Our medical internships for high school students abroad place students in hospitals and community health programs in Kenya and Peru for two to twelve weeks. Here is how eligibility, the application, program dates and what is included work, in the order most families need them.

Program details, dates and how to apply: Medical Internships for High School Students

IMA’s High School Healthcare Internship Program offers placements in unique global destinations such as East Africa (with our flagship site in Kenya), South America (with our flagship site in Peru), and other international locations.

These programs last two to twelve weeks, with most participants completing at least four-week experiences. They are available during summer and gap year periods. Students choose their destination and receive structured rotations, including hospital shadowing, community health outreach, and cultural learning opportunities.

High school students and recent high school graduates can apply. The minimum age is 15: applicants must be at least 15 years old by the start of their program. Students may apply as early as 14 years old, as long as they will meet the age requirement at the time of participation. Your admissions advisor confirms which sites fit your age before you are placed.

No prior healthcare experience is required. Competitive applicants show a demonstrated interest in healthcare and a commitment to personal growth. For how age rules work at hospitals in general, see our guide to age requirements for hospital internships.

To apply, students must:

Once you meet the following requirements, you may now proceed with the application process:

Documents to have ready: a resume, unofficial transcripts, your written responses and the parent/guardian co-signature form. After acceptance, you will also need a valid passport, and IMA provides a list of required and recommended vaccinations for each country.

For more info, visit our Global Healthcare Internships for High School Students FAQs

Applications are accepted year-round with limited space for summer and gap year cohorts, so early application is recommended. Programs run two to twelve weeks, and most students stay four. Current session start dates are on the program dates page.

Each IMA High School Internship offers a comprehensive package that includes:

At IMA, student safety is our highest priority. With robust safety protocols in place, we’ve maintained a 100% safety record for all high school and pre-health interns. IMA has specific and extensive experience working with high school students; currently largest, most established provider of clinical opportunities to pre-meds at both the high school and undergraduate levels. Program safety features include:

To enrich the experience, IMA coordinates curated cultural excursions, trips, and safaris, each selected and organized for safety and cultural depth.

For more information, visit our Program Safety and Security page.

IMA offers transparent program pricing that includes housing, food, excursions, clinical placement, mentorship, language instruction, and medical insurance. You can view the Program Dates, Fees, and Funding Guide here.

Support options include:

Program philosophy. The high school programs rest on three pillars. Clinical exposure: high school interns shadow doctors and medical teams in real hospital and clinical settings. They are introduced to patient interactions, medical procedures, clinical documentation, and public health campaigns through non-invasive tasks within their initial scope of practice. Cultural competency: direct exposure to diverse patient populations, faculty-led global health lectures, peer exchange events and guided reflections show how cultural values and religious practices shape healthcare access, patient beliefs and treatment choices. Global health awareness: weekly seminars and workshops cover global health disparities, infectious disease management, chronic disease burden, healthcare infrastructure, maternal-child health, climate change, policy and the ethical issues in global health practice.

What sets IMA apart. Interns spend time in hospitals, clinics, and outreach programs, observing consultations, assisting with noninvasive tasks, and joining health education efforts under licensed supervision. This level of clinical exposure is typically reserved for medical students, and IMA partners with the largest and most important teaching and referral hospitals in its regions. Every student is assigned a mentor who offers clinical insight and career advice and helps them reflect on the experience, and many mentors support students after the program ends. Summer medical internships abroad for teens and gap year medical programs for high school students run year-round.

AAMC core competencies. The internships support the development of AAMC’s 15 Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students, including Service Orientation (community health campaigns and volunteer projects), Social Skills and Teamwork (collaborating across cultures in healthcare teams), Cultural Competence (language immersion and cultural programming), Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others (reflecting on ethical challenges and patient confidentiality, and participating in supervised care) and Oral Communication and Professionalism (communicating with healthcare professionals, mentors and patients).

Continuing to pre-med internships. High school students who excel may be invited to continue through IMA’s Healthcare and Pre-Med Internship Programs, featuring clinical rotations in major hospitals, mentorship from licensed physicians, Harvard HMX course access (*additional fee) and weekly cultural treks and excursions. These suit students building a medical resume, applying to BS/MD programs, or seeking clinical experience in areas like pediatrics, cardiology, surgery, or tropical medicine. Interns are placed in departments aligned with their goals and attend daily clinical rotations, simulation clinics and global health lectures with support from local and U.S.-based coordinators. Each includes shared housing in gated communities, three daily meals and filtered water, 24/7 staff support and transportation, and cultural immersion and weekend exploration.

College and medical school applications. Admissions committees seek applicants with real-world exposure, clarity of purpose and service orientation. Interns leave with a meaningful story for college essays, better interview readiness, and recommendation letters from U.S.-licensed physicians who supervised their performance, based on direct mentorship and clinical observation. Students describe the time in real medical environments as formative: it clarifies a future in healthcare and builds confidence for patient interactions, interviews and pre-medical coursework. Our high school alumni have been accepted into top universities and competitive undergraduate pre-health programs.

After the internship. Alumni join the IMA alumni network, with 1-on-1 personal statement editing and college essay coaching, mock admissions interviews for BS/MD and pre-med programs, advising on course selection and gap year planning, mentorship from physicians and past participants now in medical programs, and a large team of experienced college advisors. Alumni receive priority consideration for college-level IMA internships, and many return during their undergraduate years.

Types of internships. High school students can choose Healthcare and Pre-Med Internships, Physician Assistant and Pre-PA Internships, Dental/Pre-Dentistry Internships, Nursing/Pre-Nursing Internships, Nutrition Placement/Dietetic Internships or Physical Therapy/Pre-PT Internships.

Take the next step: if you’re a high school student ready to enter the world of healthcare, or a parent seeking an unparalleled opportunity for your child.
​