Kategorie: ‘Medicine’
My Clinical Elective in Granada
- Medicine
- Spain, Granada
- Universidad de Granada
- 11/2025 – 01/2026
1. Finding an Internship
©International Office
Organising clinical rotations as a medical student in Spain can be quite challenging, as most Spanish hospitals only accept foreign students during the summer months, when Spanish students are on break. I tried to obtain a placement in Madrid and Valencia without success but eventually secured an internship in the Department of General Surgery at Hospital Clínico San Cecilio through a personal connection via my Spanish teacher in Germany. It can be difficult to reach the department secretary; however, if you are interested, you are welcome to contact me for the email address of the Head of General Surgery (louisa.wolters@gmail.com).
I would recommend organising the internship several months in advance, as Spanish hospital administration tends to respond more slowly, for example when it comes to signing the Learning Agreement for Traineeships. In addition, I had to register on an online platform (r0) of the University of Granada, for which an erweitertes Führungszeugnis (extended police clearance certificate) is required. Obtaining this document can take several weeks. Apart from that, the application for the Erasmus scholarship is very straightforward and quick. Since I split my practical year tertial and only completed a two-month internship, I did not have to enrol at the Spanish university.
2. Accommodation & Living Expenses
Generally speaking, accommodation in Spain is cheaper than in Germany. I paid €290 per month for a small but beautiful room in a shared house in the Albaicín, with a rooftop terrace and a view of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada. There were 18 international students living in the house, which may sound a bit overwhelming at first. For me, however, it was ideal, as I assumed it might be difficult to meet many people during such a short stay. My roommates were incredibly kind and quickly felt like a small family. Since some of them were Latin American and most had a good level of Spanish, we mainly spoke Spanish at home.
©International Office
I personally really enjoyed living in the Albaicín, as it is a very quiet neighbourhood with hardly any cars. However, you do have to walk up a fairly steep hill every day, which can be somewhat exhausting. On the other hand, this also allows you to enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the rooftops of Granada every morning on your way to the bus stop. Many Erasmus students also live in the city centre around the cathedral or near Camino de Ronda, where most bars and clubs are located.
Accommodation can mainly be found via Idealista. Many listings specify minimum rental periods, but I would still recommend asking, especially if you start your internship in the middle of the semester, as many rooms may still be available. Since contact is usually directly with the landlord (even for shared apartments) and scams are relatively common, I strongly recommend arranging at least a video call before making any payments—ideally also getting in touch with someone currently living in the apartment. The lead time before the start of the rental period is usually quite short; for example, I found my room just one week before my flight. Many people also choose to rent an Airbnb or stay in a hostel for the first week and look for accommodation after they arrive in Granada. During the winter months, I would definitely recommend renting a room with heating, as it can get quite cold in Granada and Spanish houses are generally not as well insulated as German ones. Supermarket and public transport prices are slightly cheaper than in Germany.
3. Everyday Life
Cycling in the city is not very common and seems rather dangerous, which is why I used the bus to get to the hospital. Since Granada is a very small city, most distances are walkable, and even the longest bus rides take no more than 20–30 minutes. As I was not enrolled at the University of Granada, I was not eligible for the student bus ticket, but a regular monthly ticket is available for around €30.
©International Office
As a medical student, you should be aware that in Spain it is very uncommon for students to be actively involved in clinical work, and internships are generally considered observational. In my case, the doctors were very friendly and eager to explain things, but I still missed being able to participate more actively and feeling like a real part of the team, as is often the case in Germany. During my two-month internship, I did not receive an access card to open doors (such as the entrance to the surgical area) or a code for the scrubs dispenser, which meant that I had to wait for and ask doctors every day to enter restricted areas and obtain my work clothes. Nevertheless, especially the residents treated me very kindly and included me in team activities, such as having a beer with the head of department after work, visiting the Alhambra, or attending their Christmas dinner.
