Medical Internship In India
Quick Overview
Our medical internship program caters to medical and nursing participants of all levels (enrolled at Medical School or University already) or Pre-medds and provides a comprehensive insightinto the medical system of India with immense learning opportunities. From beginners in Year 1who have an interest (but no experience) in the field, to advanced 5th year students looking for specific specializations, we have all the bases covered. Pre- meds must get in touch with us before applying.
Kerala where this medical elective or internship program is based is a state in India which has a reputation of quality public healthcare and medical
services, which is remarkable. In recent decades however the dependance on public health carehas declined substantially and private sector hospitals are now more prominent. You will be give an medical placement in the private sector where you will have access to a larger and wider network of medical
professionals, range and volume of patients and exposures to comprehensive set of wards and special units that they would not have access to in the public sector.
In Kerala, the private sector hospitals are extremely competitive there is also a greater volume of future doctors and nurses as the sheer volume of patients they get is increasing. We place all medical and nursing students (those who have at least some university experience) at the private hospital in Cochin city,
where you get exposure to a wide range of patients and cases available in Kerala, all under the watchful guidance of a professional and caring team of doctors and nurses. Language is also less of a barrier as medical teams are able to converse in English and teach students who are willing to learn.
What’s Involved
For this medical placement you will be living in the charming town of Fort Kochi (in Cochin) and your placement will be in the city of Cochin. In the private hospital, university students and experienced medical and nursing participants will have the opportunity to get exposure across a range of wards (subject to availability), such as General Medicine, Paediatrics & Neonatology, Imaging & Radiology, Emergency, Anaesthesiology& C Care, Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology/Neurosurgery,
Gastroenterology, Urology, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics. Pre-meds must get in touch with us to check which departments will be available.
Working hours at the placement will be for a minimum of 5 hours upto 7 hours Monday to Friday with clinical schedules given on arrival by our medical coordinator. It is important to note that the experience is mainly observation-based, where you will get exposure to a wide range of cases and patient types. Some students may get the opportunity to get more hands-on medical experience where you are allowed to interact directly with patients but that is entirely at the discretion of the medical and nursing staff based on their comfort level with the particular student.
All medical and nursing participants are supported by various consultants in the various units who apart from providing daily guidance are willing to teach students on cases present to further enhance learning and knowledge development.
On weekends you will be free to explore Cochin and Kerala. Culturally, Kerala is great and activities that you can get your involved in the evenings the Kathakali (traditional dance) or yoga class. In your spare time your can visit local beaches or enjoy the famous Kerala backwaters boat trip and if you have more time visit the lush tea plantations of Munnar where you can even go trekking with fellow volunteers or medical students.
All The Details
Cochin, India
| 2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 |
| 14th September | 4th January | 21st March | 13th June | 12th September | 12th December |
| 21st September | 11th January | 28th March | 20th June | 19th September | 19th December |
| 28th September | 18th January | 4th April | 27th June | 26th September | 26th December |
| 5th October | 25th January | 11th April | 4th July | 3rd October | |
| 12th October | 1st February | 18th April | 11th July | 10th October | |
| 19th October | 8th February | 25th April | 18th July | 17th October | |
| 26th October | 15th February | 2nd May | 25th July | 24th October | |
| 2nd November | 22nd February | 9th May | 1st August | 31st October | |
| 9th November | 29th February | 16th May | 8th August | 7th November | |
| 16th November | 7th March | 23rd May | 15th August | 14th November | |
| 23rd November | 14th March | 30thMay | 22nd August | 21st November | |
| 30th November | 6th June | 29th August | 28th November | ||
| 7th December | 5th September | 5th December | |||
| 14th December | |||||
| 21st December |
For 2021 please select Saturday Start dates of each month. This program is available year round.
All our rates are in USD$ per person
| NUMBER OF WEEKS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Program Fee in USD $ | $999.00 | $1,169.00 | $1,339.00 | $1,509.00 | $1,679.00 | $1,849.00 | $2,019.00 | $2,189.00 | $2,359.00 | $2,529.00 | $2,699.00 |
What’s Included?
