Program Overview

Clinical Shadowing Abroad Program

The Clinical Shadowing Abroad Program is a summer program that allows students to shadow physicians and healthcare providers in Europe, while also studying abroad. This opportunity is open to all UCF students and is offered through a partnership between the College of Health Professions and Sciences and Atlantis, a global healthcare education organization.

Program Information

• The program includes clinical shadowing in hospitals in Europe and enrollment in the IHS4952 course "Clinical Shadowing Abroad for Health Professions" during the summer.
• Program dates: May 9, 2026 – July 31, 2026.
• Programs are available for 1-3 weeks or 4-6 weeks in various cities in Europe, including Spain, Italy, Croatia, Poland, Greece, and Portugal.

Program Highlights

• Observe surgeries and complex procedures.
• Learn about international healthcare systems and interact with healthcare teams.
• Approximately 20 hours of clinical shadowing per week, in a different department each week.
• Clinical shadowing in small groups with a student-doctor ratio of 1:1 or 2:1.
• Housing, daily breakfast, and 2 weekly group dinners are provided.
• Local transportation to the hospital and 1 group excursion per week are included.
• A site manager is available in the city and on-call during the program.

Program Costs

• Program fee: $3,500-$12,000 (after 20% discount) depending on the city and length of the program.
• UCF Abroad fee: $350.
• Tuition and fees for the UCF course (IHS4952).
• Airline tickets and related expenses are not included.
• Personal and miscellaneous expenses are not included.

Eligibility

• This opportunity is open to all UCF students in all majors.
• Students must complete one of the following courses in advance: Biology I (BSC2010C) or Biological Principles (BSC1005).
• Student's academics must be in good standing at UCF to allow participation in study abroad and enrollment in courses.

Application and Selection Process

• Students must complete the application form by February 15, 2026.
• Once the application is complete, students will be notified of the status of their application and the next steps in program selection and course enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Do I get to choose the city and date of the program?
  • A: Yes, once you are conditionally accepted to the program, you will be provided with additional follow-up information to select your program of choice, including city, dates, and length of program.
• Q: Can I choose what specialty I could shadow in the program?
  • A: Yes, the program is designed that students can shadow physicians from different specialties and departments in the hospital. Typically, you spend a week per specialty.
• Q: What will the housing look like in the shadowing sites? Do we need to share rooms?
  • A: The housing is arranged by Atlantis. They will keep the housing accommodations convenient to both the location of the hospital and the city center. The housing can vary depending on what is available in each city. The number of roommates that you will have depends on the size of the group. Roommates will always be Atlantis program participants and will always be someone of the same gender.
• Q: I am currently taking the prerequisite course (Biology I/Biological Principles) for the program. Should I wait until the semester is over to apply for the program?
  • A: No, you do not need to wait until you completed the prerequisite course. You can still apply for the program. The program manager will check on your successful completion of the prerequisite course after the end of Spring semester. The prerequisite course must be completed before the start of the clinical shadowing program.
• Q: I am very interested in the program, but I am unable to participate in the program this year. Is the program offered on a yearly basis?
  • A: The program is planned to be offered every summer. The program information will be shared with students next year when applications start.
• Q: I will be graduating before the start of the program in the summer semester. Can I still participate in the program?
  • A: Yes, you can still participate in the program in the summer semester after graduation. You will need to apply as a non-degree seeking student to allow your enrollment in the course (IHS4952) "Clinical Shadowing Abroad for Health Professions" that is associated with the program.
• Q: What is the cost of the program? Does the fee in different cities vary?
  • A: The program fee depends on the selected city and country, and length of the program (1, 3, or 6 weeks).
• Q: What is included in the program fee?
  • A: The program fee covers housing, most meals, local transportation to the shadowing sites, and cultural excursions. Airline tickets and related expenses as well as personal and miscellaneous expenses are not included in the program fee.
• Q: How will the payment for the program work? Would there be an option for separate payments or only a one-time payment?
  • A: You will need to pay the deposit once you are accepted to the program by Atlantis, and then pay the remaining program fee before departure. You can discuss payment options with Atlantis after you submit your application.
• Q: Can I apply for scholarships to cover the expenses for the program?
  • A: Yes, you can visit the UCF Study Abroad website for more information about available scholarships and financial aid.
• Q: Is the program fee covered by the Bright Futures Scholarship?
  • A: The Bright Futures Scholarship covers the cost of the course (IHS4952) if it is part of your major but does not cover the program fee.
• Q: For the IHS4952 course "Clinical Shadowing Abroad for Health Professions", would I need to attend physical class weekly?
  • A: No, the clinical shadowing experience will take place in the shadowing site, but the course content will be delivered online.
• Q: How many credit hours is the IHS4952 course "Clinical Shadowing Abroad for Health Professions"?
  • A: If you select a 3-week or 6-week program, you will be enrolled in 3 credits in the course. While for a 1-week program, you will be enrolled in 1 credit in the course.
• Q: Would I be able to take other courses online during my clinical shadowing abroad period, or would IHS4952 be the only course I take for the summer semester?
  • A: You can enroll in other courses during the summer; however, you should not enroll in courses that require in-person attendance during your clinical shadowing abroad program.