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SCORE & SCOPE Exchanges

Global Health Portfolio

Anumita Jain, Muhammad Yaseen Abbas (National Officers of Research Exchange Senior)

Harmanvir Dhaliwal, Matthew Ahn (National Officers of Research Exchange Junior)

John Dean Chiong (National Exchange Officer Senior)

Jeremiah Philips, William Ding (National Exchange Officers Junior)

Jenny Xinye Hu (Director of Global Health)

NORE Email: nore@cfms.org

NEO Email: neo@cfms.org

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Housekeeping

Meeting will be recorded, and available on our linktree: https://linktr.ee/cfms_globalhealth

Agenda
IFMSA overview
About SCORE
About SCOPE
Application process & deadlines
Q&A (including question submissions)

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Meet IFMSA

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About

International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations

139 national member organizations (NMOs) representing a network of 1.3 million medical students in more than 130 countries

Founded in 1951 in Denmark

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Vision

“IFMSA envisions a world in which medical students unite for global health and are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to take on health leadership roles locally and globally”

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CFMS-IFMSA Exchanges

Organized by CFMS, as opposed to individual medical schools, entire program is run by medical students

Partner countries vary each year, but include a range of geographical locations
A great opportunity to meet international medical students, learn about another healthcare system, and explore a different country
English is usually the only language requirement
Available to any medical student from a CFMS member university

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Eligibility

Available to any medical student from a CFMS member university with a 4-week break in spring/summer.

Usually this is a pre-clerkship student in 4-year programs

TMU students must pay their CFMS membership fee

3-year programs

Calgary students only can do an exchange in the months of Jan-Apr
McMaster students are not eligible as per McMaster’s UGME office

Students of Quebec medical schools can only participate in exchange through IFMSA-Quebec, not CFMS.

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SCORE

Research Exchanges

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What is SCORE?

Standing Committee on Research Exchanges (SCORE)

Involves 65+ active countries, offering over 3000 research projects to over 2400 medical students worldwide

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SCORE Mission

Experience research and diversity in countries all over the world
Work with other medical students, physicians, and clinician scientists from around the world
Gain skills in cultural sensitivity, research ethics and global collaboration

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SCORE Project

4 week exchange to work on a supervised basic sciences or clinical research project.

Students are guided through basic principles of research such as literature searches, data collection, scientific writing, and statistics.
Students might be expected to write a short report or presentation about their results and achievements.
At the end of the exchange, students send a scientific report (Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion, Discussion) to the sending and hosting NOREs

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SCORE Partnerships

Central and South America

Columbia - 2 spots

Panama - 2 spots

Brazil - 2 spots

Peru - 1 spot

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SCORE Partnerships

Europe

Romania - 3 spots

Switzerland - 1 spots

Germany - 1 spots

Slovenia - 1 spot

Finland - 1 spot

Spain - 1 spot

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SCORE Partnerships

Africa

Morocco - 1 spot

Kenya - 2 spots

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SCORE Partnerships

Asia-Pacific

Thailand - 2 spots

Taiwan - 2 spots

Indonesia - 2 spots

Malaysia - 1 spot

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SCORE Partnerships

Total outgoing capacity: 26

For information on these countries exchange programs please view this google drive link. Or visit the IFMSA database of exchange conditions, OR the NMO Matrix.

Region	SCORE Country	# of Spots
Americas	Columbia	2
	Panama	2
	Brazil	2
	Peru	1
Europe	Romania	3
	Switzerland	1
	Germany	1
	Slovenia	1
	Finland	1
	Spain	1
Africa	Morocco	1
Africa	Kenya	2
Asia-Pacific	Thailand	2
	Taiwan	2
	Indonesia	2
	Malaysia	1

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NORE Contacts

National Officers of Research Exchange
Seniors	Muhammad Yaseen Abbas
	Anumita Jain
Juniors	Harmanvir Dhaliwal
	Matthew Ahn
nore@cfms.org

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SCOPE

Professional/Clinical Exchanges

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What is SCOPE?

