Exchange Programs

Four weeks abroad, in a lab or on a ward.

The world's largest student-run exchange: around 15,000 students a year. Thailand runs both arms: SCORE for research, SCOPE for clinical practice.

SCORE

Standing Committee on Research Exchange

A placement in a host university's lab or research group, either pre-clinical (biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology and more) or clinical (oncology, surgery, internal medicine and more).

SCORE also runs Global Action Projects — research on an endemic disease combining theory, laboratory work and field work.

14 Local Committees in the 2026/27 quota table, 9 with a quota
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SCOPE

Standing Committee on Professional Exchange

Four or eight weeks in a hospital department abroad. Focus: Global Health Education. Every host teaches, not just hosts observers. IFMSA also runs Public Health Exchanges (SCOPE with SCOPH); ask the NEO whether Thailand offers places this season.

10 Local Committees in the 2026/27 quota table
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Two directions

Going out, and hosting in.

Thai outgoings go abroad; incomings come here. Every Local Committee that sends students also hosts them, and that is what earns the quotas.

Outgoing
Thai students going abroad

Your LEO (SCOPE) or LORE (SCORE) selects you and guides you through the paperwork and Pre-Departure Training.

If your university has no quota, ask your LEO or LORE about a national round.

Incoming
Students from abroad, hosted here

Hosting LCs assign a contact person and lodging, send the Card of Acceptance at least eight weeks ahead, and run an Upon-Arrival Training, a Local Social Program, and often an International Food and Drink Party.

How it works

From contract to boarding pass.

Contracts become Local Committee quotas, then student places. Same steps for both programs.

  1. 01

    Contracts signed

    The national exchange team negotiates and signs contracts with partner countries — the first job of every season.

  2. 02

    Quota bidding

    Contracts become quotas, distributed to Local Committees at the LEO/LORE Weekend. Some may be kept for a national round: ask your LEO or LORE.

  3. 03

    Student selection

    LCs select their own outgoing students; a national round may cover schools without quota. Expect a motivation letter and interview.

  4. 04

    Documents & departure

    File your documents on the exchange database, get your visa, go.

Academic quality

IFMSA holds hosts to a nine-step academic quality framework: trained tutors, fair selection, pre-departure and arrival training, structured teaching and a final assessment.

SCORE: you keep a logbook that your tutor signs after two weeks and at the end. SCOPE: your tutor evaluates your performance at the end of the exchange. Both programmes need the Pre-EF and Post-EF evaluation forms filled in for your certificate. The record proves attendance and supports faculty recognition.

Where you can go

30 destinations this season.

Every 2026/27 partner country, with study level, deadline and visa. Places are allocated at quota bidding; this is not live availability.

Clinical (SCOPE) Research (SCORE) Home

  • Czech Republic

    5 places
    SCOPE · Tier A
    Study level
    Passed 3rd Year
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist, Student)

    Application forms for June, July and August must be submitted before the March Meeting (End of February)

  • France

    4 places
    SCOPE · Tier A
    Study level
    Passed 3rd Year
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist)

    B2 level or higher in English proficiency

  • Germany

    4 places
    SCOPE · Tier A
    Study level
    Passed clinical subjects such as internal medicie or surgery…
    Apply by
    25 weeks before
    Visa
    please contact german embassy for visa…

    Application forms for July, August, September: must be sent before 1st of January February, March: must be…

  • Hungary

    4 places
    SCOPE · Tier A
    Study level
    Passed 3rd Year
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist)

    B2 level or higher in English proficiency

  • Spain

    6 places
    SCOPE · Tier A
    Study level
    Successfully completed at least 1 clinical year
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist)

  • Portugal

    4 places
    SCOPE · Tier A
    Study level
    Enrolled in clinical years by the time AF is sent
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist)

  • Croatia

    4 places
    SCOPE · Tier B
    Study level
    Enrolled in clinical years
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Visa
    Non-Schengen (Student)

    incoming student will be contacted by the SCOPE Team for an online interview meant to assess their language…

  • Peru

    1 place
    SCOPE · Tier B
    Study level
    Successfully completed a minimum of 1 clinical course or…
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Visa
    Non-Schengen (Tourist)

    B2 level or higher in English proficiency

  • Romania

    4 places
    SCOPE · Tier B
    Study level
    Passed 2nd year
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist)

    B2 level or higher in English proficiency

  • Serbia

    4 places
    SCOPE · Tier B
    Study level
    Preclinical and clinical students
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Visa
    Non-Schengen (Tourist, Student)

  • Slovakia

    6 places
    SCOPE · Tier B
    Study level
    Successfully completed at least 1 clinical year and theoretical…
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist)

    B2 level or higher in English proficiency

  • Slovenia

    2 places
    SCOPE · Tier B
    Study level
    Attended the subject and passed the exam on the subject that is…
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Visa
    Schengen Visa (Tourist, Student)

  • Türkiye

    2 places
    SCOPE · Tier B
    Study level
    Preclinical and clinical students
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Visa
    Non-Schengen (Tourist, Student)

  • Taiwan

    1 place
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Spain

    5 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    18 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Germany

    1 place
    SCORE
    Apply by
    25 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Italy

    4 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before

  • Quebec (Canada)

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    June-August

  • Canada

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    May/June

  • Belgium

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    20 weeks before
    Months
    July/August*

  • Poland

    3 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Czech Republic

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Hungary

    1 place
    SCORE
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Romania

    5 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Portugal

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Greece

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Croatia

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Slovakia

    2 places
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Slovenia

    1 place
    SCORE
    Apply by
    16 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

  • Egypt

    1 place
    SCORE
    Apply by
    12 weeks before
    Months
    Not specified

The source sheet states Tier B total = 22, but its own rows sum to 23. The row sum is used here.

50 clinical places across 13 countries, and 38 research contracts with 17 partner organizations. Your LEO or LORE knows which of these your school won at bidding.

The exchange database

Every exchange in the world runs through one system.

Your application lives here. Your LEO or LORE creates your account; you cannot register yourself.

Open the database exchange.ifmsa.org Application forms, Cards of Documents, acceptance and confirmation, ExPlore project pages, and every country’s Exchange Conditions.
Worth knowing before you start

Saving is not submitting. Submit separately. Once submitted, the form locks and only your LEO or LORE can reopen it.

What you file, and in what order

  1. AFApplication FormYours to complete. 12 to 25 weeks before departure, depending on the country.
  2. CoDCard of DocumentsEverything the host asks for — transcripts, certificates, insurance.
  3. CACard of AcceptanceThe host confirms you, with an invitation letter for your visa. About two months out.
  4. CCCard of ConfirmationYour placement, dates and department are fixed. About one month out.
  5. EFEvaluation FormCompulsory, both before and after. No certificate is issued without it.

Then the certificate, and your deposit back.

Delegates seated in a ballroom during the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting 2023
Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting, 2023Manila. Thailand hosted the next one.

Interested in going on exchange?

Selection runs through your LEO or LORE. No active LC? Ask the national office about a national round.

Find your exchange officer → Follow the exchange team