Exchange Programs

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

IFMSA runs the largest student-run exchange program in the world — around 15,000 students a year. Thailand participates through both of its arms: SCORE for research, SCOPE for clinical practice.

SCORE

Standing Committee on Research Exchange

A research placement in a host university's own laboratory or research group — pre-clinical topics like biochemistry, anatomy, immunology, parasitology, pharmacology and microbiology, or clinical research in oncology, rheumatology, paediatrics, surgery and internal medicine.

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

14 active Local Committees
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SCOPE

Standing Committee on Professional Exchange

A clinical rotation in a hospital department abroad — four or eight weeks, with a Public Health exchange option. The academic focus is Global Health Education, and every host provides structured teaching rather than observation alone.

Hosts run an Upon-Arrival Training, a Local Social Program, and usually an International Food and Drink Party, so the exchange is cultural as well as clinical.

10 active Local Committees
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Two directions

Going out, and hosting in.

Exchange runs both ways. Thai students go abroad as outgoings; students from other national organizations come here as incomings. Every Local Committee that sends students also hosts them — that reciprocity is what generates the quotas in the first place.

Outgoing
Thai students going abroad

Your Local Committee's exchange officer — LEO for SCOPE, LORE for SCORE — runs selection, then guides you through the Application Form, Card of Documents, and Card of Confirmation. Before departure you attend Pre-Departure Training.

If your university has no quota, the national round is open to students from any institution.

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.

Incoming students are placed in a department and given a structured teaching program, not left to observe.

How it works

From contract to boarding pass.

Exchanges run on bilateral contracts between national organizations, distributed to Local Committees, then to students. The sequence below is the same 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 are held back for a national round, open to students from any university.

  3. 03

    Student selection

    Active LCs select their own outgoing students; the national round covers students from LCs without quotas. Criteria typically include a motivation letter and interview.

  4. 04

    Documents & departure

    Application Form and Card of Documents four months ahead, Card of Acceptance from the host two months ahead, Card of Confirmation one month ahead — then visa, and go.

Academic quality

An exchange is only worth the month if it teaches something. IFMSA holds hosts to a nine-step academic quality framework — preparing the ground with trained tutors and selected projects, fair outgoing selection, pre-departure and upon-arrival training, structured educational activity, and assessment at the end.

Every student keeps a logbook (SCORE) or handbook (SCOPE) recording their learning objectives, with mid- and end-of-exchange evaluation by their tutor. It doubles as proof of attendance and as the basis for faculty recognition.

Pre- and post-exchange evaluation forms are compulsory — a certificate is not issued without them.

Interested in going on exchange?

Selection runs through your Local Committee's exchange officer (LEO for SCOPE, LORE for SCORE). If your university isn't an active LC, the national round is open to you.

Find your Local Committee