Advanced Overseas Training

To acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to play a leading role as a pharmacist with an international perspective by completing a clinical clerkship of approximately four to five weeks at a partner university abroad.

Through preliminary lectures and clinical clerkships, students will gain an internationally recognized perspective and knowledge. After returning to Japan and graduating, they will be able to utilize these to become leading professionals in various fields, including healthcare, the pharmaceutical industry, and government administration.

The University of Iowa, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Florida in the United States; Khon Kaen University in Thailand; and others.

Department of Pharmacy6th-year students and Doctoral Programs2nd- to 4th-year students majoring in pharmacy

Approximately 8 to 12 students

Participants will undertake an overseas clerkship for four to five weeks. During this period, they will experience the role of pharmacists in the United States or Thailand, with the goal of being able to outline these roles and the respective healthcare systems. While respecting the local healthcare systems, cultures, and customs and identifying differences with Japan, students will reflect on the ideal state of clinical pharmacy and the role of pharmacists in Japan. After returning, they will give a presentation in English at a debriefing session in December.

Selection is open to students assigned to the laboratory hosting this training program who wish to enroll, and the process is based on academic performance, application documents, an interview, and other factors. There are several requirements, including language proficiency (a TOEIC score of 700 or higher is mandatory, with 830 or higher strongly recommended), credit status, and a recommendation from the laboratory head. Students are responsible for confirming the full details.

Additionally, applicants must have earned or be on track to earn credits for "Introduction to overseas clinical rotation" (1.5 credits), offered in the 5th year, and "Case Study Practice" (1.5 credits), offered in the 6th year. The former course serves as an introduction to the overseas clerkship and aims to develop the English communication skills needed for pharmaceutical care in various international settings; classes are conducted in English and feature lectures primarily by international guest speakers. The latter course prepares students for the overseas hospital clerkship by introducing them to the systems and current state of pharmaceutical care abroad, with the goal of acquiring the fundamental knowledge and skills to provide practical pharmaceutical care in English. This course also features lectures by international guest speakers. For both courses, a TOEIC score of 730 or higher is strongly desired. Please note that this training is considered part of the graduation research, and in their 6th year, students will take "Advanced Overseas Training" (3 credits) in addition to "Graduation Research 2" (24 credits).

An information session is held around April, and selection results are announced in late May. Afterward, selected students are expected to continue improving their language skills to achieve the required scores on tests such as the TOEIC and TOEFL iBT.

Take the preparatory lecture "Introduction to Overseas Clinical Rotation" around December.

Take the preparatory lecture "Case Study Practice" around April. Undertake an overseas practicum for about four to five weeks between May and October. Attend the joint practicum debriefing session around December.

Practicum fee: 70,000 yen. Travel, accommodation, and other incidental expenses are required separately. However, for the program in Thailand, accommodation costs are included.

Performance evaluation by the on-site preceptor (75%) and the content of the practicum debriefing session (25%, including the presentation abstract).