The three fifth year doctors will spend one year in Whyalla while the fourth year students will spend nine weeks before the next batch arrives.

Occupational therapy students will spend eight weeks with the Whyalla community while doing their projects.

The students said they loved the Whyalla climate and would make the most of their stay here.

Fifth year trainee doctor Christopher Hrycek said he spent nine weeks in Whyalla last year during his traineeship and was looking forward to returning this year.

"I love fishing and the people are very welcoming so I am looking forward to my one year here," Mr Hrycek said.

"At the moment I don't know where I would be going after graduating but I would love to go to a country town and it could be Whyalla also.

"Apart from completing my studies I will surely be making new friends and visiting places in and around Whyalla."

Occupational therapy students are working on projects related to physical and social activities in Whyalla and healthy lifestyle for children up to the age of four years.

Rural Medical Placement Program senior student services officer Dee Patterson said the medical students will undergo a range of traineeships while working with local general practitioners.

She said the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School was also making regular visits to schools around Whyalla to encourage more local students to take up medicine at tertiary level.

"The publicity of these trainees will hopefully encourage some of our local students to take up medicine as their preferred choice of studies," Ms Patterson said.

"It would be good to see some Whyalla students return to town for traineeships and set up their clinics here after graduation."