Program Fee Includes:
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- Hospital Placement
- Orientation and basic training on arrival
- Shared Accommodation
- Two Meals at home (breakfast & dinner) (except on Sundays)
- Staff Support and medical coordinator at the hospital
Whats not Included :
- Flights and Visas
- Medical and travel insurance
- Lunch
- Transport to the project
Local Team
Geetha Raj: Kerala Program Manager
Geetha is the backbone of our programs in Kerala. Her friendliness, generosity and warmth towards every volunteer will leave you feeling extra special. Having worked as local journalist for almost 10 years, Geetha grew a passion for community development work is very forward thinking. She is instrumental in Program development and is a born leader, giving you the direction you will need to succeed as a volunteer. Her team will look after all your needs from the time you enter Kerala to the time you leave.
Getting There
- For South India you need to arrive at Cochin International Airport (COK)
- We recommend you apply for Tourist Visas before you arrive. India issues E-Visas for 4 Weeks only.
- Travel Insurance is compulsory on this program. You can get in touch with our team if you need travel insurance organised.
- We recommend you visit your local travel clinic to find out what vaccines you should take.
What Happens When I Arrive?
Living Arrangements for Medical Students:
This program in India is based in Kochi, Kerala, recently voted as the top 10 cities to visit in 2020 by the Lonely Planet. The volunteer house and where you will be living is in the area of Fort Kochi in Kochi (or Cochin as it called also) in the state of Kerala (Southern India). This is an idyllic and safe location with a truly tropical and laid back vibe. You will be surrounded by greenery filled streets, beautiful colonial era mansions, artsy cafes and restaurants, and local shopping.
In the volunteer house you will be sharing rooms with other volunteers or medical students. The house comes with a dining area, kitchen area, lounge and our office is on the ground floor so we are around incase of any issues or just for a chat!
All our medical students get delicious home cooked local Indian meals (breakfast and dinner) prepared by our house chef. All meals are prepared fresh with available seasonal vegetables. Lunch is not included in your program fee and most of our medical volunteers usually have their lunch at the hospital canteen. Daily transport to your placement will be using public transport. Please expect travel time to be 50-60 mins by bus or ubers.
Daily Transport :
The hospital will be 50 to 60 mins travel time from the volunteer house. Our local team will show you to take the bus to the placement and back. You can also uber back or use the ferry.
Excursions: If you need any excursions in Kerala or around India booked then we would be glad to assist you. We have excellent travel planners we work with and we can put you in touch with them to plan your weekends in India.
Why Volunteers Love Us!
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‘My experience in India was absolutely fantastic. Having never done anything like this before, Volunteering Journeys made sure I settled in well and supported me throughout my time. Being placed with an amazing family gave me the chance to experience Indian culture first hand. I was part of the Disabled Childcare Programs for two weeks. Although short, I felt the time I spent was so valuable for the children. If this is something that you are interested in I would 100% recommend it. The memories, friendships and experiences you will develop will be ones that you will never forget.’
Fiona Kirk
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‘The teaching experience was second to none. I was overwhelmed by the respect and politeness all the children have, which made it some much easier to work with them, even with the language barrier. The amazing thing about the schools I visited was that all the children are like little sponges, they absorb everything you say, teach and do! It’s quite outstanding how much they gain from just a small conversation in the playground or in the class room.
So in general if you are questioning whether you want to volunteer and you don’t know what company to go with, it has the be Volunteering Journeys. You will be well looked after, gain an immense experience and make friends for life!!!’