Moreover, students are not really expected to stay at the hospital in the afternoons, and on most days, I was able to leave between 12 and 2 p.m. This left me with plenty of free time to explore Granada and work on my doctoral thesis. I would definitely recommend having a good level of Spanish. Even though some doctors speak English, most prefer Spanish and are clearly relieved when they realise that you speak it as well.
4. Free Time
Granada is an ideal city for anyone interested in history, architecture, and culture. It represents a true melting pot of Arabic, North African, Spanish, and Gitano culture. Even though the city is not very large, it offers countless restaurants, clubs, and, of course, tapas bars, where drinks are still traditionally served with a free tapa. There are many remarkable places to visit, such as the Alhambra, but also the numerous cármenes and viewpoints in the Albaicín.
©International Office
Depending on the season, hiking, climbing (including via ferratas), and skiing are possible in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which can easily be reached by bus. I personally enjoy dancing salsa and was very happy to discover that Granada offers several dance schools and a number of social dance events each week. This is also a great way to connect with locals; for example, my class would often go out for drinks together after the lessons. Running and cycling can be somewhat challenging due to the city’s many hills and the lack of proper cycling lanes. Andalucía also offers many stunning cities that are well worth visiting, such as Málaga, Córdoba, Sevilla, and Cádiz. In summer, there are also several beach towns nearby that are ideal for short trips.
5. Conclusion
I would definitely recommend completing part of your practical year abroad, and especially in Granada. For me, it was the perfect city: small enough to quickly feel like home yet offering a great variety of activities and an incredible richness of culture and history. I had already completed an Erasmus semester in Málaga two years earlier and had fallen in love with Spanish culture, particularly Andalucía. But even if you are simply looking to escape the grey German winter, Granada is an ideal place to enjoy the afternoon sun on a rooftop terrace.
From a career perspective, however, the experience can be somewhat frustrating. Therefore, I would not recommend choosing a specialty you are seriously interested in or staying for longer than two months, unless you know in advance that the department allows students to actively participate. Since I did not have particularly high expectations and needed to work extensively on my doctoral thesis anyway, this did not bother me too much. Moreover, I am extremely grateful for this special time and for the friendships I made in Granada, and I would choose to do it the exact same way again.
My practical year in Montpellier
- Medicine
- France, Montpellier
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Montpellier
- 07/2024 – 10/2024
1. Application/Finding an Internship
From an early stage, it was clear to me that I wanted to complete a substantial part of my practical year, my medical internship, abroad. After planning my first rotation in Dubai and having my second in Germany, I wanted to see and experience something different for my third rotation. I chose to take another challenge: general surgery in Montpellier, Southern France. The application process was relatively straightforward; I sent an email to the head of the department in early 2024, and my application was quickly accepted. Further organization was handled through the universities in France and Germany. The process in France was similar to that in Germany, requiring vaccination records, certain health tests, and proof of insurance. Thanks to EU agreements, I didn’t have to worry about obtaining a visa.
Further planning included my travel arrangements and accommodation. I combined my journey with my family as a little road trip through Switzerland, Italy, and Monaco. For accommodation, I recommend student dormitories, but it is important to note that not all of them accept short-term stays, especially those that span multiple semesters. While I found it easy to secure accommodation for the semester holidays at the start of my internship, I had to move at the beginning of the new semester. Finding new accommodation was quite stressful and not easy, given my work routine and studies. However, in the end, everything worked out.
2. Accommodation & Living Expenses
During my internship, I opted for student housing, which offered a more affordable living option compared to private apartments. The costs for living in Montpellier were manageable, especially considering the financial support I received. I found that groceries were reasonably priced, but dining out could become expensive.
The student dormitories offered essential amenities, such as kitchen facilities, allowing me to cook my own meals, which helped keep my expenses down. While I didn’t strictly budget, I was mindful of my spending since I also wanted to indulge in the local cuisine and travel during my free time. Overall, Montpellier is a vibrant city, and the cost of living was reasonable for a student lifestyle.
