exclusive to healthcare students
- Live in Comfort and Community: On your Work the World programme, you’ll stay in a private, fully catered house — reserved exclusively for healthcare students and graduates.
- Safe, Social, and Stress-Free: Our houses are run by our in-country teams, so you can relax knowing everything is taken care of. You’ll enjoy the comfort and security you need, plus the chance to connect with like-minded peers.
- More Than Just a Place to Stay: Forget homestays with non-English-speaking families or students on unrelated programmes. With Work the World's tailored healthcare elective placements abroad, you’ll live in a space designed around your experience: your true home away from home.
Make yourself at home
Step into a space designed for comfort and connection. Our houses feature bright, spacious bedrooms, bathrooms, and plenty of communal areas where you can relax, share stories, or enjoy dinner with new friends.
You’ll have reliable Wi-Fi to stay connected, gardens for downtime in the sun, and — in most locations — a swimming pool to cool off after a busy day on placement.
A Premium Experience, Every Day
This isn’t just student housing. You’ll have in-house chefs preparing fresh meals daily, a dedicated housekeeper keeping everything spotless, and a 24-hour security team so you can focus on your placement with total peace of mind.
Your stay in a work the world house includes:
- Management team: Your Programme Manager and their assistant are based in the house and are there to make sure every detail of your trip is in place as it should be. You can contact them 24/7
- Catered meals: Your in-house chefs will prepare your meals, both local specialities and favourites from home. Dietary requirements are catered for, too
- Language lessons: You don’t need to speak the local language, but our twice-weekly language lessons will give you just enough to help you get that little bit more from your trip
- Housekeeping: Your housekeepers keep the house and grounds clean and tidy, so you’ve got a sanctuary to return to after a day on placement
- WiFi: All of our houses have WiFi, so you can stay connected to friends and family at home, as well as your Work the World housemates and our in-country team
- 24/7 Security: We hand-pick safe destinations and communities, but we have 24/7 security for your peace of mind
Make Friends and Connections for Life
Whether you arrive with friends or come solo, you’ll instantly be part of a supportive, social community.
Together with your housemates, you’ll head to placement, explore local bars and restaurants, and take weekend trips that create friendships — and professional networks — that last long after your trip.
And when you need downtime, there’s always space. Read in the garden, unwind by the pool, or watch a film in the lounge. It’s the perfect balance of community and calm.
Enjoy delicious chef-prepared meals
Your in-house chef team serves up breakfast and dinner daily — fragrant local curries, sizzling stir-fries, colourful salads, and comforting Western favourites when you want a taste of home. With impressive culinary backgrounds, they’ll make every meal something to look forward to.
Got dietary requirements? No worries — our chefs will tailor dishes to you. And be sure to save room for our legendary weekly Barbecue Night, when the garden fills with the smell of grilled meats and veggies, and everyone gathers to eat, laugh, and unwind together.
Feeling peckish between meals? The kitchen is always open and stocked, so you can grab a snack or fix something light whenever you like.
GET TOTAL PEACE OF MIND WITH AN EXPERIENCED IN-COUNTRY TEAM
You get all the in-person support you could ever need while on your overseas placement with Work the World. Your in-country team will be on hand from the moment you land to the moment you leave.
And if you’re more confident and independent, your team will know when to step back and let you enjoy your experience.
Your team is based in an office in the house, so you can get access to them as and when you need them. And they have close relationships with staff in your placement hospital, so you can call on them even when you’re on placement for support.
What is the accommodation for elective placements like?
During your stay you’ll live in one of our private, fully-catered houses that are exclusive to healthcare students and graduates on a Work the World programme. You get a premium, specialised experience with our team-run houses. You’ll live in safety and comfort the whole time you’re with us.
What is the typical cost of a Work the World elective placement?
Registration for all destinations is £300. Prices then vary depending on how long you want to go for and where you want to travel to. Our minimum placement duration is one week with no upper limit. On average electives are normally between 4 - 6 weeks. Do you need help funding your placement? If so, you can discover insider tips about grants, bursaries and fundraisers in our fundraising hub.
What are the benefits of elective placements from Work the World?
The benefits of our electives include:
- Expanding your clinical knowledge and skill set
- Becoming more confident, independent and resourceful
- Making yourself more attractive to employers
- Doing some proper travelling
- Building your personal and professional network
- Sharpening your language and communication skills
- Renewing your perspective on the NHS