The Standing Committee on Professional Exchanges allows medical students to participate in a 4 week supervised clinical placement.
Each National Member Organization (eg. CFMS Canada) of the International Federation of Medical Student Associations can send and host students according to pre-arranged contracts.
The preclerkship specialites vary depending on the host country, but some have options to rank your preferences

I'll be speaking to you about SCOPE, which stands for the Standing Committee on Professional Exchanges. SCOPE allows medical students to participate in a four-week supervised clinical placement.
Each National Member Organization (NMO)—for example, CFMS Canada—can send and host students through pre-arranged contracts that we negotiate during the IFMSA General Assembly. SCOPE focuses on giving medical students clinical experience in another country, allowing them to shadow and learn clinical skills within a different healthcare system. The specialties available will vary depending on the host country, and the skills gained are invaluable, providing an important learning experience prior to clerkship.

SCOPE focuses on giving medical students clinical experience in another country. Students are given the opportunity to shadow and learn clinical skills in another medical center and different medical systems in a select specialty.
The specialties available vary depending on the host country, but provide students with valuable patient interaction and application of medical knowledge prior to clerkship.
This opportunity, like research exchanges, will be open to students for Summer 2026!

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SCOPE Partnerships

SCORE Country	Spots for Canadians
Brazil	1
Chile	1
Hungary	1
Estonia	1
Finland	1
Germany	1
İndonesia	1
Spain (Catalonia)	1
Rwanda	1
Panama	1
Peru	1
Kazakhstan	1
Turkiye	1

These are the countries that we have partnered with for SCOPE exchanges this Summer. Spots vary depending on the country.
This year, we have 15 countries available, aiming for diversity and inclusivity in our partnerships. We also considered the quality of the programs and feedback from past students on their experiences. All of the countries we've partnered with offer exceptional experiences.
The numbers next to each country represent the available spots. For example, Indonesia has 1 spot for Canadian students. We signed contracts where English is the only required language, to avoid language barriers for applicants. Some countries have recommended languages, and having proficiency in them is a bonus, but English is the only required language.
Regarding eligibility, some countries accept students who have completed two years of medical education, while others only require completion of the first year. It’s important to review the exchange conditions for each country to understand their specific eligibility requirements.

In the past, CFMS has partnered with countries across the world. With exchanges being offered again after a hiatus, many countries were eager to sign contracts with us, and we are pleased to offer a wide geographical range of countries for Canadian students to do exchanges this Summer.

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Outgoing Exchanges

Canadian preclerkship students are eligible for this program

Students finishing their second year can go to any partner country
Students finishing first year please check individual country conditions (some prefer students have more clinical experience first)

Students can specify department(s) they would prefer

Usually one department for the 4 weeks, but may also be able to do 2 weeks in 2 different departments
Spend time in a hospital and/or clinic and become familiar with a different healthcare system
Social activities and accommodation are coordinated by the hosting exchange officers

We also signed exchange contracts with several Canadian universities such as Manitoba, Calgary, UBC, Alberta, and Dalhousie. These universities have agreed to host international students, offering a total of 12 spots. In the future, we hope to have more schools, especially in Ontario, join. These contracts not only guarantee spots for incoming students but also help us negotiate more spots for outgoing Canadian students.
Clinical exchanges are offered to Canadian medical students during the Summer (May to August), with there being bilateral and unilateral options (explain what each is)
The local exchange officers and social committee liaisons at each university will be responsible for hosting the incoming students, arranging accommodations, and organizing social programming. Additionally, we will provide a slight advantage to applicants from these universities to encourage more schools to offer placements for international students in the future.
Canadian pre-clerkship students are eligible for the program. While most countries require you to have completed your second year, some only require completion of the first year. You can rank city and department preferences, as each country offers different specialties.
The host NMO will organize your clinical or research placement, arrange accommodations, and ensure there is social programming during your four-week placement.

Mention eligibility: As summer breaks are typically only given to year 1 and 2 students, exchange participants from Canada have traditionally been pre-clerkship students. However, if schools’ elective office allows, clerkship students may go on exchange as an international elective. Please be aware that these exchanges do not have official academic recognition for credit with any Canadian medical school.
If you are selected for a clinical exchange, the local exchange officers at the host country/city will help you find housing and transportation.

