GENERAL INFORMATION

All members of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) are members of the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF).  APhA-ASP is the Full Member organization of IPSF for the United States and is represented annually at the IPSF World Congress. All APhA-ASP members are eligible to participate in the IPSF Student Exchange Program as part of their Full Member benefits.

Through the IPSF Student Exchange Program, students will live and experience pharmacy in a foreign country. Students may specify whether they would like to be placed in a retail, hospital, industry, or university setting. Exchanges run throughout the year, but most occur during the summer and winter holiday breaks. An exchange is typically 1-3 months in length. Students are required to work a minimum of 40 hours during an exchange period.

Employment at a pharmacy site is an unpaid position throughout the exchange. Some exchange sites may provide stipends or have different policies for exchange students, but this varies from country to country and site to site. All travel, transportation, and costs of living are the responsibility, financially and otherwise, of the exchange student. Room and board may be provided by the host at a reduced cost. Additional information can be found online at: http://www.pharmacist.com/apha-asp-ipsf-information. 

 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The student is responsible for his or her own travel expenses, transportation, costs of living, and telephone calls. The student is also responsible for obtaining the proper records, visas, passports, and immunizations needed. Every student must have travel, liability, and health insurance.  

APPLICATION PROCESS

All interested applicants for the APhA-ASP/IPSF Student Exchange Program (SEP) are required to complete a pre-application no later than 11:59 PM PST on November 1st. This process includes a signed letter of support/approval (limited to one page) from their chapter advisor.

All pre-applications will be reviewed by the APhA-ASP International Standing Committee and APhA staff. Each member selected will be notified in early December, and will receive an email providing information on the official IPSF SEP application process.

While there is no fee for the pre-application, the fee for the official IPSF SEP application is $65.00. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

APhA-ASP International Standing Committee

APhA-ASP/IPSF Student Exchange Officer and Student Exchange Officer-elect: usaipsfseo@gmail.com

APhA Student Development Staff

Lynette Plowden, Senior Manager, Student & New Practitioner Meetings and Operations: LPlowden@aphanet.org