Objective To examine the effect of short-term oversea exchange programs (SOEP) on medical humanities education. Methods The data is collected through study reports, questionnaires and interviews of 51 students majored in clinical medicine in Peking University Health Science Center who participated in SOEP in 2017. The data is analyzed by Nvivo 10 and SPSS 18.0 software. Results Totally 92.2% (47/51) of the students believe SOEP has positive effect on medical humanities education. The medical humanities education effects of SOEP are mainly shown in the following four aspects: enhance patient-centered service concept [88.2% (45/51)]; improve students' communication skills, including skills to communicate effectively and equally with the patient [82.4% (42/51)]; deepen understanding of medical purposes, ethical issues, and health laws etc. [70.6% (36/51)]; consolidate students' spirit to pursuit medical development and human health and happiness [82.4% (42/51)]. Analysis of study reports and interviews showed that SOEP let students understand different medical culture and medical humanity concept, deepen their awareness of patient-centered care; improve their communication skills while facing the challenge of new environment; start thinking seriously about medical purposes, professional morals, ethics, and health laws etc.; learn faith and principles from oversea senior doctors, and strengthen their pursuit of medicine. Conclusions SOEP played a positive role in developing medical students' humanity and educating comprehensive medical talents.