Medical Elective in Nepal
Join students from the UK, Australia & beyond — clinical placements in Kathmandu and rural Nepal.
An immersive medical elective in Nepal, led by a UK doctor and Nepal-based team. 4 weeks · 1 urban + 1 rural placement · from £1,200 — extendable to suit your goals. Accommodation, daily meals, and official university letters included.
4-Week Programme
Kathmandu & Rural
UK & Nepal Team
15+ universities worldwide and counting
Student Reviews
What Our Students Say
“
My elective in Nepal was an excellent clinical and personal experience, with exposure to both rural and urban healthcare. The organisation was supportive throughout, communication was excellent, and the supervisors remained incredibly helpful even after the elective had ended while I was trekking independently. I would highly recommend this elective to other medical students.
Chris
Swansea University (UK), 2026
“
Nepal is a beautiful country and a great place to have an elective. I feel very lucky to have learnt from really amazing medics dealing with problems every day that we don’t even consider in the NHS.
Emilia
Warwick University (UK), 2026
Programme Overview
Standard programme: 4 weeks · 1 urban placement · 1 rural placement · £1,200. Want more? You can extend your stay or add extra placements — price adjusts accordingly.
4
Weeks · Standard
Customise to fit your schedule
2
Placements · Standard
Add more from ~£80 each
£1,200
From
Standard programme
24/7
Support
🏙️ Urban Placement
Urban Placement — Kathmandu
Typically weeks 1–2 of your standard programme
Begin your elective in Nepal’s vibrant capital, Kathmandu, where you will be based in a well-established hospital or clinic. This phase allows you to:
- Work alongside experienced Nepali doctors and healthcare professionals.
- Gain exposure to diseases and treatments common in South Asia.
- Participate in ward rounds, outpatient clinics, and emergency care.
- Understand the challenges of Nepal’s healthcare system.
🌿 Rural Placement
Rural Placement — Community Health Post
Typically weeks 3–4 of your standard programme
Leave the city behind and travel to a rural healthcare centre, where you will:
- Work in community clinics serving remote populations.
- Assist in public health outreach and mobile medical camps.
- Learn about low-resource medicine.
- Witness firsthand the impact of limited medical resources.
Placements are typically based in community health posts — small government-run clinics that serve as the first point of contact for rural communities in Nepal.
Urgent document deadline? If you need letters expedited to meet a university deadline, please let us know — this incurs an additional £25 fee.
Life on Elective
Gallery
Eligibility & Application Guide
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Himalayan Med Medical Elective Programme, applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. Medical Student Status: You must be a medical student enrolled at a recognized university, typically in your final or penultimate year of study.
2. Elective Placement Requirement: The elective should be part of your medical degree requirements. Applicants are expected to have completed at least 12 months of clinical experience before starting the placement.
3. Health Clearance and Vaccinations: You will need to provide proof of health clearance and have received all essential vaccinations, in line with international health standards.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents as part of their application for the Himalayan Med Medical Elective Programme:
1. Motivation Letter : A brief statement outlining your interest in the programme, your goals for the elective, and what you hope to contribute and gain from the experience.
2. Letter of Recommendation : A signed recommendation letter from a clinical or academic supervisor at your medical school.
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV): A concise CV highlighting your educational background, clinical experience, skills, and any relevant extracurricular activities.
4. Academic Transcript : An official transcript from your university, detailing your academic performance to date.
5. Passport Copy : A clear scanned copy of your valid passport (photo page only).
6. Elective Travel Insurance : Documentation confirming “elective travel insurance” coverage for the duration of your elective. ( evidence of this only required prior to placement )
Costs & Inclusions
Fees & What’s Included
Programme Fees
The standard fee for the 4-week elective (2 placements: 1 urban + 1 rural) is £1,200. This fee helps us provide comfortable accommodation, local support, and a smooth elective experience from start to finish.
Want a longer or more varied elective? You can extend beyond 4 weeks or add further placements. The price adjusts based on duration and number of placements — contact us to discuss your options.
- (Payment schedule below is for the standard 4-week / £1,200 programme. Extended programmes are priced individually.)
- £200 deposit – due at time of application (non-refundable)
- £600 – due 4–6 months before elective start date
- £400 – due 2 months before start of elective date
All fees must be cleared before arrival.
Inclusions
We take care of all the essentials so you can focus on your clinical learning and cultural immersion:
- Airport pickup
- Shared student accommodation
- Daily meals ( Breakfast & Dinner )
- Cultural orientation including basic Nepali language lesson
- Hospital placement coordination
- Official letters for university
- 24/7 local support
- eSIM, Nepali number and data
Exclusions
There are a few things you’ll need to organize on your own :
- International flights
- Travel/ Elective insurance
- Visa application fees
Student Discounts
Students enrolled with Himalayan Med receive exclusive discount codes on enrolment.
