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Sunset in Hanoi, Vietnam with the city on the water.

Looking to gain hands-on experience in the healthcare field? Kent State students now have the opportunity to intern abroad in Hanoi, Vietnam at one of the country's leading medical institutions. 

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Location

Hanoi, Vietnam

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Term

Summer

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Housing

Homestay or Apartment

Program Highlights

Gain hands-on experience in global healthcare. This internship program in Hanoi, Vietnam combines clinical observation with professional mentorship in one of Vietnam's top surgical centers and medical training hospitals. You will:

  • Gain practical exposure to hospital operations (including observing clinical procedures, interacting with patients under supervision, and learning from healthcare professionals in a variety of departments)
  • Develop cross-cultural communication skills
  • Be paired with a local university student through a buddy program

Program Contact Information

Desiree Dube

Assistant Director of Education Abroad

Email: ddube1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-7989

Important Dates

Application Deadlines:

  • Summer (May): December 21, 2025

    Summer (June): January 10, 2026

Program Dates:

  • May (8-week): May 21, 2026 - July 19, 2026

  • June (8-week): June 4, 2026 - August 2, 2026

Application Process

Students will be required to complete two applications:

  • an internal Kent State education abroad application,

  • and the internship provider application.

These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a Kent State education abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to Kent State University as a “Guest Student”. Please apply as either an “Undergraduate Guest Student” or as a “Graduate Guest Student”, depending on your course level.

Once you have applied and been accepted as a Kent State University student, you will receive an email with your FlashLine login credentials. Activate your account and then proceed to the next step, which is to apply to the Education Abroad program of your interest. You can return to this page and follow the “Apply Now” button to start that application.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by an Education Abroad Advisor. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Please note that acceptance to the program by Kent State University does not serve as final approval. The host institution or program provider grants final approval for each applicant.

4. Complete the Internship Provider Program Application

Once your Education Abroad application has been accepted, you will be nominated to the internship program. The provider will contact you via your KSU email to have you complete their application and other important forms and documents.  

Eligibility & Academics

Eligibility

  • Minimum cumulative GPA 2.5

Placement Opportunities

You'll intern at one of Vietnam's top surgical centers and medical training hospitals. You'll intern for approximately 35-40 hours per week. 

If you're interested in shadowing multiple departments, you'll have the option to rotate between assignments up to four times during your program.

Available departments:

  • Anesthesia & Surgical Intensive Care Center
  • Cardiovascular and Thoracic Center
  • Center of Andrology
  • Digestive Surgery
  • Emergency Abdominal Surgery
  • ER and Clinics
  • Hepato-Biliary Surgery
  • Institute of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery
  • Kidney Diseases and Hemodialysis
  • Laparoscopic Surgical Center
  • Maxillofacial, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery
  • Neurology and Neuro Intensive Care
  • Neurosurgery Center
  • Neurosurgery I & II
  • Oncology
  • Organ Transplantation Center
  • Orthopedic and Outpatient Clinic
  • Pediatric and Neonatal Surgery
  • Rectal Surgery Center Perineal
  • Rehabilitation
  • Septic Surgery
  • Spine Surgery
  • Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery I, II, III
  • Urology
  • Voluntary Treatment

For more information you can access the website. 

Academic Credit

You'll be enrolled in a required International Internship Course. If you are interested in earning academic credit and transferring the credit back to Kent State, you have two options:

  • Transfer the International Internship Course back to your degree at Kent State. Credits are earned through the University of South Florida and they can issue a transcript for an additional fee of $375. The course will count for 4-6 credits depending on how many hours per week you interned.
  • Earn credit directly from Kent State. You should work with your academic advisor to see if your participation in the internship abroad can count towards an internship course at Kent State.
Program Schedule

For the first two weeks of your internship, you will also take daily lessons (like learning basic phrases in Vietnamese) to help you integrate into your internship and community. 

The internship will be anywhere between 35 and 40 hours per week.

Students will also have the opportunity to participate in fun excursions and activities such as a trip to Ninh Binh, a visit to the Temple of Literature and Ma May House, a guided cooking class, a coffee workshop.

For more information on the program schedule students can go to the website. 

Location, Transportation & Housing

Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the most populous countries in the world! Located in the easternmost part of the Indochina Peninsula, the country has approximately 100 million inhabitants, and shares borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia. Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam and is well-known for it's historical architecture and rich culture. Students will enjoy exploring sights such as the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Temple of Literature.

Transportation

The nearest international airport is Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

Housing and Meals

Students have two options for housing on this program:

  • Homestay: Live with a host family and immerse yourself in the local culture. With this option, you'll have your own room, 1 meal per day provided, and weekly laundry service. You may share the homestay with another international student. Spots are limited and by request only.
  • Apartment: Live in a fully-furnished apartment with rent and water included. Layouts vary from studio or shared apartment with access to shared kitchen, common area, and on-site laundry.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

  • international travel procedures;
  • in-country resources;
  • health and safety resources and information;
  • culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center. 

Visa Information

A visa is a document required by many countries, in addition to your passport, that allows you to enter the country for a certain purpose (whether that’s to stay, transit, or exit). Essentially, it is the country's government giving you legal permission to enter their country to travel, study, work, etc.

Please note, it is solely the responsibility of the student to: 

  • determine the entry, transit, and stay requirements for the country or countries to which they will travel,
  • and to apply for any necessary visas, stay permits, or any other immigration requirements of the host nation(s).

It is also the responsibility of the student to:

  • verify the correct documentation required to apply for the required visa(s), 
  • apply for the visa(s) early enough to ensure there is enough processing time,
  • and pay any fees associated with obtaining the visa(s).

Kent State University's Office of Global Education is available to provide general guidance regarding student visa requirements and procedures; however, each student who travels abroad is expected to manage their own legal obligations regarding international travel.

It is strongly recommended by the Office of Global Education that you carefully review the appropriate consulate or embassy website for the nation(s) you plan to visit in order to determine current entry/study/exit visa requirements.

Costs and Funding

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Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program. 

We also encourage you to meet with your Education Abroad Advisor and the Financial Aid Counselor for Education Abroad to see how your aid may apply to an international program by emailing finaideducationabroad@kent.edu

 

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