This programme runs all year round. Start dates are twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Monday (you would arrive on the Sunday before, ready for your orientation).

Life as a medical practitioner can be stressful and exhausting, but without question, it is one of the most worthwhile career paths out there. This well-organised programme will give you an authentic experience of work as a medical intern in an Indian hospital.

If you are compassionate, hardworking and dedicated, this is the perfect opportunity for you. You can take part on your gap year, summer holiday or career break to widen your medical knowledge.

The experience will give you the edge in future job interviews. As well as enriching your CV, you will meet many other volunteers and interns with similar interests and get the chance to explore India, with its many awe-inspiring sites, colourful festivals and amazing people.

The temperature in Delhi ranges between 13 degrees centigrade (Jan) to up to 40 degrees centigrade (May). Summer is usually very hot and humid. During the winter months, it is usually warm during the day and cold at night.

July and August is monsoon season. This doesn’t mean that it is raining all day everyday but there is usually a heavy downpour or two each day and then the sky clears.

To cover the cost of lunch and food on Sunday, we recommend taking £80 a week. However, do take extra to pay for any independent travel or sightseeing you wish to do.

Credit cards are advised for emergencies, as well as enough cash to see you through the first few days, there are ATM’s and currency exchanges at the airport and all over Delhi. Two ATMs are very close to your accommodation. The major banks in India are Stat bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC bank, Axis, Kotak Mahindra Band and Standard Chartered bank.

Visas must be applied for before departure. 30 day visas are available to nationals from many countries online. Simply visit the Indian Visa Online website for more information. If you are looking to stay longer than 30 days, you will have to visit the Indian Mission (Embassy or High Commission) in your home country.

You will need to keep copies of the following documents whilst in India:

• Passport
• Flight Tickets
• Insurance
• Visa

Most people who book with Oyster are solo travellers who meet other volunteers on arrival.

We will certainly try to arrange for you to live with a friend if you want to travel together. Just give us as much notice as possible.

You should visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out what vaccinations you will need.

Vaccinations are usually recommended for the following conditions: Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Tetanus. Recommendations do change and it is important to discuss your personal requirements with your doctor.

The volunteer accommodation is based in southern Delhi in one of the safest parts of the city (Greater Kailash 1). You will get a full safety briefing on arrival. Common sense rules apply and there is a curfew for volunteers. There will be in-country support throughout your stay.

The volunteer house is in a neighbourhood which has access to local markets and restaurants.

There is a new train station close by which will take you swiftly into the city centre if you want to explore at weekends.

Participants will live in a volunteer house in South Delhi. The accommodation has air conditioning and WiFi. The houses have single sex, shared rooms. We are also able to accommodate couples.

We have three volunteer houses. Most have three bedrooms with 4-6 people in each room.

Typically, for breakfast you will be served tea, bread, butter, jam and eggs. For dinner, you will be served delicious Indian food. Typical Indian cuisine consists of spices and herbs, using ingredients such as chillies, nutmeg, ginger, garlic and cardamom.

WiFi is available in internet cafes. There is WiFi at the accommodation, although this can be temperamental.

You should take an ‘unlocked’ mobile phone with you to India and purchase a local ‘pay as you go’ SIM card. This is useful for contacting the representative and the rest of the group as local calls are very cheap. SIM cards cost approx £3 and come with a data allowance. The mobile reception is good.

Delhi is 5.30 hours ahead of GMT.

India 3 pin plug (type D).

There will be plenty of time to explore the capital of India and there is lots of history and culture to learn about! The train station is close to your accommodation, meaning that you can easily get to the city centre using a fast and air-conditioned rail system.

An optional, and highly recommended, cultural week can be provided. There are plenty of shops and sights. Don’t forget – you can always head to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

Evenings are free and 2 days a week will be rest days. Some flexibility will be required for shift work.

Medical interns generally finish at the hospital in mid afternoon so the days are not too long.

Supervision will be fairly intensive during the first few days, when you will receive a thorough induction and project-related training. On day one at the project, you will be shown the way on public transport by a member of staff. Once you are comfortable with things, you will travel each day on your own/with other volunteers. On the project you will be supervised by the doctors and nurses you are shadowing. At the accommodation, there will be staff that visit to cook meals and check in with you each day.

Staff at Oyster’s head office and in-country will be responsible for your safety and welfare while you are at the project. This will start from the moment you are picked up from the airport until the time you are dropped back there. Before and after these times, you will be outside Oyster’s responsibility and should make sure that you act safely and avoid risk. This is also true if you choose to leave the project during your time off. We will give you plenty of guidance and advice about this.