Mention how the exchange works with selecting departments and what students do during the exchanges (hospital/clinic + social activities)

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Academic Recognition

SCOPE exchanges do NOT count for credit towards any clerkship rotations in Canadian medical schools. This is why they are done in Summer months before clerkship.

While you may get international elective credit at some schools, this is dependent on the school and must be discussed with elective or global health coordinators.

This exchange experience will not go on your transcript, but can certainly be included in your CV!

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Testimonials

South Korea: ”Perfect combination of academic and cultural experience…I would consider practising in this country in the future.”

Egypt: “Going on this exchange was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me! It was the perfect way to combine professional development with travel and personal exploration. I completed a SCORE in Egypt, and I had such a great experience. All the staff and residents I worked with were so welcoming and eager to teach. The IFMSA coordinators were also very helpful and hospitable. They planned an amazing social program that allowed us to explore Egypt and meet other incomings. I came home to Canada not just with clinical experience, but also amazing friends, mentors, and lifelong memories!”

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Testimonials

Malta ”I am extremely grateful I had the opportunity to go on exchange to Malta. It was incredible learning about and experiencing a new healthcare system, meeting and forming friendships with medical students from around the world, and learning how to navigate cultural and language differences in the medical setting.”

Poland: “My exchange opened my mind to the beauty of Poland and the polish people. I didn't just go on exchange in Poland, I lived in Poland. I danced with locals, ate their food, spoke their language, and practiced in their hospital. It was an extraordinary experience and one I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Italy: “The IFMS exchange allowed me to exercise my passion for medicine while reconnecting with my Italian roots. Being immersed in the Italian culture solidified my understanding that one’s health is cultivated through community, spirituality, tradition, and connection to land. The experience was pivotal in shaping my career choices- would recommend!”

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Testimonials: Jeremiah!

My Brazil Experience:

Did SCORE, conducted a literature review on plastic surgery x AI

Saw neuroscience, psychiatry, parasitology, and anatomy labs
Assisted with cadaver preparation and full hand dissection preserving nerve fibers and muscles

Stayed with a host family who showed me around, introduced me to friends, and organized activities
Brazil has a social program in July/August for exchange students to meet and explore a new city
Relaxed schedule with lots of time to explore. Loved the food and attended many soccer games
Used the exchange as a launch pad to travel afterward

Stayed in Rio for three weeks after the exchange

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NEO Contact

National Officers of Research Exchange
Seniors	John Dean Chiong
	Shubh Patel
Juniors	Jeremiah Philips
	William Ding
neo@cfms.org

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Exchanges Summer 2026

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Timeline

September 17: applications open

October 1 at 11:59 pm EDT: applications due

October 2: application review begins

October 31: results released for first iteration

There may be second and third iterations depending on how the first cycle goes, with a planned completion of the end of November.

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Exchange Timing

Outgoing exchanges occur in the Summer months (May-August). You can specify the months you are available based on your school’s Summer break.

Host country’s have different times that exchanges are available. Most countries we have signed with have an unspecified time for accepting incoming students, but details are listed on the exchange conditions page for each country.

Exact dates of an exchange will be determined after you confirm your country match. The NEO/NORE will then coordinate with the host country NEO/NORE. Generally exchanges start at the beginning of each month (first Monday).

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CFMS Application Eval

Evaluation will be done by Global Health National Officer Team (excluding those who have applied).

Applications will be anonymized and scored. Those with the highest scores will get matched to countries.
Please only rank countries you will be okay going to. If you put “any country”, we can assign any country.

Bonus points will given to students from schools that host incoming SCOPE/SCORE contracts, and those with experience working on the exchanges team (NEOs, NOREs, LEOs).

Preference may be given to students who know a second language in the country they are applying for, as it may be helpful especially in a clinical setting.

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Finances

Once offered a position, students must pay a non-refundable fee of $1350 CAD to CFMS for a 4 week exchange, to confirm their spot

This covers accommodation, 1 meal per day, and social activities in the host country, as well as CFMS administrative fees.