3. Everyday Life/The Internship
On the first day of my internship, I registered at the medical faculty next to the hospital, where I enrolled alongside other Erasmus students. I then went directly to the General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery department, known as “Chirurgie B.” The senior physician responsible for externes showed me around the unit and explained the processes. In France, medical students are referred to as “externes,” while resident doctors are called “internes,” which can be confusing at first, as “interns” in English usually refers to final-year medical students. Our team typically consisted of three German and two French students. The French externes usually rotate every few weeks, which allowed me to meet many different people.
Each week, we were assigned to a department, which could include the ward, the operating room, or outpatient clinics. Depending on our interests, we also had the opportunity to rotate through radiology, endoscopy, and anesthesia. Additionally, we had one to two on-call shifts each week (including weekends) for liver transplants. A typical day began with the morning handover from the night shift and a round of visits to all patients on both the general and intensive care wards. After the handover, everyone focused on their own tasks. Once a week, usually on Fridays, there were classes for students, often in the form of OSCE exercises. These sessions were highly educational, although the language barrier sometimes created a tense, exam-like environment. After the classes, the entire team would gather to review and discuss the surgical schedule for the upcoming week, deliberating on various cases. During these discussions, both attending and senior physicians often posed questions to both internes and externes. Additionally, once a month, the internes gave presentations, which were followed by the big weekly rounds.
The general ward was structured similarly to those in Germany, consisting of double and single rooms. The intensive care unit primarily had single rooms, and the operating rooms were comparably designed. Access to various areas of the hospital was secured with access codes. Both internes and externes had a dedicated room on the ward equipped with computers and lockers. All externes received a personal account for the duration of their stay to access computers and the hospital information system.
A particular highlight in Chirurgie B were the liver transplants. During the 24-hour on-call shifts, the ones on-call were responsible for these procedures and had to be prepared to stand in the operating room for about eight hours straight. There was also the opportunity to voluntarily participate in organ retrieval, which often involved traveling to different locations or even flying by private jet. On one occasion, we were escorted by the police, which felt like a movie and was incredibly exciting. The retrieval process is very moving and deeply impressive, as it represents the final and selfless act of brain-dead patients. After retrieval, the liver is transported in a cooled state and appears gray; however, after several hours of surgery and restoration of blood flow, it regains its dark red color. This moment is magical and makes all worries, back pain, and fatigue fade away.
One challenging aspect was the work environment in the department. There was often a tense atmosphere among the resident doctors, which sometimes affected us externes. This led to conflicts between internes and externes, causing misunderstandings with the attending physicians and resulting in stricter oversight. However, thanks to the camaraderie among the externes, this was manageable.
I also wanted to gain insight into neurosurgery, so I contacted the chief physician, who invited me to observe a particularly interesting procedure: an awake brain surgery. The patient underwent head surgery and was awakened for about an hour during the procedure with the assistance of neuropsychologists, who guided her to perform various tasks in order to minimize the risks associated with the surgery. Since I have a strong interest in neurosurgery, this was definitely one of my personal highlights at the clinic.
Despite the initial language barrier and different dialects, I quickly settled in and was able to learn a lot. I observed procedures that I had only previously studied in theory. The awake surgery and the liver transplants were undoubtedly extraordinary experiences that left a lasting impression on me. I would like to extend a special thank you to my colleagues, whose support made the stress of the internship much more bearable. Moreover, the opportunity to forge international connections and broaden my horizons was particularly valuable.
4. Free Time/Tips
From the beginning, I met many nice people. After work, we often arranged to meet for dinner, take weekend trips, go canoeing, or even play mini-golf together. A particularly memorable trip was to the lavender fields in Provence, which were breathtakingly beautiful. Watching the Euro football matches together was another unforgettable experience 4 especially the public viewing when France was playing, which created an incredible, lively atmosphere. We also went on trips with the Erasmus group, including horse riding in the Camargue, which was a unique way to explore the region. Numerous wonderful moments were created, and I have many pictures that I enjoy looking at repeatedly.
To pursue my passion for golf, I joined a golf club in Montpellier, where I regularly participated in courses. I met many other golfers, but since this was my last internship rotation, I also had to study for the third state exam, which meant sacrificing some of my free time. During this time, I discovered the university libraries, which I also liked.
The location of Montpellier allowed me to take many trips across Southern Europe. For example, I was able to meet friends in Barcelona or pick up my cousin from her language course in Nice. A particular highlight was our family reunion in Venice for my mother’s birthday, where family members from the USA, the Dominican Republic, and Germany came together. It was wonderful to see the surprised faces of my relatives when they saw us there.
Another delightful moment was when friends from Germany visited me, and we spent a wonderful week together. We explored the city, enjoyed the local cuisine, and shared many unforgettable moments.
On Sundays, I attended mass at various Catholic churches around the city, including the cathedral. Following the mass in French wasn9t always easy, but reading the liturgy beforehand in both German and French helped me follow along more easily and gain more from the sermon.
For my return journey, my family picked me up, and we drove back via Lourdes and Paris. The Rosary procession and the water ritual formed a meaningful and memorable conclusion to my internship.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, I can confidently say that the last rotation of my internship abroad was a complete success. I learned not only a lot professionally and linguistically but also gained numerous experiences, impressions, and valuable contacts. Montpellier taught me so much, and this experience will stay with me forever. Therefore, I would like to sincerely thank the Erasmus+ internship program for their support, which, along with my family’s assistance, made this stay possible. If you have any further questions, I am happy to help. Thank you!
My Erasmus Traineeship in Valladolid
- Medicine
- Spain, Valladolid
- Universidad de Valladolid
- 01/2024 – 06/2024
My name is Felix and I’m a medicine student from Aachen, Germany. This year I spent 6 month of my practical year taking part in a hospital Internship at the University of Valladolid in Spain.
Preparation
As for the preparation I first reached out about a year before my stay to the Erasmus coordinator and the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the university. Although sometimes hard to reach, he will eventually answer you and help you with whatever request you might have. He recommended me to contact two other doctors to organise the different parts of my internship. Eventually I organized my stays with the respective heads of the different departments and presented my final rotation in internal medicine and surgery to these two doctors to get their confirmation.
Arrival and Organisation
I arrived 1 week prior to the start of my internship, which gave me time to visit the international office and organize the formalities. Although I could not be matriculated without taking any assignments, they were very helpful and worked out a way to provide me with the student badge. That way I could take part in the university sport and other programs, such as the GUM, which is a group of students and other people that go on hikes every 2nd Sunday throughout the entire year. In order to get set up for the hospital, I had to go to the Dean’s office, where the friendly employees helped me go through the process of registering for my internship, which included receiving my nametag and clothes for the hospital. For this process a “Certificado de los delitos sexuales” is necessary. This was very easy to get at the local state’s office. I got a date within 3 days and it only took them 1-2 days to get the necessary information from Germany and to send me the certificate via email. All in all the people were always very friendly and helpful which made the process easy, even though some things couldn’t be resolved right away.
Accommodation
Accommodations in Valladolid are surprisingly cheap and easy to find. Rooms in a shared flat generally range between 180 and 350€. Studios aren’t much more expensive either. The main website used is Idealista, but you can also find rooms through facebook (watch out for scammers). I wanted to get to know people which is why I was looking for a flatshare. After only about 3 days of search I found a very nice room in a central apartment right next to the main shopping street. Although not very good equipped and a bit lived through, the apartment was very nice and that way I got to know other international people. It is worth to mention that in Valladolid (and other Spanish cities from what I’ve heard) it’s common for landlords to take away money from your bond, or even the whole bond without indicating a reason. It seems to be a way of making extra money off international students, who usually can’t do much about it. After this happened to some of my roommates as well, I decided to not pay my last months rent and leave the bond to the landlord, which is a common strategy.
