SCOPE (Standing Committee on Professional Exchanges) was founded in 1951 with the aim of providing medical students with the opportunity to gain clinical experience in different healthcare systems and cultural settings. Today, SCOPE includes more than 90 active National Member Organizations, enabling over 13,000 students each year to participate in the IFMSA professional exchange program.

Through the exchange, students have the chance to develop clinical and communication skills, gain a better understanding of global health challenges, and experience diverse approaches to medicine and healthcare. The program lasts four weeks and is organized as a clinical clerkship under the supervision of a mentor – a hosting physician. The work includes observing and participating in daily clinical activities, while respecting local regulations and ethical standards.

In addition to the professional part, the exchanges also include a rich social program organized by student volunteers – local contact persons. They provide participants with support, help with integration, and opportunities to explore the culture, traditions, and everyday life of the host country. In this way, SCOPE contributes not only to professional development but also to intercultural understanding and the personal growth of students.

The goals of SCOPE are to promote mobility and knowledge exchange among medical students, to develop practical and clinical skills in an international environment, to foster cultural understanding and collaboration, and to bring global health challenges closer to future physicians.

All exchanges are initiated and fully coordinated by medical students – volunteers, while the programs are officially supported and recognized by medical faculties and universities worldwide.