Top Destinations for Pre-Health Internships in 2025 (Ranked)

If you're a pre-health student looking to gain real-world clinical exposure, boost your grad school application, and explore the world, choosing the right internship destination is crucial. The best pre-health internships go beyond basic shadowing and offer immersive, hands-on experiences in diverse healthcare settings.

In this guide, we’ve ranked the top destinations for pre-health internships around the world based on factors like clinical learning opportunities, patient diversity, affordability, safety, mentorship, and cultural immersion.

> Explore Go-Electives Pre-Med Internships Abroad

Kenya (Mombasa and Nairobi)

Best for: Hands-on learning, high patient volume, public hospital exposure

Kenya continues to top the list for students seeking meaningful, immersive pre-health experiences. Go Elective’s programs at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa and select partner hospitals in Nairobi offer:

Direct patient care shadowing in departments like pediatrics, surgery, emergency, OBGYN, and internal medicine
Exposure to tropical diseases and conditions rarely seen in Western hospitals
Daily mentorship from licensed local physicians and healthcare staff
Safe housing, in-country support, cultural excursions, and small intern cohorts

Whether you're a pre-med, pre-PA, pre-nursing, or public health student, Kenya delivers a high-impact internship where you’re not just observing — you’re learning by doing.

Bonus: Interns can also participate in outreach programs and health education initiatives, enriching both their personal and academic growth.

Tanzania (Arusha or Dar es Salaam)

Best for: Rural health exposure and cultural immersion

Tanzania offers a balance of clinical depth and cultural adventure. Interns often rotate through public and mission hospitals, learning to provide care in under-resourced environments. Key benefits include:

Rotations in departments such as maternal health, general surgery, and infectious disease
Exposure to public health challenges in semi-urban and rural settings
Weekend access to Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti safaris, and Zanzibar beaches
Tanzanian hospital systems that foster resourcefulness and adaptability in young clinicians

Tanzania is a standout choice for pre-health students seeking experience in global health systems while living in one of East Africa’s most beautiful and welcoming countries.

Peru (Cusco)

Best for: Spanish-speaking students interested in rural health

Peru is a favorite for students with intermediate to advanced Spanish skills. Pre-health internships are typically based in Cusco, where students assist in clinics and small hospitals. Key highlights:

Work in primary care, pediatrics, and dental clinics serving indigenous communities
Language immersion for students pursuing careers in bilingual or underserved healthcare settings
Opportunity to explore Machu Picchu and the Andes on weekends

Note: Clinical exposure in Peru can be more observation-based due to language and licensing restrictions, but the public health learning opportunities are rich and relevant.

India (Delhi, Jaipur, or Kerala)

Best for: Cultural variety and exposure to traditional and modern medicine

India is one of the most populous countries in the world, with extreme contrasts in healthcare access and quality. Students here gain valuable insights into both modern medical practice and traditional healing systems like Ayurveda.

Rotate through busy public hospitals with high patient turnover
Gain perspective on systemic healthcare inequalities and resource management
Learn how social determinants of health play out on a massive scale
Experience a blend of medicine, culture, and spirituality

Interns should be prepared for sensory overload and be open to cultural adjustment — but the learning is unmatched.

Uganda (Kampala or Gulu)

Best for: Community health and infectious disease exposure

Uganda offers eye-opening experiences in rural and urban clinics. Internships here are often focused on:

HIV/AIDS care, maternal-child health, and malnutrition
Outreach programs in local schools and villages
Collaboration with NGOs and health workers on health education

Students come away with a deeper understanding of global health inequities and the power of grassroots healthcare efforts.

Nepal (Kathmandu and Pokhara)

Best for: Mountain medicine and global health research

Nepal combines cultural immersion with public health education, especially for students interested in global health, epidemiology, and disaster response.

Gain clinical exposure in hospitals stretched thin by natural disasters and geography
Learn from physicians managing trauma, tuberculosis, and altitude-related illnesses
Ideal for students also interested in global development or humanitarian medicine

Interns often participate in mobile health camps, trekking to villages where medical care is scarce.

South Africa (Cape Town or Durban)

Best for: Students interested in public health and infectious disease

South Africa’s dual burden of advanced medicine and deep healthcare disparities offers a unique training ground.

Work alongside professionals tackling HIV, TB, and trauma care
Get introduced to healthcare policy and the public/private healthcare divide
Immerse in a multicultural environment with a complex history of health equity

While some placements may be more observation-based, South Africa is ideal for students interested in the intersection of medicine and social justice.

How to Choose the Right Destination for You

When evaluating where to go, consider:

Level of clinical exposure:

Will you be shadowing passively or engaging hands-on under supervision?

Language:

Are you fluent in the host country’s language, or is the program English-speaking?

Focus area:

Do you want hospital-based care, rural health, global health systems, or public health projects?

Safety and support:

Does the program offer accommodation, transport, insurance, and local orientation?

Cultural learning:

Will you have the chance to interact with the community and learn about local healthcare customs?

Go Elective stands out for checking all five boxes, especially for students targeting clinical shadowing, medical volunteer experience, or global health immersion in Kenya or Tanzania.

Why Choose Go Elective for Your Pre-Health Internship Abroad

Accredited public hospitals with diverse specialties
Dedicated mentors and small group structure
All-inclusive program: airport pickup, housing, meals, and more
Cohorts from top universities in the US, UK, Canada, and beyond
Available for pre-med, pre-PA, pre-nursing, and public health students

Explore current opportunities at Go Elective Healthcare Internships, or browse specific tracks like Pre-Med, Pre-PA, or Pre-Nursing.