The City
Valladolid wouldn’t have been the city of my choice if it weren’t for my girlfriend, who is from there. My expectations weren’t very high, and got easily excelled by this mid-sized city in central Spain. It has a beautiful historic centre and even an artificial beach at the riverside. Located about 1 hour from Madrid by train and 2.5 hours from the north coast by car, the city is particularly well located in Spain. It gives you the possibility to regularly visit the capital or to rent a car for a cheap price and spend the weekend at the sea, surfing or enjoying the incredible nature of the north. What is more, it is surrounded by the beautiful and historic cities of Castilla y León, such as Salamanca, Segovia, Burgos and León, which are all worth a visit. Being the capital of its region is what makes Valladolid a very attractive city. While the weekdays are rather calm, on the weekends it attracts plenty of people from all around. This leads to the city offering a large variety of activities, sports, restaurants, bars and results in a high quality of living. The city hosts many events throughout the year, including regular and free public concerts on the Plaza Mayor, theatre and music festivals and the famous San Juan in June, where everyone goes to the beach to enjoy the longest night of the year at a bonfire. Valladolid also offers beautiful parks and an immense amount of terraces, where you can find some of the best and cheapest tapas in all of Spain. Drinks and food are extraordinarily cheap, which allows you to spend a big amount of your time outside, enjoying the Spanish way of living. Personally, I loved that it’s very easy to leave the city by bike or bus and be in the nature in the blink of an eye. It is also worth to mention, that the Spanish in Castilla y León is considered the clearest and easiest to understand in all of Spain.
The Hospital
I spent 2 months of my Internal Medicine internship at the Hospital Río Hortega and my 4 months of surgical internship at the Hospital Clínico. I can recommend both hospitals. While Río Hortega is a very modern and well equipped hospital located outside the city centre (12-15 minutes by bike), Clínico is located right in the heart of Valladolid, next to the Faculty of Medicine and has a nice and familiar touch to it. Generally it is important to say, that Spanish medicine students don’t get to participate in the daily hospital work near as much as German students. The working hours are from 8am to 3pm, but the doctors might leave earlier when the daily ward round and the examination of the patients are done. In Internal Medicine, the tasks are limited to following your assigned doctor and examining the patients. The doctors are generally very open and willing to explain you everything. There is no time pressure which leaves plenty of time to explain diseases and procedures. But the low patient flow also leads to a lower input compared to other countries. The emergency department was the only department where I got to assess my own patients and right down the anamnesis and reports before discussing the procedures with the doctors. In the surgery departments the Spanish students rarely take part in the surgeries. I was lucky to get to know a couple of doctors who would regularly let me take part in surgeries and perform assisting tasks like holding hooks, unscrewing screws or sew a few stitches. Although I definitely learned new things it was probably less compared to spending the same amount of time in a German hospital.
Conclusion
I had a great time throughout my stay in Valladolid and am very happy to have gotten to know the country, the city and the people. Valladolid is a beautiful city and has much more to offer than one would expect at first glance. It may not be able to compete with Spains major cities when it comes to the cultural offer and nightlife but impresses with a high quality of life, easy access to the nature and a cheap cost of living.