Arclight
Students receive 20% off all equipment at the Arclight Project Shop. Your discount code will be provided on enrolment.
Cafe Mitra
Students receive 10% off food and drink at both branches — Thamel and Maharajgunj. Your discount code will be provided on enrolment.
Discount codes are provided on enrolment.
Application Process
How to Apply
We’ve made the application process simple and supportive — here’s how it works:
01
Check Eligibility
Make sure you meet the criteria:
- You are a medical student in your final or penultimate year of study at a recognized university.
- The elective is part of your medical degree requirements.
- You have completed at least 12 months of clinical experience.
- Your vaccinations are up-to-date and you have the necessary health clearance according to international standards.
02
Prepare Your Documents
You’ll need to upload the following:
- Motivation Letter
- Recommendation Letter from your supervisor
- University Transcript
- Copy of Passport
- Proof of Elective Travel Insurance
03
Personalised Planning Call
Once you’ve reviewed the requirements, we’ll arrange a short call to personalise your elective to your goals and interests.
During the call, we’ll:
- Explore your interests and any areas you’d like to focus on
- Tailor the elective to suit your academic and personal goals
- Answer all your questions — big or small
You’ll also have ongoing support from both our UK and Nepal teams before, during, and even after your elective.
04
Submit Your Deposit & Documents
After the call, you can secure your place by:
- Paying a £200 non-refundable deposit
- Sending the required documents listed above to our team
05
Confirmation & Next Steps
Once your application is approved:
- You’ll receive a placement confirmation letter
- We’ll help you prepare for your trip
- Our team will stay in touch leading up to your arrival in Nepal
Ready to Start?
Get in touch and we’ll guide you through the process.
Your Stay
Your Home in Kathmandu
During your placement you will be staying in a comfortable family home in Kathmandu, giving you an authentic feel for local life in the city. The house sleeps up to 9 students across 5 rooms (four rooms with two single beds, one room with one bed). Your stay includes breakfast and dinner, with shared access to bedrooms, a living room, and bathroom — plus a rooftop terrace with stunning sunset views over the city.
Alternatively, if you prefer to arrange your own accommodation, we will provide a £75 per week allowance in lieu. Please note that this option does not include food — you will be responsible for your own meals.
Up to 9 Students
Breakfast & Dinner
Rooftop Terrace
Family Home
Our Impact
Supporting Local Healthcare
We reinvest a portion of our programme fees back into the communities we work with, supporting local healthcare delivery beyond the elective experience.
By providing essential equipment and tools to health posts and community teams, we aim to strengthen clinical capability, improve continuity of care, and support better patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.
This includes tools that support diagnosis, monitoring, and digital record systems (Laptops) used in everyday clinical care.
Our partners
Meet Our Team
We’re here to guide and support you — before, during, and after your elective in Nepal. Feel free to learn more about us or get in touch directly.
Callum 🇬🇧
Director – Medical Electives & International Operations
📍 Royal Blackburn Hospital, UK
Learn more about Callum
Callum is a medical doctor and expedition medic, currently working at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. He graduated from Warwick Medical School in 2024, having previously completed an undergraduate degree in Medical Physiology at the University of Nottingham.
He brings a diverse range of experience to his medical practice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked as both an ICU assistant and vaccinator, and he has international experience supporting a children’s autism home in China. His expedition work includes serving as medic for ultramarathons and high-altitude expeditions, such as Kilimanjaro, and he has also spent time with prehospital care services in Nepal.
Beyond medicine, Callum is passionate about the outdoors. An accomplished runner and mountaineer, he holds multiple Fastest Known Time (FKT) records on ultra-distance trail routes. He is currently undertaking “Operation PANGEA,” a self-directed project to climb the highest peak in every country – having summited 32 so far. To date, he has travelled to more than 50 countries, combining a love of exploration with a commitment to pushing both personal and professional boundaries.
Prakash 🇳🇵
Director – Nepal Operations
📍 KATHMANDU, NEPAL
Learn more about Prakash
Prakash is the founder of Himalayan Med, and has been managing trekking expeditions, medical research projects, and student electives in Nepal since 2013. With over a decade of hands-on experience organizing logistics across both remote Himalayan regions and city-based clinical placements, Prakash ensures every elective is smooth, safe, and meaningful.
He has worked closely with international medical schools, researchers, and healthcare volunteers from across the UK, Europe, and Asia — developing a strong reputation for local coordination, cultural insight, and high standards of safety and support. From arranging hospital placements to organizing mountain treks and rural health outreach, Prakash brings a unique blend of professionalism and heartfelt Nepali hospitality.
Whether you’re preparing for your elective or looking to explore the mountains after your placement, Prakash and his team are here to help you make the most of your time in Nepal — academically, culturally, and personally.