TRAVEL CONFIDENTLY WITH 24/7 trip SUPPORT
You can rest assured knowing that we've been building placements day in, day out since 2005 — we know exactly what kinds of support you'll benefit from and when.
You're going to travel to a country that's very different from what you're used to at home. So to give you peace of mind, we put a huge amount of focus on the support you get when you're overseas.
Each program has the same team structure. That includes the management team, caterers, cleaners, security teams and even gardeners. Your team will offer as much or little support as you need, as and when you need it. And they're available 24/7.
You Get support from the moment you land
You’ll feel confident when you land at the airport knowing that a member of our team will be waiting to meet you.
And don't worry — we'll have your flight details well before you arrive, so a team member will stay and wait for you at the airport if you're delayed.
You'll then travel back to the Work the World house together to meet your new housemates and the rest of the Work the World team.
find out ABOUT your ACCOMMODATION
Quickly gain confidence in your new surroundings
Before your placement starts, your in-country team will take you on a city orientation to help you familiarise yourself with the area. You'll feel like a local by the time the day is done.
Don't forget — your team is from the local area. So naturally they have a knowledge of the place that only a local could have.
Your team will make sure you know where to find all the best bars, shops, markets, beaches... Everyhing you could possibly need. And on a more practical note they'll show you which currency exchanges have the best rates, and show you the best way to get to and from your placement each day.
Take a tour of your placement hospital
Before your placement starts, your in-country team will take you to your placement hospital for a full orientation. They’ll take you on a tour of the hospital and introduce you to your supervisors and key department staff along the way.
The idea is for you to dip your toe in and get a feel for the new environment so you can confidently dive in on day one of your placement.
By the end of the orientation, you'll know your way around and feel ready for your first day on the wards.
Find out about the CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
How do our hospital partnerships benefit you?
If you're imagining being sent to a hospital and left to fend for yourself, rest assured that this is absolutely not going to be the case.
You'll be known to the hospital long before you arrive in the destination you choose. We have long-standing relationships with our partner hospitals and that means staff on the wards know exactly why you're there and how to best support you.
Your Work the World in-country team have a presense in the hospital too. So if you ever have any questions or concerns, there's always someone to support you.
What happens when you move to a different department or hospital?
You might choose to rotate through multiple departments during your placement. Or, you might feel you want to get experience in a different hospital part-way through. Either way, Work the World staff will come with you when you move, introducing you to the department staff you'll be spending time with.
Our hospital partnerships allow for an enormous amount of flexibility. If for example you decide you want to do extra hours or night shifts, we can arrange this while you’re in-country — you don't need to decide before you travel.
What do we do to help keep you safe?
You can relax and enjoy your trip with Work the World knowing we’ve been doing this since 2005 and have facilitated trips for 17,000 students like you. Our teams, both in your placement country and at our Head Office are highly trained to handle any crisis that may arise, unlikely though they may be.
And remember that we only offer you placements in destinations we've thoroughly vetted. That's the most important point and it's worth stressing.
You also get the peace of mind that comes with 24/7 security staff at the Work the World house. These staff aren't there because they're necessary, but because they add an additional layer of security just in case.
Get full support in hitting your goals
If you have set yourself personal or professional objectives, your in-country team will help you meet them.
Those might be objectives your university have set (like completing a certain number of hours), or personal goals .
In practice that means your in-country team will help adapt and adjust your placement, on the fly if needed. Your placement will be totally planned and organised before you travel. But if anything about your placement needs to change while you're overseas, our team will help.
What's the accommodation like?
Some placement providers will put you in a homestay to keep costs down. Not so with Work the World — with us you’ll stay in a private, catered house with other healthcare students on their Work the World placement.
Low-resource countries are known for their hustle and bustle. Throwing yourself into it is a big part of what makes a trip like this. But after a busy day on the wards and you want a break from the outside world, our houses offer an escape.
You can relax by the pool, find a quiet spot to read or study, or head to one of the common areas to socialise with your housemates. All our houses have western-style bathrooms and single-sex rooms.
Then there's the food. Our catering team will cook you everything from local specialities to favourites from home, including chips. Do you have dietary requirements? No problem — our professionally qualified caterers will adapt to your requirements.
Gain confidence using the local language
You might have reservations about travelling to a country without being able to speak the language. After all, communication is a fundamental skill and even more so where healthcare is concerned.
But here's some good news — while you're living in the Work the World house, you get specially tailored language lessons twice each week.
An experienced local language teacher hosts lessons in the comfort of the house. The idea is to strengthen what you learn from the online language videos (you'll get access to these after you secure your space), and teach you new clinical phrases and vocabulary to use while you're on placement.
You will still have a great experience even if you're not interested in learning the language. And your hospital supervisors will all speak English. But it can help to pick up a few phrases.
Make once-in-a-lifetime travel memories
Got questions about what to do after placement? Want some tips on where to travel at the weekend?
Your lovally-hired team will have an in-depth knowledge about the city and country you’re based in while on your Work the World trip.
You'll find a Work the World ‘top tips' book in the house too. The book is a treasure trove of hints and tips that previous travellers have added to over the years. It beats any guidebook hands down.
You can also go and have a look at the house's travel notice board. It has lots of information about the more popular places to visit, how to get there, booking numbers and other useful info.
What support will you get from head office?
Our Head Office team is in continuous contact with all our in-country teams. The UK team is directly involved in making sure you get the most from your placement, including while you're overseas.
You get 24/7 support from your in-country team, and we'll give you access to a special hotline that dials straight back to Head Office. The hotline is also manned 24/7.
We've won awards for our service, and we're confident that no one else comes close to matching what we offer. But it's better to hear it from people who have already travelled with us.
