Health & Safety Resources

Once you commit to a Study Abroad program, the team will enroll you in GeoBlue health insurance approximately one month before program departure.

GeoBlue is a reimbursement-based health insurance. This means you may have to pay for medical expenses up-front and submit claims for reimbursement for eligible costs.

When you are abroad, you will have access to Global TeleMD (virtual confidential access to international doctors) and Global Wellness Assist (virtual confidential professional mental health counseling) through GeoBlue Insurance.

As part of any Study Abroad application you will be required to visit the University of Arizona Campus Health Services (CHS) Travel Clinic before going abroad. The CHS travel nurse will give you information on health concerns for your international destinations as well as recommendations for vaccinations. Generally, recommended vaccinations are available there in the clinic. The Travel Clinic is a great resource for all of your general travel health questions. If you are not in Tucson, please speak with your study abroad coordinator about visiting a nearby travel clinic before going abroad. See the CDC’s Find a Clinic website for a clinic near you.

Research local clinics and hospitals. Know where you will go in case of an emergency before you leave the U.S. You may need to find an English-speaking doctor if you do not speak the local language well. Once you have been enrolled (a week or two before you leave for your program) and registered for GeoBlue emergency medical insurance, you can access their Destination Dashboard to find the closest medical facilities abroad.

Bring all prescription medications in their original packaging and bring a copy of your doctor’s prescription for each medication. Additionally, know the generic names of your medications in case you need to request refills while abroad.

Double-check that your medication is legal to possess in your destination before you go. The following sources may have helpful information on this:

• The International Narcotics Control Board
• GeoBlue Member Hub (you will be enrolled in GeoBlue approximately one month before program departure)

Mobility International USA has general tips on traveling with medication that you may find helpful.

All students participating in a University of Arizona Study Abroad program are invited to complete the optional Study Abroad Health Information form, which is provided in the online application once you are accepted to your program. This way, program staff will have knowledge of any medical conditions that you wish to disclose to them, and they will be better prepared to assist you in an emergency.

• Keep a copy of the Health Information form to take abroad to give to your resident director or homestay provider so they will have this information in the case of an emergency.

If you are a student with a disability requesting accommodations for your study abroad experience, you will need to register with the sponsoring institution's disability resources. Please contact Disability Resources at 520-621-3268, uadrc@arizona.edu.

Learn about your new environment. Is tap water potable? What are common illnesses? You can find international health information through the Centers for Disease Control.

Frequently wash your hands with soap and water or carry hand sanitizer if soap is not available.

For the most recent information on COVID-19, please refer to any Department of State travel advisories posted for your travel destination(s). For historical information, please refer to our legacy Coronavirus Study Abroad FAQs page.

Learn about your new environment. What kind of crime is most common? What other safety hazards do you need to be aware of? See the State Department's Before You Go website for safety and security information in your destination.

Before travelling internationally, be aware of Department of State travel advisories and Department of State travel resources. Please also register your trip with the State Department's Smart Traveler Program (STEP). Download the Smart Traveler app for iPhone or Android, which provides official country information, travel alerts and travel warnings, U.S. embassy locations and more.

Try to blend in as much as possible while in public. By not calling attention to yourself you are more likely to stay safe. See what the locals do and adapt their behaviors. Clothing and behaviors common in the U.S. may be offensive or call too much attention to you in some foreign cultures. While physically it may not be possible to blend in, modifying your behaviors shows respect for local customs.

Start conservatively. You will be in a new environment with its own unique traffic rules, social protocols, and crime rates. You should spend the first part of your program abroad observing the behaviors of others. Watch when and how locals cross the street. Ask someone you respect where it is okay to walk late at night and where it is not (never alone – always use the buddy system). Once you gain an understanding for your new home, you can then make educated decisions to keep yourself safe.

Report incidents of discrimination and harassment as outlined in the University of Arizona Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy. Program leads are mandatory reporters under this policy.

• Travel with extra cash, no less than $100, stashed in a safe place (not on your person unless you are traveling to a new location)
• Keep emergency cash in fresh bills, in a variety of denominations
• Review safety measures when withdrawing funds from ATMs
• Always notify banks and credit cards of travel to prevent blocks on accounts
• Travel with at least one credit card, in case an account becomes blocked or debit cards are not accepted (this is often the case in hospitals)
• Create a “throw wallet” with a little cash and an old credit card to give to or throw at potential attackers
• Separate your assets. Consider placing money, credit cards, passports, et cetera in different secure locations

Study Abroad has implemented a number of policies to keep study abroad students as healthy and safe as possible. We monitor Department of State Travel Advisories as well as our closed-source, private security partner to ensure that students are traveling to safe locations. If students are already studying abroad when a travel warning is announced, those students may need to leave the country.

PLEASE NOTE: Students participating in University of Arizona programs are automatically enrolled by our office into GeoBlue emergency medical insurance for the dates of their program. Once enrolled, you will receive an email confirmation with your ID card and plan information to your arizona.edu email. It is possible to extend your coverage if you plan to travel outside of your study abroad programs dates, for more information please call (520) 626-9211. See Health Resources section for more information.

Study Abroad has established emergency response plans for study abroad students. We prepare all program leads in a mandatory Health & Safety session each year and provide a handbook for program leads that helps guide them through responding to health and safety emergencies abroad. Study Abroad students can also always contact the university at any time through Crisis24 or the University of Arizona Police Department (see Emergency Resources).