Students are responsible for arranging and covering their own flights to/from the exchange destination, as well as food and extra pocket money. Some countries require you to purchase health/travel/malpractice insurance (details in exchange conditions). Do not purchase any plane tickets, until a go ahead is given.

There is no exchange-specific stipend or coverage available through CFMS this year, but we encourage you to seek funding through your individual schools.

Matthew

In terms of finances, students pay a flat fee of $1,350 to CFMS for a four-week exchange. This amount was determined based on previous years' experiences, pre-COVID, as well as by our team. The fee covers accommodation, transportation, and social activities in the host country. These activities often include various social events where you can meet other exchange students and local students at the host school. The fee also includes CFMS administrative costs.

Once you accept your country match, payment will be made through the CFMS online payment portal. The only additional cost you will need to cover, aside from the $1,350 fee, is your flight expenses. This includes flights to and from your exchange destination, as well as personal expenses like souvenirs, food, and pocket money.

Depending on the country you go to, you might also need to purchase health, travel, and malpractice insurance, as required by the exchange conditions of the host country. For research exchanges, most countries don’t require malpractice insurance since the focus is on research, though some supervisors may allow you to observe clinical activities. However, health and travel insurance are generally required.

CFMS does not provide specific insurance coverage this year, but you may be able to obtain funding through your individual school if you inquire.

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Finances

Flights are the sole responsibility of the student. Flight changes/cancellations/seat upgrades are not the responsibility of the CFMS.

By accepting to enter our exchanges program, you recognize that transportation is your own responsibility.

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Finances

Attached below are estimated additional costs for exchange outside of the CFMS/IFMSA fee based on reports from past participants:

Flights = $1300 - $2600
Food = $300-500
Transportation = $30-$150
Insurance = $0 - $300*
Laundry ~$0- $50
E-Sim ~$50
Visa ~$100 (may only apply to certain exchange countries)

Accommodations are often shared student dorms. If an exchange student is unsatisfied with their accomodation, it is their responsibility to secure their own alternative accomodation at their own expense.

*depends on country and SCOPE or SCORE. Most countries require travel health insurance - some credit cards provide this coverage if plane tickets booked through them. SCOPE often requires malpractice or liability insurance.

Matthew

In terms of finances, students pay a flat fee of $1,350 to CFMS for a four-week exchange. This amount was determined based on previous years' experiences, pre-COVID, as well as by our team. The fee covers accommodation, transportation, and social activities in the host country. These activities often include various social events where you can meet other exchange students and local students at the host school. The fee also includes CFMS administrative costs.

Once you accept your country match, payment will be made through the CFMS online payment portal. The only additional cost you will need to cover, aside from the $1,350 fee, is your flight expenses. This includes flights to and from your exchange destination, as well as personal expenses like souvenirs, food, and pocket money.

Depending on the country you go to, you might also need to purchase health, travel, and malpractice insurance, as required by the exchange conditions of the host country. For research exchanges, most countries don’t require malpractice insurance since the focus is on research, though some supervisors may allow you to observe clinical activities. However, health and travel insurance are generally required.

CFMS does not provide specific insurance coverage this year, but you may be able to obtain funding through your individual school if you inquire.

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IFMSA Application

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Role of LEOs/LOREs

LOREs/LEOs will be your main point of contact leading up to your exchange departure. There is at least one at every school.

They also find accommodation, transport, plan social activities, and support incoming exchange students throughout their exchange experience.

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Application Sections

Section 1 - Information regarding exchange program & country offerings
Section 2 - Terms + Conditions
Section 3 - Personal Information
Section 4 - Language Proficiency Questions
Section 5 - Country Match Preferences
Section 6 - Short Answer Questions
Section 7 - Final Confirmation

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Application Tips

DO:

Make your responses personal to YOU. We want to know who you are! Use examples!
Start early! This gives you time to fine-tune and revise answers if needed.
Show openness to learning and growing! Exchanges are primarily meant for you to learn about new systems.
Check country requirements + exchange program offerings.

DON’T:

DO NOT USE AI. This will lead to deductions in your score.
Don’t be vague/general. Give relevant examples wherever you can.
Don’t just talk about what you did. Show what you learned too.