Jemima Kershberg
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‘I took a short sabbatical from work in November 2013 and decided to come to India. I was helping at a small school in Fort Kochi, teaching English, Maths, Science and the odd nursery rhyme. The school where I volunteered had amazing teachers and the kids were great. Ridhi and the team organised everything brilliantly – from cycling tours to the backwaters, to hosting me with a family that made my stay feel like home. If you’re going to volunteer in India then I highly recommend Volunteering Journeys’
Glyn Owen
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“J’ai passé deux mois formidables à Kochi en travaillant comme volontaire avec Volunteering Journeys. Deux mois de ma vie que je n’oublierais jamais. J’ai rencontré des gens incroyables et participé à des projets qui me tenaient vraiment à coeur. J’ai pu voir l’aboutissement de mes efforts et le sourire sur le visage des enfants. Une expérience magique que je recommande à tous. Merci Rainbow”
Laura Prigogine
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‘I spent 3 wonderful weeks with the Volunteering Journeys team in Kerala, it marked the beginning of almost 2 months adventuring through India, and I can say without a doubt it was one of my favourite experiences of my time spent in incredible India! From the moment my plane landed and I was greeted by a friendly face and whisked away to a wonderful home, the local staff were incredibly welcoming, helpful, supportive and great fun to be around!
I spent my time volunteering in 2 local schools, assisting with English studies. The enthusiasm and joy with which the children approach their days will ensure you never want to leave!I cannot recommend Volunteering Journeys highly enough, it was such a joyful introduction to India – it’s culture, people and crazy beautiful way of life. You will leave with some fond memories and firm friendships’
Katie Parsons
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‘I volunteered by teaching English both at a school and at an all girls’ orphanage for two months. It has been the best experience of my life so far. I really got to know the children I was teaching and seeing the children’s English improve over my time was an incredible feeling. From being introduced to yoga to tasting delicious flavoursome Indian cuisine and living in “God’s own country”, has left me eager to return. I have made friends across the World who made my time spent in Kerala unforgettable. I highly recommend volunteering with Volunteering Journeys; Kerala is beautiful and you will gain fun memories.’
Elidith Cameron
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‘I spent two weeks running an art workshop which was absolutely fantastic. The children were so enthusiastic and bustled about with paste and paint, putting together the most amazing creations. They were not used to producing collaborative work and were thrilled when their individual efforts achieved a glorious whole. Their personalities really shone through and I became very fond of them in the short time I was with them. Thank you to Volunteering Journeys for enabling me to have such a wonderful experience!’
Jane Daniell
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‘There is some kind of magic that happens when you’re in India. The climate, the people, the warm welcome, the happiness in every person, the culture, it’s simply inspiring. On top of that having a group of friendly, thoughtful organizers guiding me through the program made my time volunteering with Volunteering Journeys one of the most memorable moments in my life.
If anyone reading this is considering becoming a volunteer, don’t hesitate, become a volunteer. It will be the most rewarding experience and adventure of your life. I assure you that you will have a vital impact on the community, the place and the children. I would recommend Volunteering Journeys without hesitation. Well organized and hassle free adventure. You get help and guidance with everything you need. Kerala was my destination. Safe, beautiful and very friendly. Just do it and have an adventure of your life!’
Harminder Athwal
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“Volunteering at the schools was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Once again the friendships you create are irreplaceable. Admittedly, the first few days were scary, in the sense that my partner and I were only 18 & 20 yrs old and we were teaching women and children a language that was not their first. However the persistence and willingness of Indians is not to be tested. Each of our students put in 100% and naturally we became very personal with everyone and these women and children taught us much more. We came out of this experience with more than we had ever anticipated. It can’t be put into words just how much we learnt from volunteering. Ever aspect of our lives and mindset has changed.”
Aimee Chirio
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‘I think it was quite an eye opening experience to kind of see how people live and enjoy their lives very differently to what we do probably in UK. Even though comparatively they didn’t have as much, the children still came to school with a smile on their face and they were really keen to learn. They were ever so happy and always had a smile on their face regardless of the circumstances that they are living in, and I think that was an amazing experience for us to take back. We have comparatively much more wealth in the UK and we have much more available at our fingertips. Yet we were quite not so happy’
Andrew Davies
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‘We decided to volunteer as part of our family vacation. It was the perfect balance: making a contribution but not being asked to do too much, with Volunteering Journeys staff with us every step of the way to help, support, clarify, etc. I was also impressed that they didn’t feed us a line about how we were changing the world in a week; I knew going in that *we* would be the ones most changed, and the staff’s perspective’s was the same: we were making an impact by showing we cared and sharing experiences, which hopefully meant something to a lot of people.’
Bob Macauley & Family
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