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Physical Therapy Internships in Arusha

Physical Therapy Internships in Arusha

Gain new insight into physical therapy by assisting professional therapists in hospital clinics around Arusha. Physical Therapy interns gain experience related to therapy provision for postoperative, disabled and immobile patients, including in burns, trauma, orthopaedic and paediatric units.

Internship Highlights:
  • Gain first hand insight into specific therapy treatments for a range of patients.
  • Develop your understanding of physical therapy within a limited healthcare environment.
  • Enjoy spare time in Arusha, go on safari in the Serengeti, and explore world famous natural landscapes.
Type of host organizations:
  • Hospital therapy clinics
Fully hosted experience from $1364
Includes accommodation & meals
Typical schedule: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Minimum duration 2 weeks, up to 24 weeks maximum
Explore Tanzania’s incredible national parks
Get job-ready with our Experiential Learning Curriculum
Suitable for English language speakers
Eligibility requirements and Associated career paths
Eligibility requirement

Suitable for students in their first year of relevant higher education, such as physiotherapy or physical therapy study at a college, diploma or degree level. If you do not meet the eligibility requirement, click here to review a Physical Therapy internship which is suitable for pre-PT students.

Language requirements

This internship is conducted in English. However, you can expect that some patient interactions will be carried out in local languages. Your supervisor will be available to debrief these sessions in English with you afterwards.

Associated career paths

Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Recreational Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist, Geriatric Fitness Specialist, Sports Medicine, Chiropractor, Osteopath, Disabled Carer, Nurse

Internship details

Gain new insight into physical therapy by assisting professional therapists in hospital clinics around Arusha. Physical Therapy interns can gain experience related to therapy provision for postoperative, disabled and immobile patients, including in burns, trauma, orthopaedic and paediatric units.

This is an in-country internship, with accommodation and meals provided.

Physical Therapy interns in Tanzania have the valuable opportunity to learn from professional local therapists as they go about their daily clinics. Therapists work in small teams in local hospitals, providing treatments to a broad range of patients.

As an intern, you’ll learn specific techniques and exercises by shadowing and assisting your supervisor. You’ll gain first hand insight into how therapists treat postoperative, disabled and immobile patients, and have the chance to experience therapy in specific departments including burns, trauma, orthopaedics, out patients and paediatrics.

Interns learn mostly by observing, as local regulations prevent unqualified therapists from taking a hands-on role. However, you’ll have unique learning opportunities to experience how therapy is provided within the context of the Tanzanian health system, and learn about very specific treatment methods. You’re also able to research conditions and treatments to help to inform therapy sessions.

Physical Therapy interns should be prepared to experience healthcare conditions that may differ significantly from what you’re used to at home. Hospitals in Tanzania can be under-resourced and under-funded, and this can be somewhat confronting for interns from more developed countries. You should remain professional, courteous and caring at all times.

This internship is conducted in English. Most patients you’ll work with will be able to speak at least basic English, however, for those that can’t, you’ll be able to receive a debrief from your supervisor afterwards.

It is important to note that the internship placements grouped as “Medical” require interns to make a Ministry of Health contribution. This supports the operation of placements and covers supervision for interns on medical-related placements. This contribution is not included in the internship program fee; it must be made directly, in-country, under the direction and guidance of the Program Coordinator in Arusha. Interns will not be permitted to commence their placement until this has been covered. The amount of the Ministry of Health contribution varies, as it is not the same for every clinic/hospital. However, to cover the contribution sufficiently, we ask interns to budget up to US$75 per week.

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

Physical Therapy interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
  • Shadowing and assisting in therapy sessions.

  • Conducting therapy research.

Professional development opportunities:
  • Learn from an experienced local therapist conducting a range of therapy sessions.

  • Gain understanding of treatments and exercises for patients with specific needs.

  • Experience how therapists manage patient relationships.

  • Build your communication skills, particularly with patients for whom English is not their first language.

  • 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.

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Tanzania photo gallery

What recent interns said about their experience

RM
Rachel McDermott
July 2023

I really enjoyed being immersed in a completely different culture and figuring it out with the other interns. I enjoyed seeing Tanzanian culture firsthand and trying to speak Swahili with the locals. Communicating with people who do not speak English as a first language was challenging, but it was a very good experience for me personally. These are all skills I can take forward with me in my career. My accommodation was both clean and comfortable and I felt very safe as there was a staff member present at all times. The staff were excellent and helped with any questions we had. The guidance and support received from Intern abroad HQ was second to none. Any questions or concerns I had were answered in a timely manner.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

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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 credit

