When are courses available?
Our courses take place throughout the year. Our preference is that you begin the program on the first Monday of your chosen month. We understand that scheduling conflicts may prevent you from beginning on the first Monday of the month, and many participants do begin on other Mondays. Class sizes are very small, so we can accommodate alternative start dates.
You are welcome to stay with your host family from the Saturday before your program begins.
Please note that during Peruvian Public holidays we are closed, with no medical Spanish classes. Some Emergency rotations are still open on these dates. Program participants often travel on long weekends around public holidays.
What level of Spanish do I need to take a program?
The better your command of Spanish, the more you will enjoy and benefit from your elective and time in Peru. We accept participants with minimal Spanish or arrival. However, we do recommend that you study some Spanish whilst still in your home country. Once here our medical Spanish course that can be taken at beginners, intermediate or advanced levels.
If you have little Spanish language experience we recommend you take our Intensive language program at the start of your time with us.
When do I need to reserve my spot?
For several months of the year, we are full. We recommend that you do book as early as possible. This is particularly the case if you are interested in specific rotations, as availability is limited.
If you are only taking a medical Spanish program, we do have more flexibility.
What is the payment process
Once we receive your booking form, we will send you an invoice for either the program deposit or the full program fee.
You can choose to pay a deposit of $250 and pay the balance of the program fee 4 weeks before your program begins.
Alternatively, you can pay the full program fee.
We ask for payment to be made within 2 weeks of the invoice begin sent to you.
What type of clothing do I need for Trujillo?
The weather in Trujillo is mild throughout the year. You should bring clothing for warm weather. However, in the Winter evenings, you may sometimes need a sweater or jacket.
If you will be traveling in the mountains whilst in Peru, daytime temperatures are warm. The evenings are cooler and so bringing some cold weather clothing is advisable
Will I be collected on arrival in Trujillo?
Yes, a member of the team will be waiting for you on your arrival. Regardless of your time of arrival, we will meet you and take you to your chosen accommodation. At the end of your program, we will also take you to the airport or bus station.
What type of visa do I need?
You only require a tourist visa for your elective. These are generally given for 90 days on your arrival in Peru. However, you can request a tourist visa for up to 180 days.
Who manages my elective at the Medical Facility?
At each partner medical facility, we work with a coordinator to ensure that you are integrated into the facility and that your needs are met. However, we are also here in Trujillo to resolve any problem that may crop up.
What clothing is required for my clinical placement?
Please bring along your scrubs for medical electives. You will not need to bring any formal clothing or white coat.
Why do you not accept Pre-med students?
We do not accept Pre-med students as unfortunately they do not yet have the medical knowledge and experience necessary for us to maintain the standards of the medical Spanish program. Also we have limited clinical spaces and our hospitals prefer to receive health care students and professionals.
Many other programs such as projects abroad and work the world do accept Pre-med students.
Why do I need to specify preferred departments in order of preference?
Our programs fill several months of the year. We ask participants to specify their area of preference to enable us to offer alternatives if your preferred area of medicine is unavailable.
We will always try to arrange a rotation in your preferred area.
Do most participants come on their own or in groups?
Around 60% of participants come alone. The remainder come in pairs and a smaller number in groups of 3 or 4.
If you come alone do not worry about feeling alone. Each month group participants quickly integrate. As well as living with other participants at your homestay you will be spending time together at the hospital and during your afternoon medical Spanish course.
Most months participants choose to spend at least one weekend traveling together.
Do you provide Post Exposure Prophylaxis?
Yes, at our Trujillo office we have our own kit (sourced from the UK) in the event of needle stick injuries. Happily this has never been required.
How hands on will my rotation be?
How “hands on” your experience is, is really determined by you, your level of experience, your level of Spanish, and your relationships with the Peruvian professionals you are working with. The final decision of how hands-on you are is made by the local healthcare professionals you are placed with.
We encourage our program participants to build relationships with local students and professionals, adding to their experience both in and out of the hospital.
Do programs always begin on a Monday?
