Learning Abroad Options

“Getting into a health profession program today is very competitive. Students who expand their undergraduate experience and acquire relevant world experience through opportunities like study abroad, will likely gain a competitive edge.”—Judy Beniak, Director, University of Minnesota Health Careers Center

Learning Abroad Process 

Consider these four questions: 

1. When do you want to learn away from Rochester?
2. How long do you want to live in another place?
3. What kind of experience do you want? (study, volunteer, observe, etc...)
4. Where do you want to go? 

When you can answer these questions, you are ready to begin exploring the options available to you as a student at the University of Minnesota Rochester.  During this process, please contact Michael Fridgen anytime for assistance. 

Tips to discovering the right experience

• The purpose of learning abroad is to have a cross-cultural experience.  Look for programs that offer significant cultural integration.  Extensive involvement in the host culture leads to personal growth and instills the cross-cultural skills that are so important to success as a health professional.
• If you prefer to participate in a classroom-based group program, consider seeking one that houses you with a family or host-country roommate.  Look for experiences outside the classroom such as internships, service-learning, or research opportunities.  This does not have to be in a clinic or hospital, and in many countries is in the community.
• Some learning abroad programs have a "health" focus.  Review the options, and identify programs that will help you consider an experience that will strengthen your knowledge of global health issues.
• If you speak the language, consider learning the medical terminology of that language.
• Consider health care in the broader context of health and the social systems that support health.  Understanding health and health care in a larger social context will help you to be more effective as a future health professional. 

Recommended Programs 

Kenya

Minnesota Studies in International Development (MSID)

• Program term: academic year, fall or spring semester
• Academic program built around grassroots development internships.  Homestays and research further enrich cultural immersion
• Past MSID health internship foci have included: public health/nutrition, maternal health, pediatrics, HIV/AIDS awareness
• Interns observe daily activities, assist with indirect patient care, and engage in discussions involving health care in development countries
• Instruction is in English; no prior Swahili is required 

India

Minnesota Studies in International Development (MSID)

• Program term: academic year, fall or spring semester
• Academic program built around grassroots development internships.  Homestays and research further enrich cultural immersion
• Past MSID health internship foci have included: public health/nutrition, maternal health, pediatrics, HIV/AIDS awareness
• Interns observe daily activities, assist with indirect patient care, and engage in discussions involving health care in development countries
• Instruction is in English

Senegal

Minnesota Studies in International Development (MSID)

• Program term: academic year, fall or spring semester
• Academic program built around grassroots development internships.  Homestays and research further enrich cultural immersion
• Past MSID health internship foci have included: public health/nutrition, maternal health, pediatrics, HIV/AIDS awareness
• Interns observe daily activities, assist with indirect patient care, and engage in discussions involving health care in development countries
• Instruction is in French

Tanzania

Study Abroad in Tanzania

• Program term: fall, spring or summer
• Semester program features course on leadership through engagement with a community organization related to students' interests including public health
• Public health course examines rural and urban health care, the role of community workers and traditional medicine, social determinants of health, link between health and development, progress toward Millennium Development Goals, and a comparison of Tanzanian and Ugandan health systems
• Excursions to tropical medicine hospital and traditional herbalist to compare and contrast modern and traditional medicine

South Africa

University of Cape Town

• Program term: academic year, calendar year, fall or spring semester
• Areas of study available at this university include: anatomy, physiology, immunology, genetics, neuroscience, pathology, physiotherapy, biology, chemistry and others
• This program is a university study program, which allows you to directly enroll in a foreign university and take classes with host country students.  Instruction is in English by African faculty
• No language prerequisite 

Ecuador

Minnesota Studies in International Development (MSID)

• Program term: academic year, fall or spring semester
• Academic program built around grassroots development internships.  Homestays and research further enrich cultural immersion
• Past MSID health internship foci have included: public health/nutrition, maternal health, pediatrics, HIV/AIDS awaremess
• Interns observe daily activities, assist with indirect patient care, and engage in discussions involving health care in developing countries
• 2 years college-level Spanish required 

Australia

University of Adelaide: Australia Summer Public Health (available through IFSA-Butler Australia)

• Program term: summer
• Study international health and indigenous cultures at one of Australia's most prestigious universities
• Students take a required international health course and choose two other courses
• An optional Community Engagement Learning Project allows students to volunteer with an indigenous organization 

Australia

University of Melbourne

• Program term: fall or spring semester, academic year
• Coursework available in biological and physical sciences
• Health-related courses include: public/community health, nursing, art or music therapy
• Fieldwork and lab research are available
• There may be prerequisites for specific courses 

Australia

Study and Internships in Sydney

• Program term: fall semester, spring semester, summer term
• Internships available in a variety of settings
• Students live in apartments or with an Australian family
• Experience the dynamic city of Sydney through a professional internship

Denmark

Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS)

• Program term: fall or spring semester, summer 3- or 6-week
• Semester programs include Medical Practice and Policy (classes taught at hospitals by physicians), Biomedicine (focus on drup development), and Public Health (focus on comparative policy models).  All students go on course-integrated, faculty-led study tours across Europe, included tuition.
• Summer courses include Human Health and Disease, Public Health in Northern Europe, Neuroscience of Fear
• No language prerequisite - all courses taught in English by Danish faculty 

Spain

International Program in Toledo

• Program term: academic year, fall semester, spring semester, May session and summer session
• This program is offered in collaboration with the prestigious José Ortega y Gasset Foundation and the University of Minnesota
• Health-related internships are available
• 4 semesters of college-level Spanish 

Ecuador, India, South Africa, Mexico

Child Family Health International

• Global health education experiences for health sciences students
• 4-8 weeks; some preparation in the local language preferred  

Various International Locations

Global Seminars

• Participate in a short term international experience, earn credit and fulfill liberal education requirements
• Ten or more locations and themes offered each year during winter break and May session    

Programs Not Affiliated with the University of Minnesota

• Learn about participating in a non-affiliated program by visiting this link
• Students wanting to use a non-affiliated program as part of their BSHS capstone must complete the Non-LAC Programs for Capstone Consideration form