experiences.

Yes! If going abroad is a priority, there is generally a way to make it affordable. When comparing program costs, be sure to look at the total cost of attending OSU including living and tuition (see http://financialaid.oregonstate.edu/) as the costs can be comparable and differences can be made up. Students can also apply their current financial aid and scholarships to approved international programs while applying for additional scholarships and aid as needed. Early planning for international experiences also allows cost-effective program decisions.

All OSU programs are eligible for scholarships support. Students doing OSU research abroad can apply for URISC funding http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/urisc.htm.

Students can generally finish an undergraduate degree in four years with a term or more abroad. Students must complete 180 credits and all degree requirements to graduate, and most science majors can be completed in less than 180 credits (see MyDegrees for details). This means each student has electives, though numbers will vary. International experiences can count in the following ways:

  • All international credits can be used to satisfy the 180 credits required for graduation and some majors can also use them – see your advisor for details.
  • IE3 Global Internships receive INTL 410 credits though OSU GO. Check in with OSU GO regarding questions you have related to signing up for credits and your internship supervision. Talk to your major advisor about ways these credits can be integrated in to your major.
  • Study abroad courses can be considered for major, Baccalaureate Core, minor, elective credits or the180 credits for graduation. Ask OSU GO about the standard course load for the program you plan to attend and if there are lists of any courses taken previously at that site. Research program websites for other courses of interest. Draft an email of proposed classes with descriptions and how you hope to count them to [email protected]. Once you have interacted by email, make an appointment at http://ib.oregonstate.edu/advising/appointments to finalize courses as needed.
  • Early planning will allow students to integrate international experiences with degrees. Students who go abroad in summer will have to add that to their terms of aid and year costs, while going during the year can often be more cost effective as it avoids adding an additional term.
  • IE3 Global international internships are offered at many times of year and in some cases in summer. These can be integrated as a break in coursework for the major during the year or as an additional term in summer. Students must have junior standing to do an internship.
  • Most study abroad programs are not offered in summer. Students planning to study abroad can go for up to a year if they can find appropriate series courses. That being said, health professions students should avoid professional school prerequisites while abroad and many majors do not work for a year. It is most common to focus on a single term, and fall term programs match the OSU quarter well, while going at other times will often result in missing two OSU quarters.

Consider your academic interests and goals and work with your academic advisors and the staff in the Office of (Global Opportunities) to determine the right program. The following steps should help:

1. PLANNING

Begin to plan at least six months in advance. You may need to complete major prerequisites or language placements or coursework http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/school-language-culture-and-society/w.... Give yourself time to research programs and talk to your advisor about site(s) of interest. The best program for you depends on academic and professional goals, as well as degree requirements. Some important considerations are:

  • Talk to your advisor if you want to focus on programs related to your major or professional goals. Talk to OSU Global Opportunities if you want to focus on language courses abroad.
  • Studying abroad will provide an international campus experience with other students.
  • IE3 Global Internship or field-based study abroad programs will focus on professional experience.
  • Studying abroad on exchanges will generally keep program costs lower.

2. GETTING STARTED

  • If you are considering studying a language abroad, go to http://bit.ly/2cFWNEA to create a Terra Dotta account. OSU GO can follow up about next steps. Discuss timing with your advisor.
  • If you plan to focus on major or professional goals, talk to your advisor about program fit and timing. Go to http://bit.ly/2cFWNEA to create a Terra Dotta account so OSU GO can follow up on next steps.
  • Follow up on Terra Dotta and OSU GO items to apply. Note deadlines (typically 6 months ahead). Applications include recommendations, essays, and transcripts - start early!

The Office of Global Opportunities can help you identify additional program options beyond the ones listed below.  If you are considering an experience that focuses on language or another academic focus, create an OSUGO "Getting Started" account through the following link to discuss your options with an OSUGO team member.  Create Getting Started Account

Study Abroad and Internship Programs for Health Science 

MEDICAL

ARGENTINA

Primary Care & Social Medicine  |  IE3 Internship

BOLIVIA

Pediatric Health and Pre-Med Rotations  |  IE3 Internship

BOTSWANA

CIEE Community Public Health (Summer)  |  Study Abroad

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

CIEE ​Community Public Health (Summer)  |  Study Abroad

ECUADOR

Healthcare Rotations and Intensive Spanish  |  IE3 Internship

Community Medicine from Rainforest to Coast   |  IE3 Internship

GHANA

​Pre-Med Rotations and Child Health   |  IE3 Internship

INDIA

Pre-med Rotations and Public Health  |  IE3 Internship

Pre-med and Pre-Nursing Healthcare Rotations |  IE3 Internship

SOUTH AFRICA

​Pre-Med Rotations   |  IE3 Internship

SPAIN

STEM Research  |  IE3 Internship

VIETNAM

Student Exchange Vietnam   |  IE3 Internship

DENTAL

INDIA

Pre-med Rotations and Public Health  |  IE3 Internship

PHARMACY

INDIA

Pre-med Rotations and Public Health  |  IE3 Internship

SOUTH AFRICA​

​Pre-Med Rotations   |  IE3 Internship

ADDITIONAL STUDY ABROAD UNIVERSITIES

 AUSTRALIA

James Cook University  |  Study Abroad

ECUADOR

Universidad San Francisco de Quito  |  Study Abroad

FRANCE

Lyon Universities Study Abroad

University of Poitiers  |  Study Abroad

GERMANY

Baden-Württemberg Universities  |  Study Abroad

IRELAND

University College Cork | Study Abroad

UNITED KINGDOM

Bangor University, Wales Study Abroad

Lancaster University, England  |  Study Abroad

Sheffield University, England  |  Study Abroad

University of Nottingham | Study Abroad

University of Sussex | Study Abroad

HEALTH PROFESSIONS SHORT PROGRAMS

OSU Faculty-Led Programs (some health related)

Four week Healthcare Rotations in Ecuador | IE3 Internships

Four week Clinical Health Rotations in Ghana | IE3 Internships

Four week Public Health Rotations in India IE3 Internships

OTHER HEALTH RELATED PROGRAMS

JAPAN

Run for the Cure Foundation | IE3 Internships

OTHER BIOLOGY & ZOOLOGY ABROAD SITES

Click here for program list.

Global Opportunities