About SEP

Student Exchange Programme (SEP) is IPSF's largest project, offering professional pharmacy internships. Every year, more than 1000 students around the world are given the opportunity to experience pharmacy practice in more than 80 different countries. 

The IPSF member organizations organize the exchanges by finding host sites where the students are trained. The programme runs throughout the year (Winter version and Summer version), but the majority of the exchanges take place between May and September. The length is usually 2 weeks up to 3 months with a minimum of 40 working hours per exchange, and possible host sites include:

  • Community pharmacy;
  • Hospital pharmacy;
  • Clinical pharmacy;
  • Wholesale pharmacy;
  • Pharmaceutical industry;
  • Research at university;
  • Government or private health agencies.

The host may also provide room, board and/or pocket money in addition to the training site in order to help the applicant.

During exchange, participants can share and develop pharmaceutical knowledge and skills. In the same time, this is an unique opportunity to experience new cultures, try different food, meet friends, learn new language, visit beautiful places and enjoy your vacations by enriching yourself in different ways.

Who can participate?

Pharmacy students and recent graduates who belong to an IPSF Member Organisation can apply for SEP through their association. If your association is not a member of IPSF, you can apply for Individual Membership first and then apply as an Individual Member. To apply for Individual Membership, click here: Apply for IPSF Individual Membership . For further information about the Individual Membership, please contact the Chairperson of Internal Relations and the IPSF Membership Coordinator.

If you have a Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences Students' Organisation locally or nationally, you can also join us as an IPSF Member Organisation: Apply for IPSF Organisation Membership.

What countries can I go on exchange to?

A list of all participating associations and countries are listed in the 'Countries' tab. You can view a lot of information about each association and also view evaluations posted by past SEP participants.