Hospital internship in Cyprus
- Medicine
- Cyprus, Nicosia
- General Hospital of Nicosia
- 09/2023 – 12/2023
Application/Finding an internship:
Where to begin and where to end describing this amazing journey, all thanks to the Erasmus+-Internship program. Well, I know how, I am going to take it from the start. Upon deciding that I wanted to pursue this route, I knew I should start contacting the right people at key positions that would help me start the process. One of those Administrators included the person who is responsible for all exchange programs that concern the medical school at the RWTH University in Aachen. Together we put a roadmap down to catch up with the deadlines in the application process. Next stop was getting in touch with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cyprus and selecting an academic Mentor/Professor at the Nicosia General Hospital, who would oversee my education and training and provide me with the all the valuable feedback to overcome every challenge. I wanted to do a surgical internship in Cyprus, because I felt it would benefit me the most. I contacted a renowned surgeon in Cyprus, who is at the same time Professor of Surgery at the medical faculty. I was quite surprised by how quickly he responded to my emails, knowing how the bureaucracy makes it a painful process to get something done sometimes. He pointed me to the corresponding Administrators, and we all signed the Learning Agreement, noting down my responsibilities and duties as an Intern at the hospital. The next part of the process consisted of applying for the grant, which was actually straightforward.
Accommodation & Living expenses:
I arranged my accommodation as soon I got an acceptance offer from the Erasmus+-Program, which consisted of renting a small apartment in a private student dormitory intended for students at the University of Cyprus. Albeit small, the apartment covered every need and came with the added benefit of providing ample socialising opportunities, like several common areas, a gym and study halls. These four months I am proud to say that I have built strong relationships and friendships even with many fellow students and roommates, with whom I share many blissful, never-to-be-forgotten experiences. Cyprus is a cheap country to live in, so one would expect to pay less for groceries and rent as the main expenses compared to central European countries like Germany, where I am currently studying. All utilities were included in the rent, which was about 500 Euros per month.
Everyday life/ the internship:
My everyday life comprised taking the bus to the hospital, arriving sharp before 8am. At 8am a hand-over meeting takes place at the General Surgery Department at the Nicosia General Hospital, during which the on-call Physicians receive all relevant information regarding new patients admitted in the ward or seen by surgeon specialists and any important updates concerning existing in-ward patients. This meeting was also the perfect opportunity for senior physicians to partake in medical discourse relating to patients’ treatment plans and imaging findings. What followed next were ward-rounds. Me, as well as the other medical students from the University of Cyprus regularly got the chance to present our patients during rounds and answered questions regarding their medical history, current presentation, clinical and radiological findings and take care of any tasks concerning our patients such as prescribing and administering medications. We were asked to perform clinical examinations and elaborate on symptomology and to came up with an optimal treatment course for them. This course of action has been crucial in providing me with much-valued feedback from esteemed medical professionals and improving my communication and decision-making skills. Upon completion of the rounds, we were all assigned numerous tasks related to our patients, for example requesting consultations from other specialists, collecting blood samples or cultures, arterial blood gases (ABG) and of course documentation of the ward round. Some of us were included in the OR Scheduling, so we had to be ready before the hand-over meeting and to assist in surgeries. Words cannot describe the amazing experience of the Operating Theatre. It is truly quite a different word, especially for someone like who, due to the Covid19 pandemic, had only little exposure to surgical specialties. There, I was able to perform some basic suturing under the guidance of residents of the department. Due to my choice to follow Neurology as my specialty, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to explore the interesting world of Surgery and I am proud to say I grew fond of it over time, something I never expected. As part of our academic plan, we were also able to shadow consultants and residents in specialized centres like the breast cancer and thyroid cancer centre and thus deepen our understanding of the concerning complicated diseases and their treatment. I got to practise performing ultrasound examinations as well, a skill crucial to every Doctor. Apart from that, I should note that the staff on ward was quite helpful, always willing to lend a hand, especially the first few weeks before I got accustomed to the setting. The internship also provided opportunities for active participation in clinical research. My Involvement in a project aimed at improving patient care expanded my research skills and deepened my interest in evidence-based medicine.
