Are you a pre-med student or aspiring medical professional looking to advance your specialized medical knowledge and gain a first-hand insight into medical practice abroad?
Whether you’re a pre-med or pre-nursing student, joining a pre-med volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ is the perfect opportunity to develop your specialized medical knowledge while gaining international volunteering experience in clinics and hospitals which don’t have reliable access to advanced medical care.
IVHQ offers pre-med volunteer opportunities in a range of destinations, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Peru, Argentina and Vietnam. This allows you the opportunity to join a medical volunteer abroad program without requiring a degree or clinical experience. While you won’t be performing any procedures or activities outside of your scope of experience, you will have the opportunity to shadow local practitioners and gain a first-hand insight into international healthcare systems, while providing support within understaffed clinics and hospitals.
Hundreds of pre-med and pre-nursing students choose to volunteer abroad with IVHQ every year, as the all-inclusive and affordable program fees make it easy to take a pre-med mission trip on a student budget. As an IVHQer, you can volunteer for periods ranging from 1 week to 24 weeks and the all-inclusive programs mean your airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support are all taken care of. Before leaving home, you’ll have the ongoing support of a dedicated IVHQ Program Manager to help with everything from organizing your visa, booking your flights, and yes, even talking to your parents. If you are looking to volunteer with a group of pre med students, get in contact with the IVHQ Groups team, who will be happy to customize a medical mission trip for your group.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities for pre-med students, browse the recommended medical volunteer abroad programs featured below. If you are interested in enhancing your knowledge of a specialized area, you can see the options listed under each featured program.
Costa Rica Pre Med Volunteer Program
- Specialization areas: Autism, HIV/AIDS Paramedics, EMTs and CNAs, Pediatrics, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy
- Placement settings: Volunteers are based in elderly homes, mobile clinics, children’s homes and assited-living homes
- Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
- Program fees: From $330USD for 1 week (+$65USD medical surcharge per week for supervision, materials and the logistics involved in this project). Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
Pre-med volunteers in Costa Rica have the opportunity to shadow local physicians in a range of settings, including nursing homes, clinics for disabled children, ambulance services and assisted-living homes for those living with HIV/AIDS. Shadowing local doctors, socializing with patients and supporting routines, such as taking vitals, provide volunteers with a first-hand insight into the healthcare system in Costa Rica, while providing valued support to local staff. Spanish language skills are appreciated on this project, and affordable language lessons are available at the volunteer base for those looking to advance their knowledge of the local language.
My project was absolutely perfect. It was beyond my expectations and I loved it. I definitely felt my time at the nursing home was appreciated. We helped out the nurses so much because they were extremely understaffed and it felt great to take some of the work off their shoulders. I also loved meeting people from all over the world and hearing about what it’s like in different cultures. Hannah Holladay (IVHQ Volunteer in Costa Rica)
Guatemala Pre Med Volunteer Program
- Specialization areas: Pediatrics, Paramedics, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy
- Placement settings: Volunteers are based in local clinics, hospitals and elderly homes
- Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
- Program fees: From $299USD for 1 week (+$65USD medical surcharge per week for supervision, materials and the logistics involved in this project). Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
Pre-med volunteers in Guatemala have the chance to work alongside local doctors and nurses in small clinics in Antigua, serving low-income communities. Activities for pre-med students vary but can involve supporting routine check-ups and basic medical care provisions, making beds, cleaning, speaking with patients, preparing materials and sterilizing equipment. If you have existing Spanish language skills, this can be a huge advantage in supporting your communication with clinic staff and patients. Language lessons are also available at an affordable rate to volunteers at the volunteer base in Antigua.
The project was a perfect integration of basic sciences and clinical medicine, and it also allowed for the group to see preventative and diagnostic medicine. The fact that we got to see a rural village as well as the schools was a great asset to this trip. It really allowed the group to contrast what undeserved areas are really like when outside of the U.S. The hands on experiences that we were able to participate in are priceless and will be held dear to everyone on the trip. Madison Bangert (IVHQ Volunteer in Guatemala)
India Pre Med Volunteer Program
- Specialization areas: Dentistry, Gynecology, Lab Technology, Midwifery, Nutrition, Paediatrics, Pharmacy, Radiology
- Placement settings: Volunteers work in a hospital and mobile clinic
- Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
- Program fees: From From $250USD for 1 week which includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
Gain a first-hand insight into the healthcare systems of the world’s fast-growing countries, shadowing experienced physicians who are passionate about cross-cultural learnings and sharing their medical knowledge with international students. In Delhi, you can assist with routine jobs, such as taking vitals, providing advice regarding health, nutrition and sanitation during routine check-ups, or treating minor injuries and wounds.
