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Office of International Relations » Student and Faculty Exchange Programs

The School of Dental Medicine provides exchange opportunities for its own students as well for international students who wish to broaden their understanding of the practice of dentistry in other countries. The goal of these programs is to produce future leaders in oral health who are prepared to interact globally. The objectives are:

To expand students’ knowledge base in oral health programs and health care systems of other countries.
To develop a global perspective and approach to dental education and clinical practice.
To cultivate intercultural competencies and sensitivity to other cultures among students, faculty and staff.
To compare and contrast dental education and practice in the US with those of other countries.

International externships for Penn Dental Medicine students are handled by the Department of Oral Medicine. The exchange program for students
coming from other countries is arranged by the Office of International Relations.

Students may choose to participate in any exchange program which has a formal agreement with Penn Dental Medicine.

International Institutions with Current Exchange Agreements

Belgium

Catholic University/Leuven Faculty of Medicine

Bolivia

University of San Simon Cochabamba School of Dentistry

Botswana

Princess Marina Hospital (Gaborone)

China

The Fourth Military Medical University College of Stomatology (Xi’an)
Peking University School of Stomatology (Beijing)
Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Stomatology (Shanghai)
Sichuan University College of Stomatology (Sichuan)
The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Dentistry (Hong Kong)

England

GKT Dental Institute Guy’s Hospital University of London
Bart’s and The London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry

Fiji

Fiji School of Medicine

France

University of Paris V/Faculty of Dentistry

Germany

Witten-Herdecke University/Faculty of Dentistry

Ghana

Ghana Medical School/Dental Department

Guatemala

Francisco Marroquin Faculty of Dentistry

India

Ragas Dental College and Hospital (Chennai)
Saraswati Dental College (Lucknow)

Ireland

University of Dublin/Trinity College School of Dental Science

Israel

Hebrew University/Hadassah School of Dental Medicine
Tel Aviv University/School of Dental Medicine

Japan

Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Korea

Seoul National University/College of Dentistry (Seoul)
Yonsei University College of Dentistry (Seoul)

Nigeria

University of Ibadan/School of Dentistry

Philippines

University of Philippines/College of Dentistry

Scotland

University of Glasgow/Glasgow Dental Hospital & School

Spain

Complutense University of Madrid/Faculty of Odontology (in Spanish)

Switzerland

University of Geneva

Taiwan

Chung Shan Medical and Dental College/School of Dentistry
Kaohsiung Medical College/School of Dentistry
National Yang-Ming University (Taipei)
National Taiwan University (Taipei)
Taipei Medical University (Taipei)

Thailand

Chulalongkorn University/Faculty of Dentistry

Vietnam

University of Health Sciences in Ho Chi Minh City – Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology
East Meets West Foundation Dental Program (Da Nang)

International Externships for Penn Students

Through international externships, Penn Dental Medicine students spend three to four weeks at a dental school or hospital outside the U.S. This unique experience encourages personal growth as students live and learn in another culture. They observe, assist or in limited situations, deliver patient care in clinics. At a few sites, the students are requested to complete a special project rather than observe and assist. They participate in seminars and occasionally in community health care delivery. In order to receive academic credit for their international rotation, students complete a daily log of their activities and submit an essay of their whole experience. They receive a grade from the host faculty. They also attend a pre-departure orientation and post rotation debriefing.

Students who participate in these programs find that their experiences often change their perspectives. Many of them develop a deeper appreciation of their own education and situations in the US.

Exchange Program for International Students

International students spend 2-4 weeks at Penn Dental Medicine attending selected classes and observing various clinical operations. Students who wish to participate must contact the appropriate person at their university who will in turn contact the Office of International Relations (OIR). Once appropriate dates are identified, students may begin to make travel arrangements. Housing arrangements are made by the students themselves from lists provided by the OIR. Options include on-campus housing as well as home-stay living near by the campus. Upon arrival, International students receive a general orientation and University identification cards, which enable them to enter Penn Dental Medicine facilities and to use various University transportation. Students report progress in weekly meetings with the OIR and complete final evaluations just prior to departure from Philadelphia.

Faculty Exchange Programs

Programs for faculty are handled directly by their respective departments.