International Opportunities for 1st to 3rd Year Students

study abroad student photos

Eligibility

Students must be in good academic standing at the time of application for any of the international opportunities. Refer to the Academic Standards document in VetZone for definition.

Academic Credits

Students can receive ISU credits for eligible international veterinary experiences. Study abroad credits count towards DVM degree elective requirements --- VM1-VM3 students are required to have 4 credits of electives. 

  • Small animal and equine related experiences -- email Dr. Jessica Ward (jward@iastate.edu) to start the approval process for VCS 496.
  • Production animal and wildlife related experiences --- email Dr. Yuko Sato (ysato@iastate.edu) to start the approval process for VDPAM 496. Please follow the steps listed in this overview document. 

Please note, students can only take up to 9 credit hours of 490 level courses. Please discuss other credit options with the faculty approver if you are reaching this credit limit.

 

Opportunities

ARCAS - Wildlife Rescue - Guatemala

This program is pre-approved for ISU credits. Students will receive 2 credits of VDPAM 496 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 496 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. Review program details
 

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital in Australia

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital has been treating and releasing native wildlife for the past 33 years, and has grown into one of the largest wildlife hospital worldwide, currently admitting almost 15,000 patients annually. The hospital also treats the approximately 1000 captive animals at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary including a growing number of exotic species.

The wildlife hospital in total has 10 veterinarians and 24 nurses working across the releasable wildlife, the captive Sanctuary animals and the research projects. We have a purpose built hospital and adjacent rehabilitation facilities including large waterbird pond, raptor flights, koala enclosures and turtle ponds.

 
 
The Wild Vets programme is specifically designed for those who are either studying or working in the veterinary sciences field. This programme provides you with the opportunity to gain practical experience in this field, under the supervision of a professional wildlife vet and game capture specialists. 
Choose from the 3-week or 2-week program options in summer 2024. For more program information, please visit the Live4now website https://www.live4now.co.za/. 
 

African Conservation Experience - South Africa

Wildlife veterinary work/wildlife management
Species: Buffalo, giraffe, rhino, sable, roan antelope 
 

Amakala Game Reserve - South Africa

Volunteer work/wildlife conservation
 

EcoLife Expeditions - South Africa

Vets in the wild expeditions: Sustainable resource utilization, Wildlife diseases, Animal rehabilitation, Game capture techniques and Veterinary care in rural areas
Wildlife conservation expeditions: Wildlife management techniques, Sustainable resource utilization, Ecosystems and biodiversity, Reserve and resort management and Wild animal capture and care technology
 
Spay/neuter campaign, veterinary care, animal welfare, wildlife
 

Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals - Malawi

Veterinary clinic, field trip to local farms, spay/neuter, quarantine kennels, rehoming kennels and a cattery, rabies campaign
 

Lilongwe Wildlife Trust - Malawi

Sanctuary-based vet work, animal husbandry (cleaning, sanitation, feeding and enrichment), orphan care, vet clinic support, observations, integrations and reintroductions
 

Loop Abroad - Thailand

Asian elephant medical care including diagnostics, treatments, and preventative medicine
 
Internship in The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital in Queensland, Australia; Belize Zoo; Belize Raptor Center; wildlife at Axios River National Park in Axios, Greece; Marine conservation at Archipelago Institute on Lipsi Island, Greece.  
 

University College, Dublin - Ireland

Equine and small animal internal medicine externship
 

Vets Go Wild-Worldwide Experience - South Africa

Wildlife conservation
 

Vida Veterinary Program - Guatemala, Costa Rica

Spay/neuter clinic, animal welfare education