Apply Here - 1st & 2nd Year Students

The International Health Equity Learning (IHEL) Program provides Year 1 and Year 2 MD students with the opportunity to participate in a four-week global learning experience through a non-credit international elective. These placements are designed to support students in exploring global health, health equity, and diverse healthcare systems while meeting their individual learning objectives.

Students are supported throughout the process by the Internationalization Office and the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Office and may complete placements at approved international partner sites or through an independently organized placement abroad.

Available destinations are listed below (and can change annually). Each international partner will provide you with a different learning experience. Please thoroughly research and review your destination prior to submitting your application to ensure that it is aligned with your learning goals.

Application Information:

  • Applications Open: October 9th, 2026
  • Applications Close: November 20th, 2026
    • Late applications are not accepted
    • Learners may apply for different destinations. To ensure each application is strong, please ensure that it is tailored to the individual destination.
  • All applicants must include a Letter of Academic Good Standing in support of their application. Participants must remain in Academic Good Standing for the duration of the program.
  • Learners with a Professionalism Flag of a Level 2 or higher will not be considered. Learners who receive a Professionalism Flag of a Level 2 or higher will not be permitted to continue with the program.
  • Program duration is four weeks, starting on Monday and ending on Friday. Alternative dates can be arranged, but need to be confirmed directly with the Internationalization Office
  • Learners in Year 1 or Year 2 may not depart for travel prior to the last curricular session in June and must return before the start of the first curricular session in August/September.


Application Review & Selection Process:

  1. All applicants will receive a copy of their completed application
  2. When applications close the Internationalization Office will provide confirmation to each applicant that their application is under review.
  3. Applicants who move through the first review stage will be invited for a short virtual panel interview.
  4. All applicants will be notified of the selection decision. Selection and placement offers are typically communicated four weeks after the application deadline.
  5. Successful applicants will be asked to accept or decline their placement around two weeks after the offer.

 

Available Opportunities in Summer 2027:

  1. Medical University of Graz (Graz, Austria)
    1. Travel for four weeks, aligning with either the Pediatric Summer Program or the Cardiology Summer Program
  2. Humanitas University (Milan, Italy)
    1. Travel for four weeks, anytime between the beginning of June and the third week of August.
    2. Learners planning to travel later in the summer must arrive to Humanitas by the third week of July.
  3. Joint Clinical Research Centre (Kampala, Uganda)
    1. Travel for four weeks, anytime between the beginning of June and the end of August.
    2. Students who travel to the JCRC must travel in a group, flexibility with dates is required.
  4. The University of Manchester (Manchester, England) 
    1.  Attend the Medicine International Summer School at The University of Manchester
    2. 2027 Dates tbc.
  5. VinUniversity (Hanoi, Vietnam)
    1. Travel for four weeks, between June 10th and August 15th
  6. Steno Diabetes Centre & Hvidovre Hospital (Copenhagen, Denmark)
    1. Travel for four weeks, anytime between the beginning of June and end of July.

 

For more information on any of the partners listed above, review our Partner Information page or contact the Internationalization Office (internationalization@schulich.uwo.ca).