Abstract: Objective Investigate the international exchange willingness and pre-travel training requirements of medical postgraduates to provide a reference for serving and offering information for postgraduates. Methods From December 7 to 16, 2020, we conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate the international exchange willingness and pre-travel training requirements of medical postgraduates of West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University. Results 125 medical postgraduates participated in the survey, of which 88 percent preferred participating in international exchanges during their studies. Regarding participation in international exchanges, 77.6% of postgraduates chose joint doctoral-student training, 61.6% preferred high-level international academic conferences, and 32% chose international online exchanges. The main factors hindering international exchanges included: the epidemic (60.8 percent), difficulty in applying (23.2 percent), financial problems (22.4 percent), and conflicts in scientific research (21.6 percent). In the survey on the importance of pre-trip training for international exchange, 96.8% of graduate students thought it was important. More than half of the medical postgraduates hoped that the international exchange training would include the following contents: study-abroad policy (91.2%), study abroad planning and self-cognition (88.8%), overseas safety knowledge and practical operation (80%), destination countries education (70.4%), international perspective and cross-cultural competence (56.8%). In addition, this survey compares the willingness of international exchange modes between postgraduates with professional degrees and postgraduates with academic degrees. Compared to master's students with academic degrees, more master's students with professional degrees want to study abroad for a doctoral degree (professional degree 83.3% vs. academic degrees 45.8%, P<0.05). Meanwhile, more master's students with academic degrees were willing to attend high-level international academic conferences than master's students with professional degrees (87.5% for academic degrees vs. Academic degrees 50.0%,P<0.05). Conclusion Medical postgraduates have a strong desire to participate in international exchanges. There are various ways to participate in international exchanges. On the whole, joint doctoral-student training is the most popular mode. Compared to master's students with academic degrees, more master's students with professional degrees want to study abroad for a doctoral degree, and fewer choose to attend high-level international academic conferences. However, there are still many obstacles to international communication for medical postgraduates.

Key words: medical postgraduates, international communication, pre-trip training, joint doctoral training, international academic conference