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Short answer questions

What motivates you to participate in a CFMS Exchange Program?
As an exchange student, you act as an ambassador for CFMS Canada and Canadian medical students. What values will you strive to embody as a participant in our Exchange Program? How will you avoid "saviorism" and imposing your own beliefs/values upon the host community?
Can you share a time when you found it challenging to navigate different cultural norms or belief systems? How did you work through this?
How do you plan to use your exchange experience and learnings in your personal/professional life upon returning?

Max character count 1250

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Next Steps

Visit the CFMS Exchanges webpage: https://www.cfms.org/what-we-do/global-health/internatio nal-exchanges

Reach out to your LEO/LORE or the NEO/NOREs with further questions

Applications are live NOW!

In terms of next steps, we have the CFMS exchanges webpage, which contains all the information discussed today. This is also where you'll find the link to the application, which will go live on September 17th. If you have any questions leading up to the application opening, or during the application process, feel free to reach out to your local exchange officers or us via email.

The first thing you’ll see when the application opens is a link to an important document. This will also be posted on the CFMS main webpage. If you're seriously considering an exchange, we encourage you to read through this entire document. It gives a thorough overview of IFMSA, the structure of exchanges, and the countries we've partnered with for SCOPE and SCORE. It also explains the entire application process in detail, including the timeline, what happens after you get a country match, how to pay, and what to expect when contacting your host country regarding city matches and department selection.

This document also outlines the key documents you'll need to submit, the insurance requirements, and includes a FAQ section. If additional questions come up during today's session, we'll update the FAQ accordingly. Since there are many acronyms, we’ve included definitions for terms commonly used in exchanges to help clarify.

Another important resource is the NMO matrix, which is a master datasheet that will help you decide which countries are most suitable for you. It lists the countries we’ve partnered with, the number of placement spots available for Canadian students, and the language requirements. While English is the only required language, some recommended languages are listed, and having basic proficiency in them could enhance your experience.

An important section in the matrix is the exchange conditions. If you’re considering applying to or ranking a country, review these carefully. These conditions, linked to the IFMSA website, outline the required level of studies (e.g., some countries require two years of medical education, while others only need one year), daily schedules, and comments on academic quality.

The matrix also provides city and calendar remarks. For example, in Brazil, it details which cities and hospitals are available for exchanges and the dates offered, so you can choose what works best for you. Additionally, the disciplines available for clinical placements are listed, giving you a wide range of specialties to choose from. The matrix also includes information on social programming, which is an important part of the exchange experience, as well as deadlines.

If you have any questions while reviewing the matrix, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for clarification.

Regarding bonus scoring, we’ll ask questions to help us allocate bonus points. Bonus points are awarded based on whether your school has signed contracts with us, if you’re a local exchange officer or social committee lead, or if you're a member of the exchange committee, in recognition of the hard work involved in organizing the program.

We are also prioritizing EDI in the exchange program. We understand that not everyone may have equal access to exchanges due to financial or social barriers. If there’s anything you would like to share with us about challenges that may impact your ability to participate, we encourage you to do so. We want to make exchanges as accessible as possible.

English is the primary language for all participating countries, so don't worry if you don't know additional languages. However, if you're motivated, you can start learning another language once you’re matched with a country. Just be honest about your language skills, and we’ll do our best to match you accordingly.

You will then rank your preferences for either SCOPE or SCORE, with the option to rank up to four countries for SCORE and six for SCOPE (due to the larger list of countries available). Make sure you only rank countries where you're willing to go for four weeks. This will help us minimize the number of application iterations. If none of your selected countries are available, you can opt to be placed in any country.

Finally, we have a series of short-answer questions, which are crucial for scoring. There’s a word limit, so we recommend writing your answers in a separate document and then pasting them into the form when ready. There are five short-answer questions in total.

The last section requires you to acknowledge the iteration process and application timeline.

That’s everything for now! We hope this overview was helpful in giving you an idea of what to expect from the application process. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the chat, and we’ll try to answer them.

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Questions?

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CFMS-IFMSA Exchange

Summer 2026 Applications OPEN NOW!