Nursing Study Abroad Guide: Types of Nursing Study Abroad

More and more people are becoming interested in “nurse study abroad” out of a wish to become a nurse who works overseas or to experience international healthcare settings. Even within nurse study abroad, there is not just one style. Depending on your purpose and future career, there are various paths to choose from: language study abroad to sharpen your English, long-term study abroad to obtain an overseas nursing license, and even research study abroad to build specialist expertise in graduate school.

This article organizes the main types of study abroad available to Japanese nurses and clearly introduces the features and benefits of each. Please use it as a first step in thinking about the study-abroad style that suits you.

Nurse study abroad broadly divides into types depending on purpose, duration and outcomes. For example,

• **Short-term type:** Gain overseas experience through language training or internships
• **Mid-term type:** Improve skills by taking qualification exams or specialized programs
• **Long-term type:** Enter a local university or graduate school to obtain a nursing license or degree

and so on; the options differ depending on your career stage and future goals.

Next, let's look at each type in detail.

Features

To work as a nurse overseas, you first need **the ability to communicate smoothly in English with patients and medical staff**. For this reason, many nurses choose language study abroad as their first step.

Some schools offer **medical English courses** that teach expressions and specialist terminology needed in healthcare settings in addition to general English, and these are popular with students.

What you can learn

• Practical English conversation in addition to everyday conversation
• Medical English vocabulary (anatomy, symptoms, procedures, etc.)
• Expressions often used in interactions with patients
• Hospital role-plays and case studies

Duration

• Short-term: 1 to 3 months
• Mid-term: 3 to 6 months

Pros

• Serves as **groundwork preparation** for obtaining an overseas nursing license and working abroad
• Also leads to preparation for English tests such as IELTS and TOEFL
• By learning medical English, you can make use of it after returning to Japan in international healthcare and in caring for foreign patients

Features

A program in which you can experience overseas healthcare settings for a short period while holding a Japanese nursing license. You observe at hospitals and clinics, volunteer and assist with simple patient care.

Details

• Observation in wards and outpatient departments
• Assisting nurses' work (bed making, observing vital sign measurement, etc.)
• Interaction with healthcare professionals and cross-cultural understanding

Duration

Several weeks to about 3 months

Pros

• You can experience actual healthcare settings up close
• You can learn the differences in overseas healthcare systems
• You can “try it out” before long-term study abroad or working abroad in the future

Features

A full-fledged path for those who want to obtain a nursing license overseas. You enter a local nursing program and receive nursing education to local standards through lectures and clinical placements.

Details

• Fundamentals and specialist subjects of nursing (anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, etc.)
• Clinical placements (hospitals, community health care, specialty departments)
• Eligibility to take the national licensing exam

Duration

2 to 4 years (varies by country and school)

Pros

• You can obtain an overseas registered nurse license
• You may be able to obtain a work visa and work locally as is
• Directly linked to building an international career

Features

A style in which people who already hold a nursing license in Japan study abroad to obtain a nursing license overseas. The focus is improving English plus preparing for the national exam.

Details

• Preparing for English tests (IELTS, TOEFL, OET, etc.)
• Preparing for nursing national exams such as the US NCLEX-RN
• Mock exams and orientation to clinical settings

Duration

About six months to 2 years

Pros

• Makes it possible to work as a nurse in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries
• Opens a path to work visas and emigration
• Can bring high salaries and career advancement

Features

For those who want to study nursing research, education, management and similar fields in depth. You enter a master's or doctoral program at an overseas graduate school and deepen academic research and nursing education.

Details

• Specialist fields such as public health, international nursing and nursing education
• Research projects and thesis writing
• Conference presentations and building an international network

Duration

1 to 3 years

Pros

• You can aim for an academic career at universities and educational institutions
• Leads to careers at international NGOs and international organizations
• You can remain active as an educator or researcher after returning to Japan

Nurse study abroad offers a wide range of options, from short-term programs aimed at improving language skills to long-term study abroad aimed at obtaining overseas qualifications or doing research. What matters is to clarify your **“purpose for studying abroad.”**

• Want to improve your English
• Want to obtain a qualification overseas
• Want to build a career in research or education

The best type of study abroad differs for each goal. Choose the study-abroad style that best fits your career plan.

Q1. What types of nurse study abroad are there?

Q2. I can't decide which type to choose. How should I decide?

Q3. How much English ability is needed?

Q4. Please tell me the rough duration.

Q5. How much does it cost?

Q6. Is Japanese nursing experience necessary?

Q7. Can I work directly as a nurse overseas?

Q8. Which should I do first, NCLEX preparation or IELTS/OET?

Q9. Can I perform direct medical procedures in a short-term medical internship?

Q10. Is there an age limit?

Q11. Are Japanese credits and degrees recognized when entering overseas schools?

Q12. Can I work part-time locally while studying abroad?

Q13. Can I use scholarships and education loans?

Q14. What is the timeline until application?

Q15. Are there study-abroad programs or degrees that can be completed online?

Q16. Can it be used in my career after returning home?

Q17. Can I bring my family?

Q18. What are the points for choosing a country?

Q19. Should I use an agency?

Q20. What is a checklist to avoid failure?