Study Abroad
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Can I study abroad as a pre-health student?
Yes! Many pre-health students choose to study abroad during their time at Northwestern. We encourage you to plan ahead and begin to get an understanding of the available opportunities through the Global Learning Office website. Once you have an idea of the timing in which you’d like to go abroad, we can help you build your schedule around that experience. Keep in mind that, depending on your health professions path(e.g., medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc.) and desired timeline, you may need to take a flexible approach to fitting in a study abroad experience.
Can I take pre-med courses abroad?
Health professional schools generally prefer that applicants take their courses at their home institution. We typically advise students not to take pre-med/pre-health coursework abroad, but there may be exceptions. If an applicant does want to take coursework abroad, it typically has to be with a U.S. or Canadian-based institution for the courses/grades to be counted.
What kind of study abroad program should I do?
Whichever program sounds interesting to you and fits with your course planning, it does not have to be pre-med focused. However, Global Health majors must do a public health focused study abroad experience approved by Global Health Studies.
I am participating in a study abroad program that is affiliated with another university. Do I need to submit my transcript from this institution in addition to my Northwestern transcript?
This can vary depending on the health path and health professional program that you’re pursuing. However, most application portals for health professions programs require transcripts for all undergraduate institutions attended, including study abroad. Carefully review the application guide for the application portal you’re applying to and see their requirements pertaining to transcripts and coursework.
I found a study abroad program that provides clinical experience / shadowing. Will this count for clinical experience / shadowing?
- We recommend that you review and follow the AAMC Guidelines for Premedical and Medical Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experience Abroad and only choose a program that adheres these guidelines.
- Remember, if you are not qualified to do something in the U.S., you certainly are not qualified to do it in another country.
- From the above AAMC document: Many pre-health students believe that the more in-depth clinical experience they have, the stronger their applications will be. However, taking on tasks that are beyond your training could make you look unethical, unknowledgeable about the health professions, irresponsible to admission committees, and may diminish or eliminate your chance for acceptance into health professional school.
- You do not need to go abroad to engage in global communities, many cities have international populations in need of service.