
Medical Internships in Valencia
Medical internships in Spain are perfect for pre-med and undergraduate students looking to gain international healthcare experience. Interns are placed in private hospitals or clinics, or non-profit health centers in the Valencia region, and assist and learn from local doctors and nurses with daily consultations, examinations and treatments.
Internship Highlights:
- Assisting medical professionals with patient care and gaining a real world insight into treatments and therapies
- Gain practical experience on a customized internship in a medical field of interest to you
- Enjoy traveling and living in Valencia, with easy access to wider Spain and the Mediterranean
Type of host organizations:
- Private hospitals and clinics
- Outpatient clinics
- Non-profit health centers
- Pharmacies
Internship details
Medical internships in Spain are perfect for pre-med and undergraduate students looking to gain international healthcare experience. Interns are placed in private hospitals or clinics, or non-profit health centers in the Valencia region and assist and learn from local doctors and nurses with daily consultations, examinations and treatments.
This is an in-country internship that includes accommodation and meals.
As a Medical intern in Spain, you’ll gain a first hand insight into life as a healthcare professional. Interns are closely guided by local medical professionals, providing the chance to learn firsthand, build your practical skills, and develop experience from real life consultations and treatments.
Internship placements are available in a wide range of hospitals, departments and clinics around the vibrant coastal city of Valencia. Your role as an intern is customized by our team with your own skills, experience and interests in mind. Interns looking for experience in a particular field of healthcare should include details in your application, so that we can guide you accordingly. While your role as an intern can vary based on your level of experience and study, your tasks and responsibilities will primarily involve assisting, observing, and shadowing across a range of daily situations, including patient consultations and treatments, medical administration, test evaluation and examinations, treatment establishment and follow ups. Interns can also help to design and improve various processes, as well as assist with ongoing research and teaching projects.
In all aspects of your internship activities, interns must prioritize the goal of improving the health of patients, while adhering to the standards and regulations of your internship placement. Interns should not expect to be directly “hands on” with patients, and should cooperate with their supervisor, according to the needs of the placement and its patients/clients. It is important to be prepared for a language barrier, as most patient interactions will be conducted in Spanish, although your supervisor will speak English. Your supervisor will provide opportunities to debrief following sessions, ensuring you are able to follow the work as it is conducted.
Spanish language proficiency is not a requirement to join. However, interns should expect that 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. Come prepared and willing to surmount a language barrier (and ask for help when needed), as opposed to being intimidated by it.
Bear in mind that internships in Valencia include five introductory Spanish language lessons, which are provided during the orientation period. Any additional Spanish language lessons must be coordinated and paid for separately. We encourage all interns to take advantage of the opportunity to learn some Spanish skills during their program (or develop their existing vocabulary).
If you have preferences for a particular field, please let us know when applying. 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.
Career Benefits
Medical interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
-
Assisting with patient care and treatment in a range of specialist or general departments
-
Observing and shadowing consultations
-
Medical testing and test evaluation
-
Collaborating on research and teaching projects
-
Assisting with general administrative tasks
Professional development opportunities:
-
Gain first hand understanding of patient consultation procedures
-
Build communication skills and understand patient relationship management
-
Observe and assist with medical techniques, tests and treatments
-
Learn from trained and experienced medical professionals in Spain
-
Gain familiarity with modern healthcare systems in action
-
Practice and hone Spanish language skills
-
Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Spain photo gallery
Read reviews from our Spain Interns
”This internship contributed to the achievement of my long term goal of becoming a doctor. My communication skills in both English and Spanish have greatly improved, which means I will be able to communicate with a range of patients with ease going forward. Having undertaken the internship, I feel more motivated and excited to enter the medical field, to make a change and help people!”
Read reviews from our Spain Interns

Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$499 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$499 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
---|---|
2 weeks | $2,640 Equivalent to $188/day |
3 weeks | $2,939 Equivalent to $139/day |
4 weeks | $3,287 Equivalent to $117/day |
5 weeks | $3,586 Equivalent to $102/day |
6 weeks | $3,910 Equivalent to $93/day |
8 weeks | $4,507 Equivalent to $80/day |
10 weeks | $5,160 Equivalent to $73/day |
12 weeks | $5,757 Equivalent to $68/day |
16 weeks | $7,062 Equivalent to $63/day |
20 weeks | $8,257 Equivalent to $58/day |
24 weeks | $9,451 Equivalent to $56/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
- Return transportation to the airport at program conclusion
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit of $499 USD is required to secure your internship
- European students who wish to receive Erasmus funding for their internship in Spain are encouraged to apply and outline their specific requirements.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Spain 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 Valencia Airport (VLC). If you are planning to spend time independently in Spain 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 Saturday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Sunday. 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.
The Orientation also includes five introductory Spanish language lessons which are provided as a way of boosting confidence and assisting with social and cultural integration. Any additional Spanish language lessons must be coordinated and paid for separately.
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 Spain
Check out the widget below to find out what the Covid-19 restrictions and visa requirements are for Spain, based on your country of residence.
Accommodation and WiFi
All interns in Spain are hosted in various homestay accommodations (which are typically located within apartment buildings). These are usually situated around the city centre, where it is easy to access both the central office of the local team (where Spanish language lessons also take place) and the designated internship placement.
In most cases, interns will receive their own bedroom. However, some bedrooms may be shared with another program participant of the same gender. Any given homestay may accommodate up to 2 to 3 interns at any given time. Bathrooms and common areas are shared. Living is comfortable and WiFi is provided in most of the home-stays, although it is not guaranteed. Laundry is included - usually it will be done once a week.