Program 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 $1,364 Equivalent to $97 /day
3 weeks $1,494 Equivalent to $71 /day
4 weeks $1,719 Equivalent to $61 /day
5 weeks $1,909 Equivalent to $54 /day
6 weeks $2,014 Equivalent to $47 /day
8 weeks $2,279 Equivalent to $40 /day
10 weeks $2,489 Equivalent to $35 /day
12 weeks $2,699 Equivalent to $32 /day
16 weeks $3,299 Equivalent to $29 /day
20 weeks $3,859 Equivalent to $27 /day
24 weeks $4,419 Equivalent to $26 /day
  • Airport pick-up
  • Daily breakfast 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
  • Lunches and weekend meals
  • All in-country transportation
  • 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 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
  • It is important to note that the internship placements grouped as "Medical" require interns to make a Ministry of Health contribution. This supports the operation of placements and covers supervision for interns on medical-related placements. This contribution is not included in the internship program fee; it must be made directly, in-country, under the direction and guidance of the Program Coordinator in Arusha. Interns will not be permitted to commence their placement until this has been covered. The amount of the Ministry of Health contribution varies, as it is not the same for every clinic/hospital. However, to cover the contribution sufficiently, we ask interns to budget up to US$75 per week.
  • Balance of your Program Fee is due 70 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
  • All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
  • Terms and Conditions apply.

Free-time experiences & tours in Arusha

Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Arusha! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.

Kilimanjaro Weekend Tour
Kilimanjaro Weekend Tour

In this tour you will visit two of the most popular destinations in Tanzania - Kilimanjaro Region. The tour starts and ends at Arusha, with experienced driver guides offering the trip of a lifetime!

$132
Maasai Culture Tour
Maasai Culture Tour

Enrich your time in Tanzania with a visit to gain an authentic insight into the Maasai way of life.

$152
Serengeti Sunrise Package
Serengeti Sunrise Package

Visit three of the most popular destinations in Tanzania - Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The tour starts and ends at Arusha, with experienced driver guides offering the trip of a lifetime!

$877

Arrival and Orientation

Internships in Tanzania 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.

Typical ports of entry include the local Arusha Airport (ARK) or the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). If you are planning to spend time independently in Tanzania 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. Return transport to the airport will be provided to interns at no cost, provided they’re making their way back to the airport on either the Saturday or Sunday of their final week.

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 Tanzania

Check out the widget below to find out what the Covid-19 restrictions and visa requirements are for Tanzania, based on your country of residence.

Accommodation and WiFi

Interns in Arusha are accommodated together on one of the city’s most top-rated guest houses, located in a quiet and friendly neighbourhood (just 15 minutes from town center). Living is safe, clean, modern and comfortable, including 24/7 gated security, housekeeping, and a live-in local coordinator. (Laundry services are not included but can be arranged directly for a small fee). Amenities include hot showers, WiFi, and satellite television (in common areas). Interns can expect to share a bedroom with 1- 5 other guests, of the same gender. Bathroom facilities are shared. Private/en-suite room upgrades are subject to availability and must be arranged directly with the local team, once registered.

Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we may work with more than one apartment (depending on capacity), the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ slightly from the photos. Rooms sizes, along with storage space, may also vary.

Meals

Internships in Arusha include breakfast and dinner, prepared and served Monday to Friday at the guest house accommodation. Typical dishes in Tanzania are influenced by seasonal produce and the dinner menu is usually set according to a weekly rotating schedule. For example, dinner meals may cover Wali Rosti (rice and meat stew), spaghetti bolognese, Wali Umboga (rice and vegetables), pilau, and chapati maharage (a thin wholemeal pancake cooked on a griddle, with beans). Dinner dishes are accompanied with salad. Breakfasts consist of fresh seasonal fruit, fried eggs, and bread with spreads (plus tea and coffee). A filtered cold water dispenser is available in the common area for use to reduce the amount of plastic bottle use. Bottled water​ ​is​​ ​readily available in Tanzania and volunteers should budget approximately US$5 per week for this (2 liters per day). 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 to you accordingly. However, it is important to note that the provided meals will not reflect what you are used to eating at home and flexibility is required. Interns are encouraged to budget extra spending money for any special snacks/treats.

Essential country information

Capital Dodoma
Population 47.78 million
Languages Swahili and English
Currency Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Time zone UTC+03:00
Weather and climate:

In Arusha, where the Tanzania internship programs are based, the warm season typically lasts from January till late March. During this period, the average daily high is around 81°F / 27°C. The cooler season is from mid May till late August and the coldest month of the year is usually in July, when the low reaches around 56°F / 13°C. The dry season is considered to run from late May through till mid November. Rainfall can occur during the rest of the year, December through April.

Apply to check if you're eligible!