WHAT IS AN OVERSEAS PHARMACY PLACEMENT WITH WORK THE WORLD?

Our pharmacy placements abroad are clinical placements you undertake in under-resourced, but fast-paced clinical settings in the developing world.

You’ll see immediately how different the healthcare system is from your own. The pen and paper record keeping, the cases, even some of the medicines themselves will be unfamiliar to you.

You choose where you want to spend time — in stock rooms, specialist satellite pharmacies in oncology or the ED, or in the main pharmacies. Your whole placement is customisable.

On a hospital pharmacy placement, you’ll see unfamiliar — often unbranded — drugs, learn how pre-digital stock systems work, and observe how departments are affected when there are drug shortages.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A PHARMACY PLACEMENT ABROAD?

An overseas pharmacy placement sets you apart from the other pharmacy students and graduates leaving university and looking for work every year.

On a pharmacy placement abroad, you’ll:

Expand your clinical knowledge and skill set
Develop your confidence and resourcefulness
Build your personal and professional network
Sharpen your verbal and non-verbal communication
Become more attractive to pharmacist employers

You’ll be in the hospital Monday to Friday, and that means you can enjoy your evenings and weekends exploring the destination you’ve chosen to visit.

WHO ARE WE?

We're Work the World — the experts when it comes to planning, organising and supporting placements for pharmacy students and graduates like you.

We started in 2005, and since then we've created pharmacy opportunities abroad for 18,000+ students and graduates from 450+ universities globally.

Our end-to-end service includes:

Placement customisation (choose your destination and areas of clinical interest) | Comprehensive pre-trip support | Private, catered accommodation | 24/7 in-country support team

Our programs run 365 days a year and arrivals are every Sunday — you can travel whenever suits you. The minimum placement duration is one week (there’s no maximum).

For more detail about how our service works click here.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

You can go on an overseas pharmacy placement if:

You’re undertaking a pharmacy degree
You’ve recently graduated with a pharmacy degree
You’re looking for a hospital pharmacy summer placement
You’re looking for a pharmacy volunteer placement

WHERE DO I START?

Your first step is to speak with us. We’re here to answer your questions about pharmacy abroad, help you figure out which destination to travel to, and secure your place on a program.

Get in touch using the short enquiry form.

DESTINATIONS

Ghana Takoradi

Ghana’s lively markets and welcoming local people make it rich in typical Ghanaian culture. Sample traditional dishes, or sip a cocktail while watching the sunset over the port. Venture further afield to spot endangered wildlife on safari, hike into the lush jungle in search of hidden waterfalls, and visit rural communities.

Displaying proactivity in the hospital will see you assisting across departments like Surgery, Paediatrics, and the HIV Clinic. A spell in the hospital’s Dispensary will highlight the resourceful nature of local pharmacists who work hard treating a wide range of pathologies with extremely limited resources. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Takoradi.

Explore Takoradi

Sri Lanka - Kandy

Undertake a pharmacy placement in Sri Lanka and get exposure to various hospital areas, including the outpatient department, emergency, operating theatres, and dispensary. You’ll learn how local pharmacists deal with a lack of availability of medications, how modern drugs are supplemented with traditional medicine, the role of pharmacists in general, the use of generic drugs, and the regulation and licensing of pharmacies in Sri Lanka. This will make for a varied placement with rich personal and professional growth opportunities.

Explore Kandy

Hue Vietnam

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, ancient temples and pagodas, you’ll have every chance to indulge your adventurous side.

When it comes to pharmacy opportunities abroad, Hue offers real insight into your discipline. Poor funding has a significant impact on the delivery of adequate care. Many drugs have a limited supply, while others are completely unobtainable. Pharmacists often have to rely on dispensing lesser alternatives or nothing at all depending on stock levels. Unique to our programme in Hue, you could also learn about Vietnamese traditional medicine.

Explore Hue

Nepal Kathmandu

Kathmandu’s history can be traced back thousands of years, yet the current city is an eclectic mix of both the old and the new. Here you’ll peruse the markets filled with handmade curiosities and crafts, tour impressive temples, and paraglide through the misty Himalayan mountains.

Pharmacists here assist doctors in explaining prescription drugs and their side effects. On placement you’ll take ward rounds with local specialists, gleaning insight into the growing role Pharmacy plays in the development of Nepali healthcare. In relation to the widely popular Ayurvedic medicinal tradition, this will be an enlightening experience. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kathmandu.

Explore Kathmandu

The Philippines - Iloilo

While the many bars and restaurants lend a modern feel to the city, Iloilo is—at its heart—a laid-back, tropical haven. Everyone joins in vibrant festivals throughout the year, and across the water the white sand beaches and palm trees of Boracay island beckon.

On a pharmacy placement in the Philippines you’ll have the chance to rotate through six outlets, including satellite Pharmacies in Emergency, Neonatal, Operating Rooms, and OBG. Time in any of these areas will open your eyes to the challenges faced by local staff typically associated with resource-poor environments. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Iloilo

Explore Iloilo

"It was definitely an incredible experience! The healthcare system I observed during my placement in Sri Lanka differed significantly from my experiences in the UK. I am really thankful to the Work the World team and the staff at the hospital".

Saarah Nomani, Cardiff University, 2026

"To anyone considering doing a Work the World placement, I cannot recommend it enough"

George Hart, University of Sheffield, 2026

"The staff are so warm and welcoming, the food was amazing, and the whole house felt very cosy."

Amber Rollier, Ghent University, 2026

"All of the in-country team are so supportive and kind... you can talk to them about anything."

Rachael Jamieson, Edinburgh Napier University, 2026

"It was amazing to spend time with such lovely people and we created many memories together"

Anya Willsea, University of Brighton, 2026

From our blog

What Does 'Fully Supported' Mean on a Work the World Placement?

By Joe Jamieson

"Find out how we support you on your overseas healthcare placement, from your first contact to your final day."

Looking for an Overseas Healthcare Placement? Here’s Why You Should Choose Work the World Over a Volunteering Provider

By Joe Jamieson
Our Service

Travel with the longest-established, most trusted healthcare-specific provider, and make the most of every moment.

What is a pharmacy placement abroad like?

A Work the World pharmacy 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 pharmacy placement?

The benefits of our pharmacy placements include:

Expanding your clinical knowledge and skill set
Becoming more confident, independent and resourceful
Making yourself more attractive to employers
Doing some proper travelling
Building your personal and professional network
Sharpening your language and communication skills
Renewing your perspective on care back home

How can I raise funds for my pharmacy placement?

It’s easier than ever to get the funds together for your overseas pharmacy 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.

What will I see on an overseas Work the World pharmacy placement?

You will see things like:

Reconstitution of chemotherapy drugs
Patients’ families purchasing and delivering medicines
Traditional herbal medicine integrated into local healthcare systems
Medication for conditions malaria and leprosy
Manual (pen and paper) stock systems

How long is a Work the World pharmacy placement?

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

What is a pharmacy placement?

A pharmacy placement is an elective that pharmacy students undertake as part of their degree. Pharmacy placements allow students to gain practical experience, insight, and confidence. If you want to undertake your clinical placement overseas, contact us today.

What do you wear to a pharmacy placement?

Once you’ve registered for your placement, Work the World will ensure that you have all the information you need to dress appropriately for local weather, hospital standards, and cultural expectations ahead of your departure.

Can you study abroad for pharmacy?

If you are studying towards a pharmacy degree or have recently graduated, a placement abroad with Work the World will also allow you to make global professional connections and develop your skills in a healthcare system with different challenges than you are used to at home.