Why undertake your nursing placement overseas?

Escape the ordinary with an overseas nursing placement. Imagine gaining eye-opening clinical experience in diverse healthcare settings, expanding your nursing knowledge with unique cases, and immersing yourself in new cultures.

Make your CV stand out with unique experience and forge unforgettable friendships with like-minded healthcare students from across the globe.

Can I do this independently of my university?

Yes, you can.

You’ll unlock personal and professional growth that simply isn't available at home.

It’s safe, the registration process is simple, and it's an adventure that will transform your perspective on nursing.

So take the leap — make your nursing placement experience truly extraordinary.

"I was amazed by how efficiently their healthcare teams work to provide care to such a large volume of patients, given their limited resources." - Alana Clark, James Cook University (Nursing placement in Vietnam)

Safe and structured

With Work the World, you're not just booking a placement; you're gaining a dedicated support system meticulously designed for your well-being.

From comprehensive pre-departure guidance and in-country teams available 24/7 to private, catered accommodation and long-standing hospital partnerships, we leave nothing to chance.

You can immerse yourself in incredible clinical experiences, knowing your safety is paramount. This lets you focus on learning and growth with complete peace of mind.

Plus, our teams vet and regularly review every destination. We work closely with local hospitals and communities to ensure your placement is safe and supported and meets strict university risk and compliance standards.

Eye-opening Clinical Placement

This is your chance to hone your clinical skills as a nursing student or graduate in a low-resource hospital in Africa and Asia.

Our nursing placements abroad are about challenging yourself and gaining a different perspective.

Some things you will observe on your nursing placement include:

  • Different cultural attitudes towards care
  • Religious beliefs affecting practice
  • Extremely late presentations and advanced conditions

On your nursing placement abroad, you'll also see significant differences in the fundamentals of nursing practice.

Why choose Work the World?

This is the kind of trip you only take once, so it needs to be right the first time. And with Work the World, you can rest assured that you're in experienced hands.

We are the experts in planning, customising, and building nursing placements abroad. Founded in 2005, we are the longest-running and most experienced overseas placement organisation.

We’ve created unique placements for over 20,000 students and graduates worldwide, who have independently rated us 5 out of 5 on Google.

It’s easy to secure your place

It’s simple — forget lengthy applications and complicated forms. Getting started on your overseas medical elective with us is straightforward:

  • Tell us what you're looking for -  Share your goals and interests
  • We'll guide you through your options - Based on your preferences, we'll present you with suitable placement opportunities
  • Secure your placement - Once we've found the perfect fit, you can secure your placement for $500AUS
  • Quick confirmation - We will send your placement confirmation within 24 hours

Here's what happens, step-by-step:

Get access to MyTrip - Your personalised online placement planner includes information on:

  • Placement hospital
  • Accommodation
  • In-country team
  • Who your housemates will be
  • Visa guide
  • Local culture guide
  • Language guides
  • Insurance guides
  • + more

Clinical interest call

Around three months before your placement, you’ll receive a call from our team to plan your placement in fine detail.

Pre-departure call

Before departure, we will contact you with information about your arrival.

Airport transfer

When you land at the airport, a member of our team will be waiting to meet you and take you back to the Work the World house

City orientation

To help you get your bearings, the in-country team will take you on a tour of the city you’re based in

Hospital introduction

Before your placement starts, your in-country team will take you on a tour of your placement hospital, introducing you to local staff and your supervisors in whichever departments you’ve chosen

24/7 support

The locally-hired team based in the Work the World House are there to help you every step of the way

Flexibility

If you're more independent, you'll have the freedom to navigate your experience on your terms.

Your next step

We handle the details, making your dream placement a reality without the hassle.

To go from thinking about an overseas elective to having one secured, click or tap below.

ENQUIRE NOW

Destinations

Ghana - Takoradi
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Takoradi is a backpacker’s paradise, with fishing villages and historical forts dotting the golden, palm-lined shores. You’ll also have the chance to spot wildlife on safari, swim in jungle waterfalls, or simply relax and soak up the sun!

On your nursing placement you'll have the option to spend time in The Reproductive and Child Health Department. This is run solely by nurses and encompasses Family Planning, Postnatal Care, and growth monitoring. Visits to schools to offer hygiene talks and immunizations are also common. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Takoradi. 

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Sri Lanka - Kandy
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Not only is Kandy staggeringly beautiful with lush tropical jungles, ornate temples and wildlife like elephants and leopards, but it also boasts an ancient healthcare system that’s over 5000 years old, the practice of which is still a popular alternative to western medicine.

