Your perfect overseas placement
Discover how Work the World will turn your dream of an extraordinary overseas clinical placement into reality—simply choose your dream destination, secure your spot, and enjoy seamless, consultative planning and support every step of the way.
Do your elective with us if you're studying (or have graduated with a degree in):
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Medicine
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Nursing (all branches)
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Midwifery
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Biomedical science
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Physiotherapy
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Pharmacy
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Radiography
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OT
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Dentistry
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Paramedic Science
Work the World caters to a wide range of healthcare electives and placements abroad for both students and professionals. If you're looking for something that isn’t listed above, please get in touch using the enquiry form.
1. Discover YOUR dream DESTINATION
You can choose from a range of destinations across Africa and Asia. Still trying to figure out where to go? Shortcut the hours of research by chatting to one of our placement consultants.
Together, you’ll uncover the programme best suited to giving you the once-in-a-lifetime clinical and travel experiences you’re looking for.
- Travel whenever you like (we operate year-round)
- Placements start from one week upwards
- Travel with friends OR
- Travel solo and meet new people in the Work the World house
2. SECURE YOUR placement
You need to secure your space as soon as you can — there are limited available places. So, to make sure you get your first choice, we advise booking as early.
The process is easy. You can either phone us and pay your registration fee or use the Book Now button in the menu and fill in your details — it’s as simple as that.
Once you've paid your £300 registration fee, you'll get confirmation of your place within 24 hours. You can even spread the cost of the rest of your placements by paying in instalments up to 90 days before your trip.
Ready to start your journey? Speak to one of our consultants today.
3. Consultative placement planning
Planning your trip with Work the World will be stress-free. Your dedicated placement coordinator will guide you through the process from start to finish.
You are in control. You choose where you go and which departments you want to experience, then we make it happen — from organising the hospital placement to advising on details like flights and entry visas. You can rotate through as many departments as you have time for, and whichever departments you choose will be locked in before you travel.
In the lead-up to your trip, you can log into your online planner to see your trip timeline and get detailed information about your placement and expert insider information on your chosen destination.
You’ll feel totally prepared by the time your departure date arrives.
4. In-country support begins the moment you land
When you land at the airport, you'll feel confident knowing that a member of our team will be waiting to meet you.
You’ll head back to the Work the World house together, meet your new housemates, enjoy a home-cooked welcome dinner and settle into your room.
To help you find your feet and feel at home, the team will deliver your welcome briefing and then take you out on your city orientation the following morning.
Don't forget: You get 24/7 support from your in-country team, as much or as little as you need, all the way through your trip.
5. Exclusive, catered accommodation
During your stay, you’ll live in one of our private, fully-catered houses, which are exclusive to healthcare students and graduates on a Work the World programme.
This is a homestay step up from a homestay (often with a non-English-speaking family and other students on programmes unrelated to yours) that you might find with other less experienced providers.
You get a more premium, specialised experience with our team-run houses. You’ll live safely and comfortably the whole time you’re with us. And the house will feel like your home away from home.
Your house doubles as a fun social hub where you can make friends (and professional connections) from all over the world.
6. Once-in-a-lifetime clinical experience
To make sure you’re brimming with confidence from day one, Work the World's in-country team will take you to your placement hospital for your welcome session before your placement begins.
In the hospital, you’ll see unfamiliar cases, inventive practices and techniques, and unique cultural attitudes towards delivering care.
And you don't need to worry about learning the local language — your hospital supervisors speak English. Patient notes are in English, too. Placements run from Monday to Friday, and you’ll travel to the hospital with your housemates each morning.
Need to complete a certain number of placement hours for university? No problem: Your hours are guaranteed, and supervisors will formally sign off on any time you spend in the hospital.
7. TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE
Your trip is also your chance for once-in-a-lifetime travel and adventure. Your evenings and weekends are yours to explore whichever destination you choose.
- Kick back on tropical paradise beaches
- Go on an African safari
- Trek through the Himalayan Mountains
- Tour through ancient Hindu temples
- You name it!
If you’re travelling solo for your elective, you can spend your weekends adventuring with the new friends you make in the Work the World house.
Explore DESTINATIOns
8. English-speaking hospital supervisors
It’s important that you feel reassured that you’ll be fully supported in your overseas placement hospital.
With Work the World, you get a multi-layered supervision structure. And your English-speaking supervisors and their teams will have been briefed on who you are long before you arrive. Your only job is to approach your placement with enthusiasm, and you’ll quickly become a part of the team.
Remember: The in-country Work the World team is there to support you 24/7. They have strong in-person relationships with hospital staff and a presence in the hospital itself. If you ever need help with anything, they’ll be there for you.
Why choose Work the World?
With Work the World, you’ll be in the most experienced hands in overseas electives. Since 2005, we’ve tailored 20,000+ elective placements abroad in Africa & Asia for healthcare students and graduates like you.
Unlike generalist providers, we focus solely on healthcare electives—giving you a specialised, fully supported experience. From safety to personalised guidance, we handle every detail so you can make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime placement. You can even spread the cost of your placement once you've secured your space.
What healthcare disciplines do Work the World cater for?
Work the World organise supervised healthcare electives for the following disciplines: - 1. Nursing (all branches) 2. Medical 3. Midwifery 4. Physiotherapy 5. Radiography 6. Pharmacy 7. Dentistry 8. Occupational Therapy 9. Paramedic Science
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
How long is a typical Work the World elective placement?
An elective placement is as long as you want it to be. Our minimum placement duration is one week, but students typically travel on their electives from 2 - 6 weeks. There is no upper limit to how long you can travel for.