If a commute is required (to either the internship placement or the central office) then the travel time is usually between 45 to 60 minutes, maximum. There are ample public transportation options to utilize (including mobile phone apps, which can be downloaded at the program orientation) such as buses, subway, trams, and taxis. The city is flat and the climate is typically very pleasant, so public bicycles are also available. Interns may also opt to simply walk during the daytime and enjoy the sights of the city!
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 apartment, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. Rooms sizes vary.
Meals
Internships in Spain include three meals per day provided by the host family (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Please be sure to let us know of any specific dietary requirements that you have in advance (i.e. allergies and intolerances), so that we may ensure your hosts are aware and make recommendations. Adaptability is encouraged, as the meals provided are unlikely to reflect what you’re used to eating at home. If there are special snacks you like to have, please budget for them, so you can supplement the meals that are included with your own preferences for snacks and treats.
Locals do not typically have a heavy breakfast, so interns can expect items such as bread/pastries, spreads, fruit, and coffee (you may even try a delicious local espresso, served with condensed milk to sweeten it).
Lunch time in Valencia is typically between 2 and 4 pm. This time is in line with the concept of “la siesta”, allowing time to rest and enjoy a relaxed mealtime - preferably with some pleasant company and conversation. Meals are relatively lighter in size than what you may be used to back home, as is the custom of a mediterranean diet. Lunch usually consists of a sandwich, fruit or salad and may be served at your homestay, or packed ahead of time for you to take to your placement.
Dinner time in Spain is typically served later in the evening, usually between 9 pm-10 pm, due to eating a late lunch. Typical dishes may include ingredients such as noodles or pasta, seafood, rice, and in-season salads/vegetables.
If you choose to opt out of lunch or dinner, any day of the week, you should communicate this back to your host family. There are many excellent restaurants to choose from in Valencia and they typically offer special lunch menus in the afternoon, which are designed to provide an affordable set meal option (they could range anywhere between €5.00 and €12.00). One of the most famous dishes in Valencia is paella - a must try!
Spanish lessons
Fluency in Spanish is not a requirement for interns in Valencia, however basic Spanish skills are strongly recommended. Your program fees include five introductory Spanish language lessons which are provided in order to boost confidence and assist with social and cultural integration. However, any additional Spanish language lessons must be coordinated and paid for separately. We encourage all interns to take advantage of the opportunity to learn some Spanish skills during their program (or develop their existing vocabulary) to maximize the impact of the internship experience.
Interns interested in taking Spanish language lessons can arrange these directly with their local team once in Spain during their internship orientation. The language lessons are tailored to each interns current level of Spanish, run from Monday to Friday and can be accommodated around your internship schedule. Classes are run in small groups by certified native speaking Spanish teachers.
For more information, check out the “add ons” section of your application once officially registered with us.
Weekends and travel
Most internship placements in Valencia have a morning schedule and require a commitment of between 25-30 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Interns have the weekends free and there is no shortage of wonderful things to see and do in Valencia! Cultural activities, excursions and weekend trips are frequently organized by our local team in Valencia, who will communicate to interns in-country when fun plans are being made. Interns staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their internship program, can visit other regions of Spain (or even Europe). The local team will be happy to make travel and tourism recommendations. However, while you’re in Valencia, these are just a few examples of the attractions you won’t want to miss:
-
City of Arts and Sciences / Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias: This state-of-the-art science, cultural and architectural complex is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia and counts as one of the “12 Treasures of Spain”. It encompasses the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe and Hemisfèric (for IMAX, 3D and other screenings).
-
L’Oceanogràfic: L’Oceanogràfic is an impressive aquarium, designed by the architect Félix Candela and the structural engineers Alberto Domingo and Carlos Lázaro. You’ll see 500 species in versions of the world’s main marine ecosystems.
-
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia: If you love arts and theater, don’t miss an event at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia - Valencia’s beautiful performing arts and cultural centre.
-
Mercado Central, Valencia: Strolling through this indoor public market will inundate you with colorful sights and interesting produce. It’s located in the city center across from the Llotja de la Seda (a Gothic-style civil building) and the church of the Juanes.
-
Plaza de la Virgen: This lively plaza is central to Valencia, where it is surrounded by iconic historic buildings and outdoor cafes. You’ll see the Apostle Doors of the Valencia Cathedral, the Miguelete tower, and Neptune relaxing in la Fuente del Turia. From the plaza, you can also enter the Barrio del Carmen at Calle Caballeros - this is a trendy part of the medieval Valencia Old Town, from where you can also check out the Gothic-style Torres de Serranos, part of the old city walls, which mark the entrance to the Old Quarter of Valencia.
Essential country information
Capital | Madrid |
Population | 46.5 million |
Languages | Spanish (official), Catalan, Galician, Basque, Occitan (co-official languages) |
Currency | Euro (€ - EUR) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 |
Weather and climate:
Spain has a very varied climate, according to the geographical situation of different regions. Most of the country is considered to be within a Mediterranean zone, which is characterised by warm/hot and dry summers. However, areas with relatively high rainfall are considered to be oceanic climatic regions, rather than Mediterranean. The northern quarter of Spain, which is within the Atlantic region, falls within this oceanic climate category, where winter and summer temperatures are influenced by the ocean. The southeastern quarter of Spain has a semi-arid climate, where the dry season can extend beyond the typical summer season.
In Valencia, where the Intern Abroad HQ internship program is based, it is dry year round. The summers are warm, muggy, and mostly clear. The hot summer season runs from June through September, with an average daily high temperature above 81°F (27°C). The winter months, from November through March, are cold, windy, and partly cloudy. During this time, the average daily high temperature is below 65°F (18°C). The average low of the coldest day of the year (around early January) is 43°F (6°C).