Howard University College of Pharmacy International FAQs

For current College of Pharmacy Students:

  1. How long are HUCOP International APPEs? 

    International APPEs are the same duration as other APPEs within the US. They last 5 weeks.

  2. How is the time for travel accounted for within the rotation period? 

    We allow 1-2 days of flexible travel time at the beginning and end of the rotation. This allows students to fly to their rotation destination and have a little time to adjust to the differing time zones before beginning rotations.

  3. Is any financial aid provided for the travel? 

    Howard University College of Pharmacy currently covers the cost of the airfare. Students are responsible for their housing/lodging, meals, ground transportation, and miscellaneous expenses (Visa fees, baggage fees, entertainment, etc.) 

  4. How are Howard University College of Pharmacy students prepared to go overseas? 

    An orientation is mandated for all students traveling overseas for a rotation. The orientation covers logistics, cultural sensitivity training, professionalism and ethics while overseas. 

  5. Will I be traveling alone if I am going on an International APPE? 

    We make every effort to send students in pairs so that no student is traveling alone. Occasionally, groups of 3 or more have gone together. We rarely send students alone, but it has happened.  

  6. Will there be any language barriers? 

    Most of the countries Howard University College of Pharmacy sends students to conduct business in English or the preceptor is able to speak English. In locations where English is not commonly spoken, you may have pharmacists or student pharmacists help through translation when necessary. Overall, language has not been a barrier to teaching and learning on the majority of our international rotations. 

  7. How are International APPE’s graded? 

    International APPEs are graded in the same way that all APPE’s are graded. International preceptors will complete a midpoint and final evaluation online. 

  8. How is it decided what country each student will go to? 

    Students will rank their country preferences from highest to lowest on the application. The International committee meets and, based on your preference and site availability, selects students and places them in one of the country sites. The more flexible you are, the better your chances. 

  9. How should I prepare to go overseas? 

    Students are expected to do their due diligence in researching the country they are visiting. Utilizing online websites and travel books to explore culture, food, language, religious practices, etc. will help the student feel more comfortable upon arriving to their destination. Other preparation methods may be deployed by Howard University College of Pharmacy where necessary. 

  10. How much will this cost? 

    Estimated expenses will vary, but is somewhere between $3,000 and $6,000 for airfare, housing/lodging, meals, ground transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. 
For visiting pharmacists/pharmacy students

  1. What kind of rotations are offered? 

    HUCOP International does our best to provide experiences that are visitors are interested in. In general, most of our shadowing experiences are provided in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, and Ambulatory Care settings. 

  2. How long can I come for? 

    On average, we provide shadowing experiences that are about 4 to 5 weeks long. In some rare cases, they may be longer or shorter, depending on the request presented. We do our best to meet the expectations of the visitors when possible.

  3. What visa will I need? 

    Although this will vary depending on the country of citizenship, we recommend visiting students and pharmacists to come to the US under a tourist visa.

  4. What options are available for accommodation? 

    Visitors can choose from a variety of housing options. Staying in either Maryland, DC, or Virginia are viable options. HUCOP provides 2-3 options for housing in the surrounding areas, but visitors can also search on their own for accommodation that is preferred.