It was such a good experience! My host family was the best I have ever stayed with so sweet, kind and helpful. They treated me like family and were always looking out for me. We were provided all we needed at the wonderful apartment and three delicious meal a day. On the health project we were given a chance to see many sides of Indian healthcare system and all of our questions were answered answered. I was so impressed with each placement and learned so much. It was very good that for as a brand new nurse with so little clinical experience I was given a chance to learn so much. Katelyn Rowland (IVHQ Volunteer in Delhi, India)
Peru Pre Med Volunteer Program
- Specialization areas : Dentistry, Gynecology, Lab Technology, Midwifery, Optometry, Paramedics, EMTs and CNAs, Pediatrics, Ultrasound, Speech Therapy, Radiology, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy
- Placement settings: Volunteers are based in local clinics and hospitals
- Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
- Program fees: From $285USD for 1 week (+$65USD medical surcharge per week for supervision, materials and the logistics involved in this project). Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
Medical volunteers in Cusco play an important role in assisting local nurses, doctors, dentists and specialists in under-resourced clinics while learning about the healthcare system in Cusco. Pre-med students can provide support in taking weight, height, blood pressure, heart rate and temperature measurements, making beds, cleaning, speaking with patients, preparing materials and sterilizing equipment.
Everything was above and beyond what I had hoped for. The house had everything we needed, and the food was AMAZING. IVHQ are the best. I had the most fulfilling trip, and am already planning on returning next summer. Thanks so much for making volunteering affordable and fun. Olivia Gissing (IVHQ Volunteer in Lima, Peru)
Vietnam Pre Med Volunteer Program
- Specialization areas: Speech Therapy, Special Needs, Radiology, Physiotherapy, Paediatrics, Occupational Therapy, Autism
- Placement settings: Volunteers are based in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City
- Program duration: Volunteer for 2 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
- Program fees: From $295USD (+$25USD per week for training provided and resources used on this project). Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
Pre-med volunteers in Ho Chi Minh City have the opportunity to observe and discuss the Vietnamese healthcare system alongside local physicians, while developing specialized medical knowledge and assisting with basic procedures - an invaluable experience for those looking to pursue a medical career. Volunteers here provide support to an orthopedic and rehabilitation hospital, shadowing local doctors and nurses in the areas of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
The medical placement was the perfect combination of challenging, rewarding and eye-opening. I continue to be inspired by all the hard-working staff and medical team at the hospital, who do so much but with so little. Amazing! Phuong Dinh (IVHQ Volunteer in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam)
Argentina Pre Med Volunteer Program
- Areas of specialization: Special needs
- Placement settings: Volunteers are based in community clinics run by the municipal government in Cordoba
- Program duration: Volunteer for 2 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
- Program fees: From $325USD which includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support
Pre-med volunteers in Argentina provide support to healthcare professionals in community clinics within poor neighborhoods of Cordoba. These clinics provide general medical care to vulnerable families, as well as nursing services, vaccinations, gynecology, dentistry, social support, and other primary health attention. Pre-med students who wish to participate on the Healthcare project in Argentina should have an intermediate level of Spanish as they will be shadowing and learning from local doctors and socializing with patients.
As an aspiring doctor, it was a great experience being able to compare the healthcare system with that of the US. The doctors and nurses were also very helpful and tried to include me in everything that they were doing. This being my first time volunteering abroad, I believe I came back a more open-minded, independent, and appreciative person than I was a month ago. Keilly Pulgar
Are you a group of pre-med students who want to volunteer together in a hands-on and impactful way? Check out our range of options for pre-med groups below:
Pre Med Group Volunteer Programs
- Program locations: Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Vietnam, India, Nepal and Ghana
- Placement settings: Groups take part in medical campaigns in communities who otherwise do not have access to regular healthcare. Campaign locations typically include community centers, children’s homes and schools
- Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
- Program fees: From US$250 (+ private transport required for visiting the different communities each day). Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
Do you have a group of pre-med students who want to volunteer together in a hands-on and impactful way? IVHQ can customize an experience for groups of pre-med students that meets any requirements from your university or college. Contact our groups team groups@volunteerhq.org for further information, or apply for the program of your choice today.
