How to List an International Internship on Your Med School CV

Make Your Global Health Experience Stand Out on Applications

You’ve completed a medical internship abroad—maybe you shadowed surgeons at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, participated in mobile clinics in rural Tanzania, or assisted with maternal health rounds in Mombasa. Now it’s time to showcase that valuable experience on your medical school CV.

An international internship is more than just a line item. When listed correctly, it tells admissions committees you’re adaptable, globally minded, and serious about your future in healthcare. This guide will walk you through exactly how to list an international internship on your med school CV and how to make it count.

> Explore Go-Elective Pre-Med and Medical Internships Abroad

Why Your Internship Abroad Deserves a Spot on Your CV

Medical schools in the U.S., U.K., and Canada are increasingly interested in applicants who demonstrate:

• Cultural competence
• Global health awareness
• Initiative and adaptability
• Hands-on clinical exposure in diverse environments

An international internship—especially one done through an immersive program like Go Elective—checks all those boxes. But admissions officers won’t know what you learned unless you list it clearly and strategically.

Where to Place the Internship on Your CV

Here’s where you can list your international internship depending on the CV section:

1. Clinical Experience / Shadowing

If your internship included hospital rotations, direct shadowing, or patient observation, this is the best place.

2. Volunteer Experience

If your role was mostly non-clinical or community-based (e.g., public health outreach, health education), list it here.

3. International Experience or Global Health (Optional)

Some CVs have a section just for global engagement or travel-based education. Use this if your school encourages it or if your internship complements multiple other global experiences.

4. Certifications and Courses (If Applicable)

If your internship included training sessions or online courses (e.g., Global Health 101), list those under education or certifications.

How to Format Your CV Entry

Use a clean and consistent format. Here’s an example you can adapt:

Go Elective – Pre-Medical Internship
Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya
June–July 2025 | 80+ clinical hours

• Shadowed physicians across departments: Surgery, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Emergency Medicine
• Participated in bedside rounds, minor procedures, and patient intake
• Gained exposure to healthcare delivery in a low-resource, high-volume public hospital
• Developed cultural competence through immersive local engagement and cross-cultural mentorship
  
  

If you did outreach work or rotated through mobile clinics, include:

• Assisted with health education during rural outreach to underserved communities
• Supported antenatal care sessions and vaccination drives in collaboration with local clinical officers

What Med Schools Want to See

It’s not just what you did—it’s how you describe it. Focus on impact, exposure, and reflection. Here’s what to highlight:

1. Skills and Knowledge Gained

Did you improve your clinical observation skills? Did you better understand patient-provider dynamics in underserved areas?

2. Cultural Competence

Mention working in diverse environments, adapting to different systems, and communicating across language or cultural barriers.

3. Initiative and Independence

Interning abroad shows you took charge of your own learning journey—emphasize this.

4. Relevance to Career Goals

You can link the experience to your interest in primary care, surgery, maternal health, or health equity in your personal statement or interview.

Sample CV Bullet Points (for Different Disciplines)

For Pre-Med Applicants:

• Observed over 100 hours of patient care across emergency, internal medicine, and surgical wards
• Gained early insight into diagnostic processes and cross-disciplinary collaboration in a large public hospital

For Pre-PA Students:

• Shadowed PAs and clinical officers, gaining perspective on mid-level providers’ role in global healthcare systems
• Conducted clinical case write-ups and participated in small-group academic discussions

For Nursing Students:

• Assisted with wound care and vital signs monitoring under nurse supervision
• Gained hands-on experience with maternal health and neonatal care practices in a referral maternity unit

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Being vague: 

“Interned abroad” is too broad. Always list specific departments, skills, and takeaways.

2. Forgetting location: 

Clearly mention the country, facility, and context.

3. Overstating your role: 

Be honest about what you observed vs what you assisted with.

4. Missing the reflection: 

Admissions committees want to know what the experience taught you—not just what you did.

Can You Include It on AMCAS, AACOMAS, or CASPA?

Yes. For AMCAS (MD), AACOMAS (DO), and CASPA (PA school), your Go Elective internship can be included under:

• Health-Related Experience
• Physician Shadowing
• Global Health or Volunteer Work
• Other Work or Activities

Be specific in your experience description, and include hours, dates, and supervisor contact if required.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Just List It—Leverage It

Your international internship is more than a line on your CV. It’s a story that illustrates your motivation, maturity, and mission as a future healthcare professional. When listed well, it can:

• Strengthen your application narrative
• Set you apart from peers with only domestic shadowing
• Reinforce your interest in underserved communities or global health

At Go Elective, we help students translate their internship into admissions value—whether you’re applying to medical school, PA programs, or nursing school.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 28, 2025