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
Medical schools in the U.S., U.K., and Canada are increasingly interested in applicants who demonstrate:
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.
Here’s where you can list your international internship depending on the CV section:
If your internship included hospital rotations, direct shadowing, or patient observation, this is the best place.
If your role was mostly non-clinical or community-based (e.g., public health outreach, health education), list it here.
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.
If your internship included training sessions or online courses (e.g., Global Health 101), list those under education or certifications.
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
If you did outreach work or rotated through mobile clinics, include:
It’s not just what you did—it’s how you describe it. Focus on impact, exposure, and reflection. Here’s what to highlight:
Did you improve your clinical observation skills? Did you better understand patient-provider dynamics in underserved areas?
Mention working in diverse environments, adapting to different systems, and communicating across language or cultural barriers.
Interning abroad shows you took charge of your own learning journey—emphasize this.
You can link the experience to your interest in primary care, surgery, maternal health, or health equity in your personal statement or interview.
“Interned abroad” is too broad. Always list specific departments, skills, and takeaways.
Clearly mention the country, facility, and context.
Be honest about what you observed vs what you assisted with.
Admissions committees want to know what the experience taught you—not just what you did.
Yes. For AMCAS (MD), AACOMAS (DO), and CASPA (PA school), your Go Elective internship can be included under:
Be specific in your experience description, and include hours, dates, and supervisor contact if required.
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:
At Go Elective, we help students translate their internship into admissions value—whether you’re applying to medical school, PA programs, or nursing school.
Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,
Author: Go-Elective Abroad
Date Published: Jun 28, 2025
Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.