Go Global
International experiences for prehealth students
Alternative Breaks
Health professional schools expect that students will have community engagement prior to matriculation. While they expect community service to be done in the United States, participation in a global experience will both enhance your experience and your application.
Tandon Alternative Breaks
The Tandon Office of Undergraduate Academics is thrilled to offer an incredible opportunity for students passionate about healthcare, infrastructure, sustainability, and community development! Travel to participate in a service learning trip! During the time away from NY, you'll be working on projects designed to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is an opportunity to contribute to local infrastructure improvements and community well-being, all while gaining hands-on experience and making a meaningful impact.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH PREHEALTH & NON-PREHEALTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS:
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PREHEALTH & HEALTH INTERESTED STUDENTS: You'll have the opportunity to shadow doctors and volunteer in different clinics, hospitals, and community centers across the world. Prevet students may have the opportunity to volunteer at animal centers, in mobile vet clinics, and to work with large animals.
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NON-PREHEALTH STUDENTS: If you’re interested in Community Development, you’ll support efforts at children's homes and orphanages, work on humanity and infrastructure projects, teach in schools, and participate in environmental projects (mangroves, rainforest cleanup, beach cleanup, etc.).
This immersive experience not only fosters professional growth but also cultivates a deeper understanding of global challenges and sustainable solutions.
Note we will be crowdfunding through NYU Rising Violets, which will hopefully bring down the cost per students.
J-term 2026 in Thailand
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
Dates: January 10-17, 2026 (1 week)
Cost: ~$4,000 Estimated Total
~$1,500 for Flights (depending on departure location)
$2,500 Program Fee (Non-refundable $249 deposit due November 2025 with the final balance due by January 2026)
Eligibility: Open to NYU students and alumni with a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond your planned return)
Priority Deadline: October 15, 2025 by 5:00 PM EST
Regular Deadline: November 15, 2025 by 5:00 PM EST
Rolling Admissions afterwards
To apply, students must first fill out the Tandon Global
Please note: This trip is open to all NYU students/alumni across the university at any level (undergraduate, graduate, PhD). Due to limited capacity, applying does not guarantee a spot on the trip. Accepted students will receive a confirmation email in November.
Spring Break 2026 in Ecuador
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
Dates: March 14-22, 2026 (1 week)
Cost: ~$2,500 Estimated Total
~$500 for Flights (depending on departure location)
$2,000 Program Fee (Non-refundable $249 deposit due December 2025 with the final balance due by February 2026)
Eligibility: Open to NYU students and alumni with a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond your planned return)
Priority Deadline: October 15, 2025 by 5:00 PM EST
Regular Deadline: November 15, 2025 by 5:00 PM EST
Rolling Admissions afterwards
Please note: This trip is open to all NYU students/alumni across the university at any level (undergraduate, graduate, PhD). Due to limited capacity, applying does not guarantee a spot on the trip. Accepted students will receive a confirmation email in November.
Upcoming Trips
J-term 2027 in Peru (2 weeks)
Summer 2027 in South Africa (2 weeks)
If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out directly to Kat Arredondo (kva2013@nyu.edu) or Tandon Prehealth (tandonprehealth@nyu.edu).
Other International Community Engagement Opportunities
Ready to Apply to a Tandon Alternative Break Program?
Study Away
On average, health professional schools do not accept prehealth prerequisite courses completed abroad. That being said, it is still possible for prehealth students to study abroad during their years at Tandon, especially because we offer U.S. prehealth coursework at different NYU sites. With good planning and flexibility, we encourage students to take advantage of the tailored opportunities we’ve coordinated specifically for prehealth students.
SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM TODAY!
Prehealth Opportunities at NYU Abu Dhabi
Program Information
- When: Sophomore year
- Who: Tandon CBE, BMS, and Prehealth students
- Highlights:
- Exciting abroad opportunity for Tandon sophomores during sophomore year
- Stay on track with your degree as a CBE/BMS major or prehealth student (courses linked below)
- Campus feel with both study away students and degree seeking students around
- Important notes:
- There is a language requirement.
- Minimum enrollment of 12 credits at NYU Abu Dhabi
Courses
- NYUAD has many different courses that prehealth students can enroll in areas of biology, chemistry, math, psychology, and related.
