International Federation of Medical Students Associations

What International Federation of Medical Students Associations does

The International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), founded in 1951, is one of the worlds oldest and largest student-run organisation. It represents, connects and engages every day with a inspiring and engaging network of 1.3 million medical students from 136 national members organisations in 127 countries around the globe.

Name

International Federation of Medical Students Associations

Legal name

International Federation of Medical Students Associations

Website

https://ifmsa.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non governmental organization representing associations of medical students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Medical Student Federation Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAKAA

Multilateral Global Health Agencies (UN/IFIs)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYHLAJAKAN

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Medical student exchanges
• Global health advocacy
• Clinical clerkship programs
• Research exchange programs
• Medical capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: National Member Organizations pay dues to be part of the federation, supporting core operations and governance.
2. Exchange Program Fees: Bilateral exchange arrangements where participating students arrange exchanges; hosting NMOs provide accommodations and clinical/research placements. Insurance packages offered through DR-WALTER partnership.
3. Grants and Funding: Received financial support from UNESCO Participation Program (2012-2013, 2014-2015) for capacity building activities. Erasmus+ funding (2015) for core operations. Grants from WHO for leadership training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IFMSA is a non-profit federation that facilitates bilateral international clinical and research exchanges for medical students through its Standing Committee on Professional Exchange (SCOPE) and Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE), alongside capacity building trainings, global health advocacy, and representation at WHO, UN, and other international bodies. It operates six Standing Committees, 14 thematic Programs, General Assemblies, Regional Meetings, Sub-Regional Trainings, the Youth PreWHA event, and the biannual Medical Student International magazine, engaging 1.3 million medical students across 139 NMOs in 130 countries.

Product overview

IFMSA is a non-profit federation of medical students offering a portfolio of programs, exchanges, and events. Its core offerings include six Standing Committees (SCORE for research exchanges, SCOPE for professional exchanges, SCOME for medical education, SCOPH for public health, SCORA for sexual and reproductive health, and SCORP for human rights and peace), a Student Exchange Program facilitating over 15,000 exchanges annually, and 14 IFMSA Programs covering health topics from mental health to climate change. The federation also runs the Youth PreWHA training event, publishes the Medical Student International magazine, and organizes General Assemblies, Regional Meetings, and Sub-Regional Trainings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SCORE (Standing Committee on Research Exchange): Program for research exchanges for medical students
• SCOPE (Standing Committee on Professional Exchange)
• SCOME
• SCOPH
• SCORP
• SCORA
• Youth PreWHA
• Medical Student International (MSI)

