There is a well established requirement for the systematic inclusion of communication skills in medical school curricula. Objectives: To understand the perception of undergraduate students from three medical schools in different countries (Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands), and the potentialities of each of these schools in the teaching-learning process of physician-patient communication. Methods: Qualitative exploratory study, with final year undergraduate medical students, through semi-structured interviews and direct observation. Data analysis was conducted by means of thematic content analysis. Results: The main potentialities found were learning by models, with patient simulations, video recordings and in Primary Health Care (PHC) teaching environments. Conclusions: It was observed that the association of these teaching potentialities, with student insertion in PHC from the beginning of the course and the inclusion of simulated patients and video recordings can optimise learning of physician-patient communication.