MCAT Preparation and Prehealth Seminar: As part of a pre-health-focused spring semester abroad at NYU Abu Dhabi, students from NYU New York can apply to be part of a competitive pre-health cohort that receives professional MCAT preparation funded by NYUAD as well as an introduction to the healthcare system in Abu Dhabi, including visits to healthcare-related organizations. This experience is organized in the form of a 2-credit course. You can find the pre-health courses at NYU Abu Dhabi here.
Also, check out the Research, Arts Apprenticeships, and Internship Opportunities at NYUAD in order to get some on the ground training.
About NYU Abu Dhabi
NYUAD provides you with access to courses ranging from engineering and the social sciences to the sciences, arts, and humanities, but the magic lies in what life beyond the classroom looks like. On campus, your average day can take you from a cutting-edge research laboratory or engineering design studio to an experimental black box theater or woodworking shop. In the city, your days can be spent at historic parts of the city like Hamdan Street, taking a stroll across fish markets and vegetable souqs, exploring the city’s emerging art scene—from grassroots art galleries to the Louvre Abu Dhabi— or drinking karak chai in a small, corner shop. In Abu Dhabi, nights are spent camping under the stars in the desert, and afternoons are spent kayaking in the Mangrove National Forest.
Prehealth Pathway to NYU London
Program Information
- When: Fall sophomore year
- Who: Tandon CBE, BMS, and Prehealth students
- Highlights:
- Exciting abroad opportunity for Tandon sophomores during fall sophomore year
- Stay on track with your degree as a CBE/BMS major or prehealth student (courses listed below)
- Metropolitan, bustling, diverse culture
- Field work and site visits are a regular part of many classes that take students out of the classroom and into the cosmopolitan center of London
- Important notes:
- There is no language requirement
- Minimum enrollment of 12 credits at NYU London
Tandon Prehealth students can complete a combination of the courses below totaling 12-18 credits while abroad in London during the fall term sophomore year.
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About NYU London
A bustling cultural and economic center of Europe, London’s art and culture scene is just as vibrant as its political and business one. At NYU London, course offerings in business, international relations, literature and theatre, psychology, and Africana studies are especially robust. What’s more, prehealth students can find all the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses they need to stay on track. Internships are also available for course credit through the academic internship program.
Prehealth Pathway to NYU Tel Aviv
Program Information
- When: Spring
- Who: Tandon CBE, BMS, and Prehealth students
- Highlights:
- Exciting abroad opportunity for Tandon sophomores during spring
- Stay on track with your degree as a CBE/BMS major or prehealth student (courses listed below)
- Metropolitan, beach side, foodie culture
- Unique opportunity to complete one course at Tel Aviv University (TAU) from the B.A. Liberal Arts Program (ex. psych elective) for more immersive experience
- Important notes:
- Language requirement can be fulfilled by Languages of Israel cultural linguistics class, Arabic, or Hebrew
- TAU runs on a different academic calendar than NYU, and enrollment into courses is completed after arrival at NYUTA
- Minimum enrollment of 12 credits at NYU Tel Aviv (regardless of TAU enrollment)
Pathways
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) 13-18 credits
- CHEM-UA 9226 Organic Chemistry 2 (5 credits)
- Required Language (4 credits)
- 1-2 of the listed electives (8 credits)
Note: CBE Students should plan to complete Calculus III over summer or in the fall and programming during fall, if not already completed
Biomolecular Science (BMS) 14-17 credits
- CHEM-UA 9226 Organic Chemistry 2 (5 credits)
- Required Language (4 credits)
- 1-2 of the listed electives (8 credits)
Prehealth (any major) 12-18 credits
- CHEM-UA 9226 Organic Chemistry 2 (5 credits)
- Required Language (4 credits)
- 1-3 of the listed electives (8 credits)
Recommended Electives
- MGMT-UB 9087 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Israel (3 credits)
- NODEP-UA 9982 or INDIV-UG 9550 Experiential Learning Seminar (4 credits)
- BIOL-UA 9980 Biology Internship (Research Credit) (2-4 credits)
- CHEM-UA 9997 Advanced Independent Study and Research (2-4 credits)
- BIOL-UA 9022 Molecular & Cell Biology II (4 credits)
- Humanities/Social Sciences (4 credits)
- (ex.) UGPH-GU 9030 Epidemiology for Global Health
*Note: PHYS-UA 9012 General Physics II can be completed by any prehealth student that is not CBE/BMS as long as they complete Physics I at CAS prior. This can count as your physics requirement for prehealth.