Products and services

• Student Exchange Program (SCOPE & SCORE) Bilateral exchange program that facilitates over 15,000 medical students annually to experience healthcare delivery and research in different cultural and social settings through 4-week clinical clerkships (SCOPE) and research placements (SCORE). Endorsed by WFME, WONCA, FENS, EuSEM, WFSA, IPA, and WPA, with certificates enabling credit transfers from home universities. Insurance packages offered through DR-WALTER partnership.
• Standing Committee on Medical Education (SCOME) Dedicated organ of IFMSA aiming to implement an optimal learning environment for all medical students around the world, focusing on medical education policy and curriculum development.
• Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH) Brings together medical students worldwide to learn, build skills, cooperate, explore, and share ideas on addressing public health issues, global health issues, health policies, health promotion, and education.
• Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV and AIDS (SCORA) Gathering of passionate individuals committed to promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, including HIV and AIDS, and creating positive change in their local communities. Recognized for collaboration with UNAIDS.
• Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace (SCORP) Unites students who strive to create an equal and peaceful world and believe in international, intercultural, and interpersonal solidarity. Recognized by UNHCR for collaboration on refugee health and humanitarian action programs.
• IFMSA Programs Centralized streams of activities organized by IFMSA NMOs addressing specific health fields, including Teaching Medical Skills, Mental Health, HIV/AIDS & Other STIs, Healthy Lifestyles & Non-Communicable Diseases, Health Systems, Gender-Based Violence, Ethics and Human Rights in Health, Environment and Health, Communicable Diseases, and Emergencies/Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action.
• Youth Pre World Health Assembly (Youth PreWHA) Annual training event held days preceding the World Health Assembly, providing sessions on global health topics, interactive workshops, and discussions to empower young leaders with knowledge on global health governance and advocacy skills.
• Medical Student International (MSI) Magazine Biannual online magazine focusing on global health perspectives brought by medical students worldwide, published in parallel to the General Assembly (March Meeting and August Meeting).
• General Assemblies Among the biggest youth-led events worldwide, held twice a year (March and August), attended by over 800 medical students from 100+ countries. Features standing committee meetings, governance sessions, training opportunities, and project presentations. Executive board elected at March Meeting; rest of Team of Officials and Supervising Council elected at August Meeting.
• Regional Meetings Annual meetings held in each of IFMSA's five regions (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe), hosted by NMOs, preceded by pre-regional meetings. Five Regional Meetings held annually in total.
• Sub-Regional Trainings Capacity building approach delivering training sessions and workshops for members within regions, including TNT (Training New Trainers), PHLT (Public Health Leadership Training), TMET (Training Medical Education Trainers), and other specialized workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ student exchanges per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• World Medical Association (WMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2015Historic agreement signed in May 2015 after over 50 years of collaboration. Both organizations agreed to strengthen and mutually support their respective work to increase collaboration between future and current health professionals.
• World Health Students Alliance (WHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2014Co-founded in November 2014 together with International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF) and International Association of Dental Students (IADS). Now includes International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA). Reaches 1.8 million health students in 125+ countries. Aims to strengthen interdisciplinary healthcare advocacy and develop improved health policies.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971Formal collaboration since 1971. IFMSA has official NGO consultative status with UN ECOSOC. Participation in UNESCO forums and conferences.
• World Federation of Medical Education (WFME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange programs endorsed by WFME, recognized as very professionally organized and absolutely worthy of endorsement by medical schools worldwide.
• World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorses IFMSA Exchange Programme as affording students a chance to experience new health settings with clear academic aims and objectives. Collaborated on student handbook checklists.
• Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValues and fully supports IFMSA research exchange programme (SCORE) which provides medical students a chance to experience new research settings.
• European Society for Emergency Medicine (EuSEM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorses IFMSA exchange programs as professionally organized with academic quality.
• World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorses IFMSA exchange programs as professionally organized with academic quality.
• International Pediatric Association (IPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorses IFMSA exchange programs as professionally organized with academic quality.
• World Psychiatric Association (WPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorses IFMSA exchange programs as professionally organized with academic quality.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized by WHO as the international voice of medical students. Actively collaborates with WHO departments and regional offices. Largest youth delegation at World Health Assembly. Collaboration since 1969 including internships in headquarters and regional offices.
• UNAIDSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial recognition and collaboration with UNAIDS for HIV/AIDS and sexual/reproductive health initiatives.
• UNFPAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sexual and reproductive health and rights initiatives.
• UNHCRmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on refugee health and humanitarian action programs.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on child and adolescent health initiatives.
• International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on student handbook checklists for exchange programs.
• World Federation of NeurologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on student handbook checklists for exchange programs.
• DR-WALTER (Insurance)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished collaboration with insurance company DR-WALTER for insurance packages for exchange program participants.
• Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFMSA created first student task force for AMEE conference in 2005, which has continued successfully.
• Council of EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished joint report in 2003 on health and human rights of refugees, immigrants, and minorities in Europe.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF): IPSF is a global federation of pharmacy student associations operating the same membership-based, NMO-mediated model as IFMSA, and is a co-founder of the World Health Students Alliance (WHSA). It is the most structurally and operationally comparable peer to IFMSA.
• International Association of Dental Students (IADS): IADS is a global federation representing dental student associations using the same NMO-based governance and exchange-program model as IFMSA, and is a co-founder of WHSA. Directly comparable in structure, scale, and mission.
• International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA): IVSA represents veterinary students globally through a federation of national member organizations and is a member of WHSA. It mirrors IFMSA's structure of bilateral exchanges, standing committees, and General Assemblies for a parallel professional student cohort.

Regional players

• European Medical Students' Association (EMSA): EMSA is a Europe-focused federation of medical student organizations that operates the same NMO-mediated advocacy and event model as IFMSA, but limited to the European region. Comparable as a regional subset of IFMSA's geographic scope.
• American Medical Student Association (AMSA): AMSA is a US-based national medical student association that is itself an NMO within IFMSA, with similar advocacy, exchange, and capacity-building programs but operating only in the United States. Comparable as a single-country peer.

Broad incumbents

• World Medical Association (WMA): WMA represents practicing physicians globally rather than students, but signed a historic collaboration agreement with IFMSA in 2015 to bridge future and current health professionals. It is a broader incumbent operating in overlapping global health governance territory.
• World Health Organization (WHO): WHO is a multilateral global health agency that recognizes IFMSA as the voice of medical students and collaborates through delegations, internships, and leadership training programs. It is a broader institutional partner/incumbent in the same global health governance space.
• Global Health Council: Global Health Council is a membership-based advocacy organization in the global health policy space, engaging multiple stakeholders including youth. It shares IFMSA's advocacy and convening role but serves a broader, multi-stakeholder membership.

Emerging players

• FAIMER (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research): FAIMER focuses on medical education and faculty development globally, sharing IFMSA's interest in medical education quality (SCOME) but operating as a research and capacity-building institution rather than a student federation.
• Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM): UAEM is a student-led global health advocacy organization operating at universities worldwide with similar advocacy and policy-influence missions to IFMSA's SCOPH and SCORA committees. Comparable as a student-run advocacy peer with overlapping but narrower thematic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ifmsa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ifmsaonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/ifmsa
• Instagraminstagram.com/youifmsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifmsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Federation of Medical Students Associations