Education abroad opportunities on 5 continents!
Explore international options…
- offered by VMBS (listed below),
- in conjunction with our international partners, and
- that we work out together based on your personal goals & desires!
To apply for the following programs, get more information about education abroad opportunities in general, and explore a more exhaustive list of opportunities, visit TAMU Education Abroad.
Bulgaria – Summer II
| Program Description | Bulgaria Communication in Healthcare (Undergraduates only, though accommodations might be possible for DVM or graduate students)) In Bulgaria, Dr. Ivanov helps students focus on medical communication with a special emphasis on diverse patients. Set in Sofia, Bulgaria, students not only see the perspective of a different medical community, but they are immersed in a new community themselves as guests in Bulgarian culture. This helps students understand the similarities and differences between the Eastern European and U.S. perspectives on life, disease, medical communication, and differences in communication and values among diverse populations in general. The program offered provides students with an intensive introduction to multicultural communication in therapeutic situations that include gathering information, medical interviews, crises, and bearing bad news. A major component of the course is an internship in which the students participate in discussions about case studies, with difficult patients, during patient interviews as well as in simulations of a variety of situations. Dr. Margarita Stankova, psychiatrist and chair of the Department of Healthcare and Social Work at the New Bulgarian University, supervises students and helps them establish links in the university, to the city, and to the rich history of this part of Eastern Europe. Explore the university, the city of Sofia, and the country Bulgaria. See what they have to offer you, in addition to the exciting experiences the coursework provides. Courses: VTPP 489: Special Topics in Communication Skills in Healthcare (4 credits) VTPP 485: Directed Studies (2 credits) |
| Faculty | Dr. Ivan Ivanov |
South Africa – Summer (Dr. Blue)
| Program Description | South Africa Conservation Veterinary Medicine This course is offered only to DVM students who would like to learn about conservation medicine in South Africa. Students learn how African species are managed at wildlife parks and game preserves. Students become familiar with aspects of hoofstock medicine including common diseases and preventative medicine. Students gain direct experience with chemical immobilization including the necessary skills, drugs and darting equipment. Course VTPP 948: Conservation Medicine and Management for Veterinary Students |
| Faculty | Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon |
South Africa – Summer (Drs. Derr & Cook)
| Program Description | South Africa African Wildlife Conservation & Health (Undergraduute, graduate, & DVM students are eligible) You will leave this experience with a newfound appreciation for the role of veterinarians in large landscape wildlife conservation medicine and return to the U.S. with newly developed skills to apply to wildlife health and sustainability issues across the state of Texas. Wildlife experts guide participants through activities including animal restraint, administering drugs, field surgery, and darting. Other experiential learning could include interaction with crocodiles, buffalo, and rhinos.  Check out past cohort pages on Facebook for more info! TAMU African Wildlife Medicine Study Abroad 2019 African Wildlife Medicine 2017 African Wildlife Medicine 2016 African Wildlife Medicine This program offers two sections — different dates — and you can check out these websites for the details: Track 1 and Track 2. Credit All students are required to take a total of 4 credit hours to participate: VTPB 948: Didactic Elective: African Wildlife Medicine (4 credit hours) VTPB 485: Directed Studies: South Africa (4 credit hours) VTMI 689 Special Topics in African Wildlife Medicine (4 credit hours) |
| Faculty | Dr. James Derr, Dr. Walter Cook |
Spain – Summer II
| Program Description | Spain Global Health This program is provides students with an opportunity to explore public health issues and shadow in clinical rotations (human or veterinary medicine) in Barcelona, Spain, while living with a host family. The program begins with a 1-week course at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Students then spend 3 weeks (full time, approx. 120 hours) doing a shadowing experience either in human medicine with UPF or in veterinary medicine through our partnership with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Credit Students can get 1 hour of transfer credit for the course at UPF. Students may register at Texas A&M for credit for the clinical shadowing. This credit should be arranged through the student’s academic department to ensure that the credit can be applied to their degree plan. |
| Contact | Dr. Laura Weber (interim) |
Thailand – Summer I
| Program Description | Thailand Tropical Vet Med & Conservation This abroad program focuses on veterinary medicine (elephants and companion animals) and natural resource conservation (marine and land-based resources). During the four-week study abroad program, students explore Thai food and culture, work with elephants and other species, and restore coral reefs at a sea turtle sanctuary. They engage in a community development project in a rural village by providing veterinary clinical care to cats, dogs, elephants, and livestock animals (as cases arise). Credit All students are required to take 6 credit hours, which the students have the option of transferring back to Texas A&M. The program is run by Loop Abroad, and the transcript comes from the University of Findlay. |
| Contact | Dr. Laura Weber (interim) |
Costa Rica – Fall (2023)
| Program Description | Costa Rica Biomedical Science Semester Required core courses and tropical rainforest | Key electives and a weekend at the beach | Topflight faculty and volcanoes This program offers an unbeatable combination for students working towards a degree in Biomedical Sciences, pre-meds, pre-vets, and others who want to have the semester of a lifetime while still advancing their degree plan. Credit (Fall 2023) A total of 13 credit hours are offered for this program: VTPB 411: One Health and Ecology in the Tropics (3 credit hours) VTPB 405: Biomedical Microbiology (4 credit hours) BIMS/GENE 320: Biomedical Genetics (3 credit hours) VIBS 310: Biomedical Writing (1 credit hour) VTPB 303: Medical Communication in the International Community (2 credit hours) Spanish (up to 3 transfer credits) Read more about the Costa Rica Biomedical Science Semester! How to apply: Brochure | Program Overview (via-trm.com) |
| Faculty | Dr. Donald Brightsmith |
Taiwan – Winter Break (not currently offered)
| Course Description | Taiwan Marine Mammal Anatomy Taiwan, historically known as Formosa (beautiful island), is a democratic island country situated in the Pacific. Taiwan is rich in both history and culture. The people of Taiwan are comprised of multiple native indigenous ethnic groups (2%) and those of Han Chinese descent. Over several hundred years, this tiny island has experienced Portuguese, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Chinese colonial rule. Every era left its marks on this island, and these have melted into the Taiwanese culture and cuisine. Because Taiwan is located between tropical and sub-tropical regions, the surrounding ocean is full of a wide variety of marine animals, including 27 species of cetaceans such as bottle-nosed dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales, and the rare humpback dolphin. During their trip, students will be immersed in marine mammal conservation, Taiwanese style. Credit All students are required to take a total of 3 credit hours to participate on this program VIBS 485: Marine Mammal Anatomy (3 credit hours) |
| Faculty | Dr. Gladys Ko |
