Exchanges

SCORE
The Standing Committee on Research Exchange organizes research exchanges for medical students.

About

More than 2500 medical students from around 80 countries participate yearly on a research exchange with SCORE, during which they are a part of one of the 3000 research projects offered worldwide and learn about foreign cultures, their healthcare systems and the diversity of research. In the past years around 15 medical students from Switzerland were able to participate and profit from a research exchange annually.

During the 4 or 8 weeks long research exchange you will be working side by side with your native tutor and their team on their research project. The selection of projects is large and diverse from basic research in the field of genetics of male infertility in Bucharest, to clinical research about osteoarthritis in Barcelona or needle injuries among medical staff in Turkey. Depending on the field of research your tasks will be diverse and there might be the possibility of presenting your work at a congress or collaboration on a published scientific paper.

Start a journey into the vast world of research, discover new cultures and learn new things for life! 

The purpose of a SCORE-exchange is to encourage the medical students‘ interest in basic and clinical research and thus in most of the cases does not need any prior scientific knowledge. This exchange is therefore available for every medical student starting from the 1st year of studying.

The SCORE-program is constantly being expanded. You can see the list of participating countries below. During the application process you can state 3 priorities for cities and research projects, whereby you will be allocated according to the criteria and capacities of the hosting country.

At this time it is only possible to have bilateral contracts with EU/EFTA countries. For other countries, unilateral contracts have to be made which are unfortunately limited in amount therefore an application with 3 non-EU/EFTA countries selected cannot guarantee a SCORE-exchange

What We Offer

Meals

One meal per working day

Accomodation

Either in a student dorm, staff room from the hospital, with a host family or in a shared apartment with other students

Internship

For 4 or 8 weeks in a research team of either basic or clinical research. *

Social Program

On site you will be cared for by local students, for example picking you up from the airport or organising various social events and activities. They will be by your side whenever any problem should occur.

*Please note that if you wish to go on an 8 week long exchange you have to add ‘8 weeks if possible’ in the application section under ‘I would like to be placed with another student’ 

English

A travel abroad, the preparation as well as the time during the internship all require meticulous communication. Due to this, swimsa exchanges requires good English language skills from all our outgoings (higher than B1). They must be shown at the time of registration through either an English certificate or confirmed by a high school diploma (Matura).

Costs

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.

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Bilateral: 600.- CHF

Unilateral: 365.- CHF + country specific unilateral fee (can be found in the hosting countries exchange conditions)

The costs are composed of the following:

    • An Exchange fee (460 or 225 CHF)
    • Blue fees/ exchanges fee (30 CHF)
    • Green fees/ Ecological fees (30 CHF)
    • A report deposit (80 CHF)

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).

Communication

swimsa exchanges is part of the international exchanges program of IFMSA and is subject to their terms and conditions. To have efficient ways of communication as well as minimize the workload of everyone involved, strict international communication guidelines have been introduced.

In short, we know that you cannot wait to go on your exchange and want to know everything there is to know about your hosting country. But it is prohibited for you to directly write to the NEO or LEO of your desired country! The NEOs and LEOs of swimsa exchanges are in close contact with the Exchange Officers around the world and will gladly help you with any inquiries.

Countries

Experience Reports

Enrollment

The application for the exchange season from April XX to March XX+1 opens in March XX-1 and closes at the end of May XX-1.

If you have any more questions please see either the FAQ section or take a look at the example of Max Muster!