Health & Safety
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Statement on Safety, Security, and Well-being Abroad
Yale Study Abroad oversees credit-bearing, international experiences for undergraduate students and, as such, places the utmost importance on the safety, security, and well-being of all students participating in programs abroad. While abroad, students are exposed wholly to a new culture along with all of the associated opportunities and risks of the environment.
Yale maintains an International Travel Policy that outlines the University's stance on restricted travel and also provides a Global Travel Assistance plan to all Yale College students at no cost. Additionally, Yale Study Abroad monitors daily the security situation worldwide. We rely on information from:
- Program Staff
- UnitedHealthcare Global Travel Assistance
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council
- Travel Alerts from Canada, Australia, and UK
- Local Embassies and Government Agencies
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Yale University Office of International Affairs
All study abroad students have access to study abroad advisers who can provide health and safety information, direct them to further resources, and address concerns. We provide pre-departure orientations, either online or in person, for all of our study abroad students before leaving campus. While we remain a resource to students before, during, and after their time abroad, we emphasize that students must take personal responsibility for their own safety, security, and well-being while abroad.
Although no one can guarantee completely a student's safety, security, and well-being—at home, at Yale, or abroad—there are steps each student can take to mitigate risk and make the most of the experience. We strongly recommend that students carefully read through the information and resources we have provided in this section of the website. Please contact Yale Study Abroad with any questions or concerns.
Strategies for Remaining Vigilant
Your health and safety abroad largely depends not on what might be happening around you, but on the responsible decisions you make before you leave and while you’re abroad. Prioritize your health and safety above all else when making decisions.
- Register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and Yale's International Travel Registry.
- Trust your instincts.
- Keep your cell phone charged and with you.
- Carry contact information for your program staff and the in-country, 911-equivalent emergency number(s).
- Remain alert to your surroundings, even if you become uncomfortable.
- Know what activities are culturally and legally appropriate.
- Stay informed about current events in your host country. Learn to assess unfamiliar situations and possible risks in your new country.
- When traveling away from your program site, make sure that your program staff and family know where you’re going and when you’re expected to return.
- Avoid demonstrations, or if you find yourself caught up in one, stay far from the center of activity. Do not document the event with your phone or camera.
- Stay away from high crime areas, and if out at night, make sure you and your friends have a safe way home. Avoid walking alone at night whenever possible.
Health and Safety Information and Resources
Pin: We encourage you to review the following pages in order to be informed of pertinent health and safety considerations prior to your study abroad experience.