Dental Internships: Intern abroad in Cusco, Peru
Dental internships in Peru offer the chance to assist practicing local dentists with general clinical checks. Interns support real patient treatments, including promotion of good dental hygiene, and get realistic and well-rounded dental work experience, while also sharpening Spanish language skills.
What to expect from your Dentistry internship:
- Make a valuable contribution by assisting under-resourced clinics and dental facilities
- Get an insight in the Peruvian healthcare system while working closely together with a professional dentist
- Get a realistic insight into the Peruvian culture by treating and working together with local people
- Experience Cusco, one of the world’s most popular tourism cities
Your internship abroad host organization:
- School-based dental clinics
Internship details
Dental internships in Peru offer the chance to assist practicing local dentists with general clinical checks. Interns receive guidance working through real patient treatments and gain practical, rounded dental work experience while also sharpening their Spanish language skills.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation and meals provided.
Dentistry interns are placed in local clinics in schools around the city of Cusco, under the supervision of a local dentist. You’ll get the chance to observe and shadow your supervisor throughout general clinical checks for students who range in age from 3-20 years old.
As well as learning by watching your supervisor, interns can help to prepare materials and instruments, assist with surgeries and provide other contributions where it’s appropriate. Interns with more dental experience and greater Spanish language ability are more likely to take a hands-on role in this instance, always under the guidance and supervision of a professional.
Motivated dental interns can also help to organize campaigns in schools and kindergartens, hosting educational classes on oral hygiene. This can be arranged while you are in Peru if it’s something you’re interested in.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.
Typical Schedule
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Monday to Friday, usually 4 hours a day
What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Dentistry Intern?
Dentistry interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Observing and shadowing local dentists during general clinics
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Preparing materials and instruments
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Assisting in dental surgeries
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Providing support in treatments
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Helping to educate local students about oral health
Professional development opportunities:
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Gain practical experience under the supervision of a fully qualified and licensed dentist
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Experience a wide range of dental treatments
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Practice and develop Spanish language proficiency within a professional setting
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Peru photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
Applying for our Dentistry Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.
Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks | $1,382 Equivalent to $65 /day |
| 4 weeks | $1,583 Equivalent to $56 /day |
| 5 weeks | $1,749 Equivalent to $49 /day |
| 6 weeks | $1,940 Equivalent to $46 /day |
| 8 weeks | $2,272 Equivalent to $40 /day |
| 10 weeks | $2,659 Equivalent to $37 /day |
| 12 weeks | $2,991 Equivalent to $35 /day |
| 16 weeks | $3,765 Equivalent to $33 /day |
| 20 weeks | $4,429 Equivalent to $31 /day |
| 24 weeks | $5,093 Equivalent to $30 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All in-country transportation
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
Free-time experiences & tours in Cusco
Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Cusco! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.
Enjoy 15 hours of Medical, Business or Technical Spanish Language Lessons while interning abroad in Peru.
Enjoy this unique Wonder of the World on an affordable 4 day, 3 night tour.
Enjoy the beauty of this secluded Lake on an affordable 2 day, 1 night tour.
Spanish lessons
Internships in Peru require interns to have varying levels of Spanish language proficiency, from either a confident level of basic Spanish, to a more developed grasp of intermediate to advanced language skills. The definition of having basic Spanish skills (Level A2) includes the ability to exchange brief information with questions and answers, use and understand simple language in daily situations and cultural aspects.
Keep in mind that despite your level of proficiency, a language barrier can still be encountered to a certain extent. Interns should be prepared for the very natural and normal frustration of not always understanding what is being said around them. Most interns are able to have a successful internship experience and it is essential to come prepared and willing to surmount a language barrier, as opposed to being intimidated by it.
We strongly recommend that all interns take advantage of the affordable language lessons offered exclusively to Intern Abroad HQ participants by our host organization in Peru. These can be arranged directly with the local team once registered for the program (ask about online Skype lessons) or at the orientation in-country. Language lessons are tailored to each individual’s current level of Spanish and classes run from Monday through to Friday.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Peru begin every Monday. Exceptions may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid public holiday disruptions or closed when the program has already reached capacity. The minimum duration requirement is 2 weeks up to a maximum duration of 24 weeks.
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Sunday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Sunday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.
The typical port of entry is the Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ). If you are planning to spend time independently in Peru prior to your internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics with you.
Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation. The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability.
Orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
Check what's required to visit Peru
Check out the widget below to learn about the visa requirements for the Dentistry internship in Peru, based on your country of residence.
Accommodation and WiFi
All program participants are hosted in various homestay accommodations, which are usually located approximately 20 minutes walk to the central office (which is located just off the Plaza De Armas). In some cases, accommodation may be located closer to the internship placement than the central office for convenience. If so, then the central office may be about 20 minutes away via public bus.
There are approx. 2 - 5 bedrooms in most homestays and everyone has their own bedroom (unless special requests are made in advance to share). Host families typically have their own bathrooms and there is a separate bathroom which is shared amongst the program guests.
Living is comfortable, however it’s important to note that the infrastructure in Cusco is different from other developed cities. Water is cut-off intermittently at various times during the day. Most of the time, the water is running early in the morning, in the afternoons and evenings. It’s advised to shower in the morning and early evening (shower pressure can be low, and the water is typically warm but not steaming hot). On occasion, the water can be cut-off for longer periods of time (but with a fair warning). There is usually 24-hour electricity but from time to time the power can be cut-off without warning.
It is endeavoured to provide WiFi in the home-stay accommodation, but the signal may not always be strong and from time to time, may go down.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one option for homestay accommodation, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. However, you can expect a similar standard and similar amenities, to what is shown.
Meals
Internships in Cusco include three meals per day, served at the homestay. A typical Peruvian breakfast is provided and consists of bread, spreads, juice, coffee or tea, and fruit. Lunch is generally the biggest meal of the day, and often consists of a soup and a main dish. Dinner commonly consists of meat (often chicken), soups, pastas, starches and vegetables. Please be sure to let us know of any specific dietary requirements that you have in advance, so that we may ensure your hosts are aware and make recommendations accordingly.
Essential country information
| Capital | Lima |
| Population | 29.99 million |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Currency | Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN) |
| Time zone | UTC-05:00 |
Weather and climate:
Peru, unlike other equatorial countries, does not have an exclusively tropical climate; the influence of the Andes and the Humboldt Current causes great climatic diversity within the country. In the mountainous region, rain is frequent during summer and temperatures and humidity diminish with altitude up to the frozen peaks of the Andes. The Jungle is characterized by heavy rainfall and high temperatures, with the exception of its southernmost part, which has cold winters and seasonal rainfall.
What recent Dentistry interns said about their experience
When I was interning in Peru I not only became familiar with the language, but also became more culturally aware. I learned to analyze people in order to know how to best show respect towards a certain individual. I was able to use context and habits within the workplace to recognize what was expected from me and also to understand what tasks I needed to perform even when I could only understand a few words that were spoken. Overall it made me a more analytical, proactive, and culturally sensitive person.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
