Eligibility
Veterinary students in their first to third years who are in good academic standing at the time of application are eligible to participate in study abroad programs. Refer to the Academic Standards document in VetZone for definition.
College Organized Programs
Students are not restricted to participate in the programs listed below. If students find their own international experience, discuss with International Programs Coordinator Xiaoshuang Wei (xswei@iastate.edu). ISU credits and the college study abroad scholarships are available to students pursuing independent experiences.
ARCAS – Wildlife Rescue – Guatemala
This program is pre-approved for ISU credits. Students will receive 2 credits of VDPAM 7496 upon successful completion of this program and the course requirements.
More about Guatemala and ARCAS. Submit your application for the program here.
- Total hands-on experience on the program: 100+ hours
- Average number of cases seen per day: 6
- Species: primates, psittacines (birds), and reptiles
- Typical daily activities: patient monitoring, husbandry, capture, physical therapy, phyxial examination, case presentations, treatments, surgeries, and necropsies
One Health Service Learning in Uganda
This program is pre-approved for ISU credits. Students will receive 3 credits of VMPM 7496 upon successful completion of this program and the course requirements.
Program director: Dr. Radford Davis (rgdavis@iastate.edu)
An experiential study abroad program of approximately two weeks for veterinary students of any year focusing on human health, animal health, and the environment in the Kamuli District, Uganda.
Other Opportunities
Below is a list of programs ISU students have gone on in the past. ISU does not endorse or vet these experiences. Please contact International Programs Coordinator Xiaoshuang Wei (xswei@iastate.edu) for advising appointments or if you want to discuss any program in detail.
How to Apply
Students will apply for these other opportunities directly with the organizer. Students also need to apply with ISU to receive credits for the experience. Note: only students who receive ISU credits for their program are eligible for the CVM scholarships.
To start your credit approval application, follow the steps listed on the International Preceptorship Canvas page. Study abroad credits count towards DVM degree elective requirements: VM1-VM3 students are required to have 4 credits of electives. Please note that students can only take up to 9 credit hours of 7490-level courses. Discuss other credit options with the faculty approver if you reach this credit limit.
Sukulu’s Wildlife Capture Experience
- Location: Sukulu Reserve, Zambia
- Dates: June 7-17; June 21-July1; July 12-22; Julye 26-August 5; August 16-26, 2026
- Cost: $3,200 excluding flights
- Eligibility: 1-4th year veterinary students
Program Description: This 10-day program offers students a comprehensive view of wildlife veterinary work and conservation practices. With a focus on chemical immobilization (darting) and various wildlife capture techniques, students will have hands-on opportunities to work alongside wildlife veterinarians and conservationists, including the immobilization of endangered white rhinos. Key topics covered include applied pharmacology of immobilizing drugs, species-specific immobilization techniques, monitoring vitals during anesthesia, darting principles, and safety procedures, one Health and African wildlife zoonotic diseases, preventing stress- and capture-related mortalities, among others. Visit Sukulu Reserve website here.
Galápagos Animal Doctors
- Location: Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador
- Dates: June 7-July 4; July 5-18; July 19-August 1 etc. a full list of available dates can be found on the program website
- Cost: $1,500 excluding flights
- Eligibility: 3rd & 4th year veterinary students
Program Description: The Galapagos Animal Doctors (GAD) project works with a clinic on the Galápagos Island of Santa Cruz providing services to the islands’ community, by strengthening its engagement and promoting animal health, welfare, sterilization, and responsible ownership. The clinic is not a high-volume spay-neuter clinic, but embraces all aspects of veterinary skills and training, including consultations, outreach and surgery. Alongside this crucial work, there will be time to explore the Islands of the Galápagos, with unique plants and animals found nowhere else. There will be opportunities for you to visit the beautiful beaches and see the unique and various wildlife of these islands.
Vida Volunteer Field Clinics
- Location: Costa Rica & Guatemala
- Dates: please see program website
- Cost: $1,500 excluding flights
- Eligibility: 2nd-4th year veterinary students
Program Description: Vida’s Veterinary Program will allow students to assist in controlling animal overpopulation in underserved communities by offering high-quality spay/neuter clinics & animal welfare education. Students will further gain clinical and surgical skills through a hands-on, educational, and culturally immersive experience.
Wildlife Symposium – South Africa
- Wildlife conservation
Lilongwe Wildlife Trust – Malawi
- Sanctuary-based vet work, animal husbandry (cleaning, sanitation, feeding and enrichment), orphan care, vet clinic support, observations, integrations and reintroductions
Christian Vet Missions – Various locations
- Vaccinations, spay and neuter