As part of the SCOPE of IFMSA, swimsa has been collaborating with medical students worldwide creating opportunities for clinical exchanges across the globe since 1951. Today, SCOPE has grown to be the largest student-run exchange program in the world, with more than 15’000 medical students from around 130 countries embarking on their exchange journey each year, to discover new healthcare systems, get to know foreign cultures, social settings and live like a local medical student. Of the 15’000 students mentioned, around 80 are from Switzerland. 

During this 4 week internship you will work hand in hand with a local doctor as your tutor in a hospital setting. This provides an unique opportunity of exploring health care delivery in a different setting, fostering intercultural learning and understanding, as well as improving medical skills and learning new things for life.

“It‘s not a month in a life but a life in a month“

A clinical exchange with SCOPE is perse available for every medical student in their clinical years at the time of their exchange. Country specific exceptions may apply. Language and study requirements, additional costs and general country specificities are summarized in the country-specific exchange conditions. 

We also offer Research Exchanges – SCORE for all medical students from their 1st year of studies on.

*Please note that internships in Switzerland are often of high quality in comparison to other countries. Depending on the hosting country, the tasks and possibilities for students might be more limited than in Switzerland but the insight into a foreign healthcare system is incredibly valuable!

Clinical Exchanges with SCOPE have full academic recognition at our 7 universities. When complying with the universities individual requirements a SCOPE exchange can be accredited for your elective year (Wahlstudienjahr/Année de stages)!

Since medical students from all over the world are taking part in this program, there is a good chance that medical students from other countries will be hosted at the same place and time. Especially in summer months, you will not just have the opportunity for a cultural exchange with your hosting country but with all the incoming students from other countries too!

Travels abroad, adequate preparations as well as the internship require good communication. Due to this, a B2 English is required from all our outgoings. Both an official English certificate as well as a Swiss high school diploma can serve as adequate proof. Depending on the country and department, additional languages may be mandatory.*

* See country-specific exchange conditions.

We distinguish between unilateral and bilateral exchanges. During a bilateral exchange/contract another student from the hosting country has the opportunity to visit Switzerland while you go abroad. If only you go to the hosting country it is called an unilateral exchange/contract. The type of contract you receive (uni- or bilateral) will be clarified during the IFMSA August Meeting. Our influence on this is very limited. As a general rule of thumb, contracts with European and central/south American countries are bilateral in nature. Contracts with African or Asian countries are rather unilateral.

You can get the following reimbursements at the end of your exchange:

• • For writing an A4 experience report and filling out the evaluation form within 30 days after your exchange: 80 CHF
  • For the proof, that you travelled to your exchange without the use of planes: 25 CHF (one way) / 50 CHF (both ways)*
  • If before or during your exchange you have been engaged either within swimsa exchanges** or as a swimsa internal: 50 CHF***

*Only applicable if the first condition is also fulfilled, so a report was written. If you use a plane to get to your exchange, swimsa exchanges will donate the 30 CHF to myclimate.ch.

**Only if recognised by the current swimsa exchanges team.

***According to the definition made by the EB (Executive board) at the time of registration, as well as the following EB (active during the exchange).

The entire communication will be done via email through the National Exchanges Officer for Outoings (NEO-Out): neo.out@swimsa.ch.

The application season for an exchange in the season of 01.04.2026 – 31.03.2027 opens in March 2025 and closes at the end of May 2025.

If you have any more questions please see either the FAQ section, take a look at the example of Max Muster or contact neo.out@swimsa.ch.