Yes, hospital rotations and medical Spanish programs begin on Mondays.
Our homestay families can recieve you from the Saturday before your program begins.
Are one week courses available?
We recommend a minimum of 2 weeks for our courses. However, we understand that healthcare professionals have limited time available.
Therefore, 1 week intensive medical Spanish courses are available. These begin on the first Monday of each month.
What about personal safety?
Your well being is our first priority. As well as staying in middle class areas of the city, we provide private transportation to and from your chosen medical facility each day and also provide free-loan of a local cell phone.
From you home stay, the elective center, restaurants, gymnasium etc and all within a few minutes walk and do you do not generally require public transport or taxis whilst here.
We have staff available 24 hours per day.
For more information please see medical-electives.net/safety
Will I receive a report confirming my completed elective?
At the end of your elective you will be given a written report by your supervisor.
Can I visit Machu Picchu?
Many elective participants do visit Cusco and Machu Picchu. We recommend you do so at the end of the elective program, to give you more time. However, students can take a long weekend to travel down to Cusco. There are direct flights to Cusco from Trujillo or Arequipa. Please ask us for any travel advice or suggestions.
Please note that if you want to take the 4 day inca trail to Machu Picchu you do need to book months in advance. However, other trails to Machu Picchu are also available
Do I need a visa for Peru?
For nationals of most countries, including those in the European Union and North America, you will automatically be given a 90 day tourist visa on arrival at Lima airport. The visa is given free of charge.
Are there gyms nearby that I can attend?
Our courses include gym membership at a fully equipped gym just 2 minutes walk from our center.
It is fully equipped with free weights, weights machines, spinning, dance classes and Pilates. The gym is open 5 am – 10 pm.
What is the minimum rotation period?
The minimum period within any department is 2 weeks.
Are classroom materials provided for the medical Spanish course?
Yes, all materials for the medical Spanish course are included in the course fee.
We will also send you a medical Spanish book and online vocabulary materials on completion of the deposit payment,
How many other elective participants will I be working with?
We limit the number of participants in each hospital department to a maximum of three. This is to maintain the quality of your experience. However at each hospital there may well be several more participants in different areas of medicine and healthcare.
Can you accommodate my partner or parent?
Yes, do let us know if you are coming to our course with your partner or a family member. Please see Accommodation for Partners
Can you accommodate children?
Unfortunately we cannot accommodate children.
When should I arrive?
Our home stay families accept participants on the Saturday or Sunday before your program begins.
What happens when I arrive?
You are welcome to stay with your host family from the Saturday or Sunday before your program begins.
On arrival at the Trujillo Airport or bus station, a driver will collect you and take you to your host family. If you arrive before Sunday evening, we will meet you for an informal induction. If you arrive on Sunday evening this induction will take place on Monday morning at our center.
On your first Monday morning you will walk to the school for a placement exam at 9 am and we can arrange a local sim card for your phone. On the same morning you will take a language class.
We are friends taking our elective together. Can we stay at the same accommodation?
Yes, you stay together with the same family.
Can I be awarded credits for my course with you?
Many students have received college credits for our courses from their universities. We are happy to provide any information your college requires.
Healthcare professionals can receive CME credits through the AAFP.
For professionals our medical Spanish program has CME accreditation with AAFP.
Do most participants come on their own or in groups?
Around 60% of participants come alone. The remainder come in pairs, and a smaller number in groups of 3 or 4.
Can I participate on community Health Fairs
Yes, most months we organize one or two community health fairs with local partners. Program participants are welcome and encouraged to get involved. As well have having the opportunity to participate in free consultation and medicine donations, the health fairs are a great opportunity to put your language skills into action.
Why do you use family accommodation instead of a student house.
Other organizations accommodate participants in student houses, where program participants may be 20 or more students sharing a building and sharing rooms. There is zero cultural immersion.
We want our students to develop their Spanish language skills as quickly as possible. So, for us family accommodation is clearly the way to go. We want our participants to experience Peru and Peruvians.
If we have not covered your questions above, do please complete the contact form below or email [email protected]