The goal of the Federation is to serve society and medical students all over the world through its member organizations by:
- Empowering medical students in using their knowledge and capacities for the benefit of society.
- Providing a forum for medical students throughout the world to discuss topics related to individual and community health, education and science and to formulate policies from such discussions.
- Promoting and facilitating professional and scientific exchanges as well as projects and extracurricular trainings for medical students, thereby sensitizing them to other cultures and societies and their health problems.
- Providing a link between members, medical students' associations and international organizations, and to encourage co-operation between them for the ultimate benefit of society.
This is achieved though the work of IFMSA Standing Committees and IFMSA meetings of medical students across the globe (General Assemblies, Regional Meetings, Skills or Topic Bases Meetings). The Standing Committees are represented internationally, nationally and locally, and focus on areas of permanent interest to the IFMSA.