Free time/tips:
After the hospital, I was dedicated to fully experience this beautiful Mediterranean island with quite a lot to offer. Getting to the beach from the capital was an easy feat, with regular bus service connecting the busy hub with dreamy seaside destinations like Protaras, Ayia Napa, Larnaca and Limassol. As it is known, Cyprus boasts one of the mildest climates in Europe so a swim even in December was possible and really enjoyable. As far as history and culture are concerned, Cyprus has also quite a lot to offer with ancient monuments, cites and castles. When I opted to stay in Nicosia for the weekend, I was busy exploring the capital and its old and new counterparts and attending happenings all around the city. Nicosia is truly one of kind as it is sadly the last remaining divided capital in the world. A walk around the barricades and fences leaves you with an uneasy feeling, curious and eery enough to spark some interest in exploring the history of the division of the Island and the suffering it has inflicted on its people. One should not miss the plethora of restaurants that are popping all over town, I personally recommend Picnic and Tocayo with their excellent wine and cocktail menu as well as their delicious food offerings. Another restaurant I consider a must-visit is Zanettos tavern in the old town where one could indulge in the rich Cypriot cuisine as well as enjoy lovely traditional live music. Just don’t forget to put your dance shoes on, cause a night in a traditional tavern always guarantees quite a lot of dancing!
Conclusion:
In conclusion, I would gladly recommend the General Surgery department at the Nicosia General Hospital for any medical student, who wishes to experience this island-country that I personally believe could also be called a paradise on earth and wishes to gain some much-needed insights about the medical profession! My Erasmus internship at the NGH was truly a life-changing experience and I am deeply grateful for the support from Erasmus+, which provided me with this unique opportunity, and I look forward to incorporating the gained experiences into my future medical practice.
Working at a hospital in Montpellier
- Medicine
- France, Montpellier
- Université de Montpellier
- 09/2023 – 12/2023
- Application/Finding an internship
Having grown up in France, I had known for a long time I wanted to experience the French healthcare system first-hand. I wanted to find a hospital with a pediatric surgery department, since this was a speciality I was interested in finding out more about and which is not available in Aachen. Since the RWTH medical faculty recommends we spend half of the four-month surgical rotation in general surgery, I applied for two months in ‘chirurgie digestive’ at St Éloi hospital and two months in ‘chirurgie pédiatrique orthopédique et plastique’ at Lapeyronie hospital, which are both part of the CHU de Montpellier (Montpellier University Hospital). I chose Montpellier because of its good reviews on PJ Ranking and because I thought it would be nice to spend the winter in a warmer part of Europe.
To apply for a placement (‘stage’) in at the University of Montpellier, you first must contact the head of the relevant department (‘chef de service’) directly sending your CV and cover letter. I did this about a year and a half beforehand, although I know others applied at a much later date. Since there is a considerable amount of paperwork to sort out, I recommend applying far enough in advance. If your application is accepted, you then send the ‘chef de service’ the so-called ‘formulaire unique’ which can be found on the university’s website. Once signed, you send the document to the person responsible for international relations at the University of Montpellier. He then informs you of the next steps to take.
- Accomodation & Living expenses
I found my accommodation privately after going through all the websites (e.g., https://www.leboncoin.fr, https://www.seloger.com, https://www.lacartedescolocs.fr, https://www.appartager.com, etc.) the person responsible for international relations
sent me by email. University accommodation (‘résidence universitaire’ or ‘logement CROUS’) should be available if you express interest early enough. This is much cheaper than private accommodation, which is difficult to find for under 500 euros per month.
ESN (Erasmus Student Network) has helpful housing advice and information on their Instagram page on how to plan ahead and avoid scams.
Living expenses are similar to those in Germany, although I would say food shopping was more expensive. I chose to buy a second-hand bike to be more flexible, and because it was a cheaper option than to use public transport. I travelled between Aachen and Montpellier in September and December by train, which only takes between 6.5 and 7.5 hours depending on the connection in Paris.
