Health & Safety Abroad

Students on provider programs have the support of on-site staff who are able to connect students to local resources and provide safety and security guidance throughout the time abroad.

The health, safety, and well-being of our students and faculty are top priorities for the Office of International Programs. We are committed to helping all participants prepare for a safe and successful international experience.

Pre-Departure Orientation

All students and faculty participating in an approved international program are required to attend a pre-departure orientation before traveling abroad.

The orientation covers important topics including:

Health and safety abroad

Emergency procedures and resources

Cultural adjustment and intercultural awareness

Academic expectations and responsibilities

Travel preparation and logistics

These sessions are designed to help participants feel confident, informed, and prepared for their international experience.

International SOS (ISOS) Coverage: International SOS

All students and faculty traveling through an authorized Emmanuel College international program are automatically covered by International SOS (ISOS), a leading provider of global health, safety, and emergency assistance services.

ISOS provides:

24/7 emergency assistance

Medical and travel advice

Security information and alerts

Emergency evacuation support when necessary

My Portal

We strongly encourage all travelers to access the International SOS My Portal before departure.

My Portal provides valuable resources to help you prepare for your trip, including:

Destination guides

Health and safety information

Travel advisories and health threats

Country-specific guidance

Emergency contact information

Organization policies and travel resources

By reviewing these resources before departure, travelers can make informed decisions and better prepare for their time abroad.

For questions regarding health and safety abroad, please contact the Office of International Programs at studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu)

Travel Advisories

The U.S. Department of State has replaced Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts with Travel Advisories for each country in the world. These Travel Advisories include four levels of safety and security risk. You can review the entire list of travel advisories at the Department of State website. Emmanuel College has revised our travel policy to reflect updated guidance on safety and security. Emmanuel College reserves the right to deny approval to study abroad in any country where safety and security may pose a risk to our students.

This policy pertains to all Emmanuel College study abroad programs including: provider programs, exchange programs and faculty-led travel courses.

Students are eligible to apply for study in a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) or 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). However, should certain areas within these countries be designated within the Travel Advisory as either Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) locations, as such; students will not be allowed to travel to or reside in these areas and we may reconsider granting permission to study abroad in these countries as a whole. Being eligible to apply does not mean that permission will be granted; the Office of International Programs (OIP) regularly reviews safety guidance on all countries where our students intend to study abroad.

Students are not eligible to apply for programs in a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or Level 4 (Do Not Travel).

Should a Travel Advisory change to Level 3 or 4 after the student has been approved to study abroad, the OIP will work with participants to select an alternate study site that falls within the guidelines above.

Based on the current Travel Advisory Levels, there are approximately 70 countries where Emmanuel students are approved to study abroad through our program providers.

The approved countries are: