Standing Committee on Professional Exchange

What is the SCOPE?

Do you want to expand your medical experience abroad?
Have you always dreamed of making friends from all over the world? Interested in discovering new cultures?
Then SCOPE might be just the thing for you!

SCOPE (Standing Committee on Professional Exchange) organises international clinical internships in English or French. SCOPE is an international programme of IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations), the umbrella organisation of BeMSA, and is active in more than 100 countries worldwide. During the summer months of July, August, and September, students can follow a 4-week clinical internship in a department of their choice in one of the countries with which Belgium has a signed exchange agreement (this varies yearly).

The local committee in each city provides accommodation, a hospital placement, one meal per weekday, a social programme, and a contact person for the incoming SCOPE students.

The contact person supervises an incoming student: they are the person you can contact in case of problems, who picks you up at the airport or station, shows you the hospital, helps you find your way around the city of your exchange, and gives you tips regarding the social programme.

The local programme is very location-dependent and may include welcome parties, cultural activities, visits to tourist attractions, and outings such as going to the beach. In short, it is about being immersed in the life of a doctor during the day, and relaxing in the evenings and weekends with other students.

Why should you do a SCOPE exchange?

• You acquire medical knowledge and skills.
• You get to know other cultures and learn how to deal with cultural differences.
• You get to know how medical care is organised across the globe.
• You broaden your horizons and discover new perspectives on life and the world.
• You make lifelong friends from all corners of the world.
• You experience a unique and fantastic month that is not only extremely educational but also a lot of fun.
In short: an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life!!!

For whom are SCOPE exchanges

All medical students currently in their third bachelor or first master year.

What's the price tag on a SCOPE exchange?

€600 for four weeks, including:
• Pre-Exchange Training (PET, mandatory)
• Accommodation
• Internship placement
• One meal per weekday
• Contact person
!! The social programme is sometimes included and sometimes not, depending on the country and the activity.
Flight tickets are not included, nor are visa costs or vaccinations (if required).

How can I apply?

Does this sound like music to your ears? Do you think you are the perfect person to take part in the SCOPE programme? Then be sure to join the info session on October 10, 2023!

Before applying, it is important that you first inform yourself by reading the presentation from our info session on October 15, 2026 (PowerPoint info evening) and/or the brochure. These contain all the necessary information, including how to apply. If you want to register, it is essential that you have read all the information in the PowerPoint, as it contains the most up-to-date details.

In the brochure, you will find a list of countries. By clicking on “exchange conditions,” you will be redirected to the IFMSA exchanges website. There you can find all relevant information: requirements, available cities, periods, disciplines, accommodation, and a link to the “explore page” with more details about the social programme. Please note: the country list in the brochure is no longer up to date. The most recent version can be found via the Google Sheets link in the PowerPoint.

Another way to find information about countries and projects is through IFMSA. From there, you can access a webpage where you need to log in, but at the bottom you can click on “exchange information,” which takes you directly to the explore pages. It is important to always consult the Google Sheets (link in the PowerPoint) alongside this, to check which countries Belgium has agreements with and where you can actually go.

Make sure to carefully check the requirements for each country: do you need language certificates, proof of completed courses, or other prerequisites?

Applications are submitted by filling in a Google Form and uploading several documents (deadline: 1/11/2026 at 23:59). The link to the form, as well as all required documents and templates, can be found in the PowerPoint.

In your motivation letter, you should describe your experience within BeMSA, volunteering, youth movements, or social work, as well as whether you have been or would like to be a contact person in Belgium. You should also mention your field of study and current year. Most importantly, show us that you are socially engaged and have the right profile. Additionally, include your top 5 preferred countries and discuss at least 3 departments (clinical exchange) or 3 research projects (research exchange) you are interested in. And don’t forget to explain why you want to participate and what you hope to learn from it!

The best candidates per university will be selected, and the results of the first round will be announced shortly after the application deadline.

Selected students will proceed to the second round: they will be invited to an (online) interview on the weekend of November 14–15 to assess their English or French (or another required language) skills and further discuss their motivation.

Do you still have questions or want more information? Don’t hesitate to contact us at SCOPE@bemsa-gent.be!

&
LEO (Local Exchange Officer)

Local Exchange Officer

The Local Exchange Officers (LEOs) are the board members responsible for coordinating and managing SCOPE within BeMSA Ghent. They support and guide the various clinical exchange projects, organise activities and trainings, and ensure that students can actively participate in international clinical internships while gaining valuable medical, professional, and intercultural experience within the global IFMSA network.

LEO

SCOPE@bemsa-gent.be

LEO

SCOPE@bemsa-gent.be

SCOPE Exchange Testimonials

Anouk | Egypt '26

Last July, I went on a SCOPE exchange in Egypt. Before leaving, I was mostly excited, but also a little nervous. What would the country be like? The people? And the internship?

Upon arriving in Cairo, I was immediately given a warm welcome by one of the contact persons. Together with a few other incomings, I stayed in a hotel for a few days, which meant we got to know each other quickly. We visited the pyramids, wandered for hours around the GEM, and explored the streets of the chaotic but beautiful Cairo. A fantastic first introduction to Egypt!

Afterwards, we took the bus to Sohag, the city where I would be doing my internship. There, we were welcomed by a large team of LEOs, LOREs and above all many enthusiastic contact persons. Throughout the entire month we could count on them, and they were always there for us.

My internship took place in the operating theatre. Every day I saw a wide variety of operations, from caesarean sections and nephrectomies to open-heart surgeries. Everyone in the hospital was extremely enthusiastic about welcoming us and happily explained things and answered our many questions. As a result, it was not only a very educational experience, but it also helped me discover which aspects of medicine truly interest me.

After the internship, we often went to the 'doctors club' to relax, catch up, and drink a smoothie every day. Then we returned to the dorms, where all the incomings stayed on the same corridor. As a result, we quickly became a close-knit group.

Our evenings were also well filled: our LC organised a social programme every day, from watching football and sailing on the Nile to an escape room and a visit to the Egyptian countryside. On the weekends, we went out together to discover more of Egypt. We took a cruise from Aswan to Luxor, visited Dahab, and went to Marsa Alam to snorkel during the national weekend. I ended my exchange, together with another incoming, with a visit to Alexandria.

In short, my SCOPE exchange was much more than an educational internship. It was a month full of new experiences, friendships and moments that I won't forget any time soon. I can therefore only recommend a SCOPE exchange and hope I have been able to pass on a bit of my enthusiasm!

Thank you for reading!

IFMSA Database