An International Educational Experience (IEE) is a transformational experience. It changes the lens through which our students see their world. They see their patients with new eyes; they hear with new ears; the familiar is no longer mundane, it has new meaning for them.

When the advisors in the Office of International Programs meet with each student, we listen deeply to what our students are looking for in an IEE. We do everything in our power to move a dream into reality with a tangible plan because we know that while completing an IEE impacts a person's life, not completing one also impacts a person's life.

Our IEE students are curious, adventuresome and want to engage with their world, but they don't always have the answers to very basic questions: What can I do? Where can I go? How can I pay for it? And planning an IEE can be overwhelming. As advisors, we are dedicated to looking for the answers, guiding the students to their own discoveries and finding resources to support their exploration.

View Specific Country Information

School of Health Professions

SHP students have a variety of opportunities for international experiences, depending on their program schedules. Please contact International Electives for more details: internationalelectives@kumc.edu.

School of Nursing

Nursing students can participate in a summer experience between their N3 and N4 years. Please contact International Electives for more details: internationalelectives@kumc.edu.  

School of Medicine

Medical students have numerous international opportunities during their academic career at KU Medical Center.

KUMCIO Spring Break IEEs

This student organization leads first- and second-year students on international educational experiences to Central America during spring break.

M1 Summer Experience

During the summer following their first year, students can earn elective credit through a highly individualized IEE that explores a specific topic of interest. Students can conduct independent research, gain clinical or laboratory experience, practice language skills and explore learning and living in a different culture.

To begin planning for a summer international experience:

1. Think about what kind of experience you want.
   • Research, clinical, laboratory?
   • Culture, language skills?
2. Schedule a meeting with the Office of International Programs, internationalelectives@kumc.edu

M4 Clinical Elective Rotation

Students in their fourth year can perform a clinical rotation at an international location. We have a number of partnerships with medical schools, hospitals and clinics around the world that accept our students. KU Medical Center students can perform rotations in Thailand, Ireland, Germany, Zambia, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain, to name a few.

Long-Term International Experiences

Students are eligible to use a leave of absence to earn a master's degree, conduct research or learn a language at an international institution.

KU Medical Center medical students can apply for scholarships and fellowships to pay for these experiences, including the Fulbright scholarship, the Rhodes scholarship, the Boren award, DAAD awards, etc. The Office of International Programs can help you apply for these awards.