About NYU Tel Aviv
A multidimensional Mediterranean city, Tel Aviv is the cultural, financial, and technological center of Israel. When you study abroad at NYU Tel Aviv, you will gain a sophisticated understanding of Israel and the Middle East. It is an ideal place to study not only politics and the Middle East but also emerging media and the sciences. Additionally, through the academic internship program, students have the opportunity to intern for course credit in many industries. The Biology and Chemistry research courses are great opportunities for sophomore level students to get involved in research early on. These experiences are positive additions to graduate/PhD program and health professional school applications.
NYU Abu Dhabi Health Opportunities
NYU Abu Dhabi Visiting Student Internship and Medical Shadowing Program (for spring study abroad students only)
Thinking about boosting your resume with hands-on experience? As a Spring study away student at NYUAD, you'll be able to extend your visa into the summer, giving you the chance to secure an internship or medical shadowing program in the UAE. Furthermore, you’ll be able to apply for funding support from NYUAD to assist with your costs. Students must be enrolled at NYUAD during the spring semester before the summer program.
Check out this video from Osemudiame Kingsley-Odia, a NYU Tandon student who studied at NYU Abu Dhabi in spring 2025.
NYU Abu Dhabi Pre-Health Seminar with MCAT Training (for spring study abroad students only)
As part of a prehealth–focused spring semester abroad at NYU Abu Dhabi, students from NYU New York and NYU Shanghai may apply to join a competitive pre-health cohort. Participants receive funded professional MCAT preparation and gain first-hand exposure to the healthcare system in Abu Dhabi through visits to healthcare organizations and related institutions. Additionally, students have the opportunity to enroll in key pre-health courses such as Organic Chemistry 2, Introduction to Psychology, Physics 2, and electives across other fields. Students must be enrolled at NYUAD during the spring semester before the summer program.
GVI Conservation or Community Development Expedition
Kickstart your career with a GVI conservation or community development expedition abroad! This is especially valuable if you are interested in going into veterinary sciences as you have the unique opportunity to work with animals. This is also helpful for prehealth students in general as you can demonstrate interest and experience in community development.
GVI is an award-winning global organization offering internship, fellowship, and apprenticeship programs in some of the most diverse ecosystems and vibrant communities around the world.
Choose from a range of conservation and community development expeditions designed to support your career goals while driving lasting change, equipping you with the practical fieldwork skills and research experience you need to kickstart your career.
GVI’s field-training programs are career-defining experiences structured to align with your academic and professional goals. They are flexible, ranging from 2-24 weeks, making them perfect for summer breaks, placement years, or post-graduation plans.
Learn more about GVI’s conservation and community development programs now and use the following code when applying for up to 80% off: GVI-NYUTO
Other Opportunities
FAQ
I heard that U.S. health professional schools won’t consider my application if I complete my prehealth prerequisites abroad?
Courses completed at NYU locations are offered by New York University. Since all the grades earned at these sites appear in line on your regular NYU transcript, they are acceptable to all health professional schools in this country. Study away through NYU is also explained on the cover page of each Tandon students’ committee letter. You can complete your prehealth requirements at sites such as NYU London, NYU Tel Aviv, NYU Shanghai, and NYU Abu Dhabi.
We strongly encourage students to make full use of NYU's global network to study in another country while studying at the undergraduate level. You could plan to spend either a summer, a semester, or a full year abroad. If you plan to spend a full year overseas, you must bear in mind that you will need to complete all your prehealth courses in a U.S. college in time for your health professional exam.
Can I just complete all of my clinical volunteering/shadowing hours abroad?
We strongly recommend that you complete 300 clinical hours in residence in the U.S. Aside from that, any additional hours you spend in clinical settings abroad will enhance your application further. It will also give you a wider perspective of what medicine looks like and how other places differ from that of the U.S. It can give you some exciting stories to talk about in your personal statement, short essays, or your interviews. For example, if you mention being interested in global health or global perspectives of medicine, you will have the experience to back up that statement.
What other abroad opportunities are there that can enhance my application?
Aside from the other opportunities above, you can think about getting a master’s degree abroad, participating in an internship or work experience, complete elective courses (no prehealth prerequisites) at another university over the summer or during a j-term, perform other community work, and spend time studying for your health professional exams. There are so many opportunities and experiences available that can benefit your application.