- Everyday life/ the internship
I spent September and October at St Éloi hospital in general surgery, and November and December at Lapeyronie hospital in pediatric surgery. The day started at 8:00 and 7:45 in general and pediatric surgery respectively and ended on average between 4 and 5pm. In general surgery there was a ‘staff’ (handover meeting) every Monday at 8am. In pediatric surgery there was a daily meeting at 7:45 with the pediatric orthopedic surgeons and every Monday at 16:30 with the pediatric plastic surgeons (speech therapists, a psychologist and members of the dental and maxillofacial departments were also present to discuss patients as a team) and the meeting often included teaching for students. I sometimes worked longer hours depending on the operating plan.
In both rotations students (‘externes’) could assist in the operating theatre, follow the junior doctors (‘internes’) on ward rounds or take part in consultations. Students were asked to organise a rotation plan each week to ensure there was a least one student per operating theatre. If you showed enough interest, you were often able to do the sutures at the end of an operation,and even carry out small procedures under supervision.
There was also the opportunity to follow the on-call doctor as part of their 24-hour shift. This involved seeing patients in A&E (‘aux urgences’), assisting in emergency operations, and in pediatric orthopedic surgery learning how to do plaster casts. I particularly enjoyed my second placement working with children and the variety of cases and surgeries I saw. These included various fractures, craniosynostoses, haemangiomas, cleft palates, dermal naevi, syndactyly, hexadactyly, clubfeet, hip dysplasia etc. Like the French ‘externes’ we were able to have lunch for free at the ‘internat’ (a separate building where some junior doctors lived, most doctors had lunch and lots of coffee was consumed when there was time to rush over between two operations). I really enjoyed the variety of the work and was lucky to work with great teams in both hospitals, which was a massive bonus.
- Free time/tips
There is so much to do in Montpellier, and the Erasmus community is huge. Since I spent most of my free time training with a local triathlon club I cannot say much from experience, but I know from the daily (at times hundreds of) messages in the Erasmus WhatsApp group (they had to create a second one because there were so many international students!) that there was a wide variety of events organised for students including pub nights, sports events, volunteering opportunities, cookery classes etc. On their Instagram page they publish a calendar every month with events pretty much every day, some of which are free. If you buy an ESN card, you can get some of the events at a discount. The card also gives
you discounts for sport, food, bars and travel (e.g., Ryanair and Flixbus).
As of 21st December 2023, public transport was made free for residents in Montpellier (you have to apply for a card with TaM https://www.tam-voyages.com/index.asp and justify residency). However, I would recommend buying a second-hand bike either through the ESN Facebook or WhatsApp group, or on https://www.leboncoin.fr and selling it when you leave. Investing in two locks is a good idea since there is a lot of bike theft in Montpellier (it is quite common to see bikes around town missing various parts). I never used the tram, but they always seemed very full even before public transport was made free.
Most of my free time was spent training with a triathlon club I had contacted before arriving. I went swimming most mornings before work, took part in running training a couple of times a week in the evenings and at the weekend there were always club rides organised. I personally really enjoyed cycling with the group and discovering the countryside and villages north and east of Montpellier. I would recommend visiting the Pic St Loup – if you can’t cycle there then I think the ESN group organised a day trip there for a hike. The views are amazing! Another ride I really enjoyed was to the Col des Lavagnes and the Pont du Diable.
At the beginning of September there was an event called ‘Antigone des Associations’ in the Antigone neighbourhood where all sorts of different clubs and societies were on site representing their organisation and to answer questions. These included sports, culture, philosophy and religion, health, education, dancing, animal welfare, the environment and much more. I went with a friend I met on my placement, and we both thought there was basically a club/society for almost everything you could think of doing in your spare time!
- Conclusion
I would absolutely recommend Montpellier University Hospital for an Erasmus internship. As well as gaining practical skills in surgery, I learnt a lot hearing from doctors’ experiences in different medical specialties and countries, which made me reflect on which path I wish to pursue and consider certain aspects of my future career differently. Being confident and a having a good level in French is an advantage to manage the fast-paced day in surgery, to fit in with the team and to take away as much as possible from the experience.
