Standing Committee on Professional Exchange

The Standing Committee on Professional Exchange (SCOPE) was founded in 1951 and is one of the first standing committees within IFMSA. It started small, beginning with only 8 European countries, but since then has grown into one of the largest student-run exchange programs in the world. The SCOPE exchange program is a quality educational and cultural experience organized entirely by medical students with the help of their medical faculties, and is accredited by medical faculties across the world as well as international medical organisations.

From the very beginning, it was evident that exchange of medical students would be one of the main fields of action in IFMSA. As early as 1952, a total of 463 students spent a period of practice abroad, and today, it continues to be the backbone of the Federation and constitutes its longest running project. Annually, around 13,000 students from more than 90 countries travel around the world to discover new health systems, new cultures and to enhance their global health and intercultural understanding.

AMSA Singapore represents Singapore in the SCOPE program, and liaises with other countries to offer medical students in Singapore international opportunities for clerkship, and at the same time arrange for clerkship opportunities in Singapore for foreign medical students. Our program is open to medical students from all three local medical schools.

In exchange for a participation fee, selected students are offered a four-week clerkship in a chosen clinical or pre-clinical field of medicine at the hospital and department of his or her choice, lodging, boarding and social programs hosted by local medical students. During the exchange, the student has the chance to observe a different health care system and learn from foreign tutors. All students are assigned to a physician supervisor, who acts as a tutor and mentor. 

After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AMSA Singapore is excited to restart SCOPE for the 22/23 season and provide our members with highly-sought after opportunities for overseas clinical electives. For more information, please take a look at our Program Booklet (2021).