Show initiative on your nursing placement and opportunities to assist in the treatment of advanced diseases like dengue fever, TB and cases of malnutrition will present themselves. There’s also the busy OBG Ward where you might choose to assist with complicated pregnancies and Neonatal Intensive Care. Read stories from those who've already travelled with us to Kandy.

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Philippines - Iloilo
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Iloilo is the perfect destination if you’re searching for sun, sea, or a specialist nursing placement abroad! Island hopping at weekends, diving with whale sharks and giant turtles, and touring local bars are just some of the activities you’ll enjoy.

A proactive attitude on placement will allow you to tap into subspecialities like Ophthalmology, Toxicology, Dermatology, and Cardiology. Spending time in the popular Animal Bites Clinic will open your eyes to cases tupical to Iloilo and the surrounding villages. Read stories from those who've already travelled with us to Iloilo.

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Vietnam - Hue
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A vibrant focal point of Southeast Asian culture and backpacker favourite, with bustling markets, lively bars and delicious street food in abundance. Close to tropical beaches, rainforests, and ancient temples and pagodas, you’ll have every chance to indulge your adventurous side.

The institution we’ve partnered with in Hue is a highly-regarded university teaching hospital, which means the clinical experience you’ll get here will be exceptional. You could rotate through departments like the ED, paediatrics, psychiatry, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and oncology. There is even the chance to learn about Vietnamese traditional medicine and how it’s still used to treat patients.

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Nepal - Kathmandu
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Kathmandu is a lively jumble of ornate temples, wild monkeys, chanting monks, and more. Paragliding, bungee jumping, and white-water rafting opportunities all lie close-by, as do the jungles and mountains.

On your nursing placement, you'll have the opportunity to rotate through departments like Mental Health, OBG, and Paediatrics. Venture into local communities to undertake outreach clinics, and you'll encounter conditions specific to Nepal. You'll really get under the skin of nursing in Nepal and you learn from staff whose daily battle with limited resources forces innovation. Read stories from those who've already travelled with us to Kathmandu. 

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Tanzania - Dar es Salaam
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The large Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam is surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Spot the ‘big five’ on safari in Sealous Game Park, or travel to Mt. Kilimanjaro, which some of our students and graduates have climbed!

A nursing placement here will give you the chance to spend time in the hospital’s HIV clinic. Departments dedicated to Paediatric HIV and supporting HIV positive mothers will highlight the realities of providing necessary care to high patient numbers, all with limited resources. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Dar es Salaam.

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"We learnt so much about Vietnamese culture - it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Cho Kiu Yuen and Jiahua Dai, University of Manchester 2025

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"The Work the World house will always be my home away from home."

Katelyn Bromley, Teesside University 2025

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"Infection control practices are very different between the countries."

Lucy Crowther, La Trobe University 2025

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"Some of the cases that will always stick with me are the instances of severe malaria."

Sharna Hutchinson, University of Wollongong 2024

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"I had the privilege to watch multiple vaginal births as well as c-sections and many other surgeries."

Mia Fitzgerald, University of Manchester 2024

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What do our nursing placements offer?

A Work the World nursing placement gives you the chance to undertake a clinical placement in the developing world. You will spend time in a low-resource hospital and see unfamiliar practices and advanced conditions. You can even choose the departments you want to rotate through. Learn more here.

What are the benefits of a Work the World nursing placement?

An overseas nursing placement helps prepare you for what’s to come when you’re looking for your first job out of university. You'll

  • Develop your confidence before you graduate into the working world
  • Make yourself more attractive to employers
  • Build your professional network
  • Change your perspective on the healthcare system back home
  • Get real life experience while doing some proper travelling

How can I raise funds for my nursing placement?

It’s easier than ever to get the funds together for your overseas nursing placement. You can take advantage of government programs like OS-HELP, you can take the initiative by starting your own online fundraising page, and you can apply for a huge number of grants and bursaries to help you along the way. Learn how easy it is to raise as much as you need.

Can nurses practise internationally?

Yes, nurses can practise internationally. If you are studying towards a nursing degree (or you’re a recent graduate), you’re eligible for an international nursing placement with us. Get in touch today to explore your options.

Can nurses practise internationally?

Yes, nurses can practise internationally. If you are studying towards a nursing degree (or you’re a recent graduate), you’re eligible for an international nursing placement with us. Get in touch today to explore your options.

How long is a Work the World nursing placement?

A nursing placement is as long as you want it to be. Our minimum placement duration is one week, but students typically travel on their nursing placements for 4-6 weeks. There is no upper limit to how long you can travel for.