Work the World

George, a medical student from The University of Sheffield, recently completed his placement with us in Kathmandu, Nepal.

“One of my friends told me about Work the World, and after looking at the website and chatting on the phone with them, I decided an overseas placement was for me! Having never visited South Asia, the idea of visiting Nepal and experiencing a different culture felt exciting and new. I also looked at several different companies, but Work the World seemed to be the most suitable given the living situation and the amount of support you receive throughout your stay.

“During my placement, I was offered so many amazing opportunities. Within the plastic surgery team, I was given the chance to scrub into surgeries multiple times. I learnt a lot about skin grafts and flaps, something that isn’t regularly taught to medical students in the UK. On a few occasions, I assisted with wound dressing changes, as well as minor surgeries like finger amputations.

“To anyone considering doing a Work the World placement, I cannot recommend it enough; the support from the team is excellent. They are experts in overseas placements and will be able to support you every step of the way. You will make so many memories that will stick with you for life, and get to experience lots of new and exciting things. I would of course recommend coming to Nepal for your placement, especially the village week, for a true Nepali experience!”

Amber, a medical student from Ghent University, recently completed her placement with us in Tanzania.

“I wanted to challenge myself by stepping out of my comfort zone and gaining clinical experience in a completely different environment. Tanzania offered me the chance to learn from resourceful healthcare professionals, broaden my cultural perspective and grow both personally and professionally.”

“The Work the World house is like a home away from home. The staff are so warm and welcoming, the food was amazing, and the whole house felt very cosy.”

“It was inspiring to have the experience with other students from around the world. We exchanged stories about our lives and studies, supported each other during our placement and shared unforgettable adventures after placement and on the weekends.”

“One thing about my experience that will stick in my mind forever is witnessing my first C-section and normal birth - it’s just so special to be a part of that. It made me change the way I think about stuff and where my priorities lie. Tanzania made me more compassionate and grateful for the opportunities I had at home.”

You can read more about Amber's time in Tanzania on our website! Thinking of going overseas for your own placement? Submit the short enquiry form on our website, and we'll be in touch with some more information.

Ella, a medical student from James Cook University, recently completed her placement with us in Kathmandu, Nepal.

“Work the World made the process of organising an overseas medical elective so much easier. Overseas travel is intimidating at the best of times, let alone trying to organise a placement in a hospital, arrange accommodation and ensure safety.

As a female travelling by myself, I wanted a placement that was reliable, well supported and gave me a welcoming environment to meet new people - Work the World ticked all these boxes and more. From navigating airport transfers, weekend getaway destinations, offering support on placement and cooking amazing food - there really is nothing they can’t do.

Living with other healthcare students honestly helped me as a solo traveller so much… Undertaking placement in a different country can be confronting, but the presence of other students meant that we could easily bond and debrief on cases we had seen or challenging aspects of our days. The team consistently goes above and beyond to accommodate all students and truly make the house feel like a home away from home.”

Are you thinking about going overseas for your placement? We’ve got over 20 years of experience creating safe, structured overseas experiences for healthcare students across a range of disciplines. Head to our website and submit the short enquiry form to get started.

Thomas, a medical student from Cardiff University, recently completed his placement with us in Kathmandu, Nepal.

“I wanted to experience a healthcare system significantly different to the UK's, and to see how financial, logistical, and cultural barriers require a different approach to practising medicine. This also included seeing the diagnosis, management, and patient experience of conditions I would otherwise rarely see.

“Bypassing the need to organise my elective independently meant that more time, effort and money could be directed towards making the most of our trip, as opposed to stressing about these things ourselves.

“Living in a house that’s exclusively for healthcare students offers ​excellent exposure to like-minded people studying in the same environment. Social gatherings such as Dhal Bhat night and BBQ night served as excellent catalysts for making new friends and lifelong memories.

“Work the World provided excellent housing, food, transport, advice, placement logistics and opportunities for reflection during this trip.”