An international group of medical educators and organizations have started an online university for medical students, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The goal is to help students in developing countries that lack access to medical schools. The founding participants include the University of British Columbia, Stanford University, the University of Zambia, Harvard University’s Center for Surgery and Public Health, and the World Health Organization.

Curricula is based on free medical education material available on Health Sciences Online, set up four years ago through the University of British Columbia with the World Bank, World Medical Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and others. The new Global University is accepting registrations for a number of courses, including premed, a master’s in public health, and certificate courses in specific health areas like alcohol abuse, according to its beta site.

The organizers say they are developing partnerships with hospitals globally for practical experience, but students may have to arrange their own clinical work.