UROP Travel Guidelines
Most UROP research takes place at the MIT campus. However, some UROP projects can involve research fieldwork that takes place out of the country. Projects requiring travel must be connected to research affiliated with MIT, and have the endorsement of an approved MIT UROP supervisor. In addition, you should be receiving daily supervision from an MIT affiliate associated with the project, such as a faculty member, post-doctoral associate, or staff member.
If any part of your UROP position will require that you leave the country, you must make sure that prior to departure you do the following:
- Confirm with UROP staff that you are traveling with an MIT-affiliated research supervisor who is knowledgeable about your destination. Be prepared to provide us with the name of this person.
- Complete all required travel paperwork at least two weeks prior to your departure. For higher risk destinations, this may include completing a Graduate and Undergraduate Students Travel Form.
- Be fully aware of MIT's policies and concerns related to particular destinations. MIT classifies travel risk under three categories: highest, high, and moderate. To determine if your travel destination falls under one of these categories, visit the Emergency Preparedness & Response site to view MIT's Travel Risk Policy and Travel Advisories to specific destinations.
- Read and understand the U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings and Consular Information related to your particular destination. These forms provide detailed information on safety concerns for travelers. Questions or concerns should be directed to the UROP staff in the office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP) or MIT Safety Office.
- Based on the MIT travel advisory for your destination, you may be required to sign a Graduate and Undergraduate Students Travel Form, available on the MIT Travel Advisories page. In situations where the advisory lists travel risk as "highest," MIT-related travel may not be permitted.
- Make sure that the UROP staff in the office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP) and the Academic Officer for your UROP Department have all appropriate travel date, destination, passport, health, and emergency contact information related to your trip.
- If you are an international student and your project is taking place off-campus or overseas, you must first inform the The International Students Office (ISO) before accepting the UROP position. The office is located in Room 5-133 and can be reached at (617) 253-3795 or iso-help@mit.edu.
