Health & Safety Planning
MIT Medical and Travel Clinic
As soon as you decide on your study abroad destination, call the Travel Clinic at 617-253-4488 (part of MIT Medical) to make a travel health appointment. Timing is critical because some immunizations have to be administered several months before departure. Please note that the travel health appointments cannot be arranged through the POL (patient online) system because staff at the Travel Clinic will need to obtain some initial information from you by phone before they can decide whom you should see. For some articles about health and safety considerations associated with travel please visit http://web.mit.edu/medical/mithealth/summer2006/stories/story1_2.shtml.
Note: If you take medication or need treatments on a regular basis, discuss this with your physician and develop a plan for your time abroad. Some countries have restrictions on bringing prescription medications into the country and on returning with unused medications. Contact the embassy of the country to find out what procedure you should follow in your specific case.
Research Your Destination
Research your destination. Learn from MIT students who returned from study abroad, from MIT students from the country in which you plan to study, and from online and printed resources. The Study Abroad and Distinguished Fellowships Office will be happy to put you in touch with returned students who volunteered to be a resource. Learn about social norms and the non-verbal behaviors considered appropriate, inappropriate or offensive in the culture where you will study or just visit.
Familiarize yourself with Web Resources
Health: Become familiar with U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention website for information on traveler’s health and on immunization information related to specific areas/countries (http://www.cdc.gov), with World Health Organization website for information on disease outbreaks and emergencies (http://www.who.int/en/), and with International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers website (http://www.iamat.org).
Emergency Planning and Safety
Be sure to review the MIT Emergency website and MIT Travel Risk Policy before you travel (http://emergency.mit.edu and http://informit.mit.edu/epr/3.1travel_risk.html respectively). Review the U.S. Department of State website for travel warnings, advisories, and consular information sheets for your intended study abroad destination, as well as other travel destinations if you plan to travel to more than one country during your study abroad experience (http://travel.state.gov).
Plan with family and friends several ways of communication for your time abroad. Research various options such as cell phones, pre-paid phone cards, and a local line with international capacity. Discuss ahead of time how often you will be in touch with your family.
Risk Acknowledgment Form and Emergency Form
Fill out, and turn in the Risk Acknowledgement Form for International Travel, along with an Emergency Contact Form (if you are not on the MIT campus prior to departure, you may fax the forms to us at 617-452-2101).
International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
Before you leave for your study abroad program, purchase the International Student Identity Card (ISIC). It is the most widely accepted proof of international student identification. It offers basic accident, sickness, and emergency evacuation insurance while traveling outside the United States, as well as the repatriation of remains benefit, and lost document replacement benefit (for cards purchased in the United States only). In addition, it offers a 24-hour, toll-free, emergency help line, reduced airfares on major international airlines, and discounts in the United States and abroad, including transportation, museum admissions and more. The card currently costs $22. For more information, please visit https://www.myisic.com/MyISIC/. Before departure, make a copy of your ISIC and store it in a safe place separately from the card. The copy will be very helpful, in case you lose the original card.
Women's Safety
For additional safety information for women abroad, please read the notes prepared by one of the female students who studied abroad
