Graduate Students Abroad

Graduate Students Traveling Abroad 

Resources for International Travel: 

International Emergency Travel Insurance Coverage

UMass students, faculty and staff traveling abroad on university-related travel are covered by the International Emergency Travel Insurance Policy with ISOS purchased by the UMass system. This coverage is intended to provide the first line of service and protection to the university’s travelers for emergency or medically urgent situations abroad. Please see: 

Travel Registry 

Login to the Travel Registry here. Further information is available here.

COVID-19 

Travelers should carefully follow the instructions below:

  • All travelers, regardless of destination, are strongly advised to be fully vaccinated and boosted before travel.
  • Please make sure to carefully review any COVID entry restrictions in place for your destination(s). 
  • Please note that International Emergency Travel Insurance coverage provided by UMass does not cover evacuation or other accommodations due to disruption to travel plans resulting from a pandemic. Coverage does include medical expenses resulting from the treatment of COVID-19, but does not extend to losses for travel and accommodation expenses. Travelers could consider purchasing additional Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance.

Obtaining a Visa for Foreign Travel

Visas are required for travel to many countries.  Even countries where U.S. citizens may not normally require a visa, the purpose of travel and length of proposed stay may trigger a visa requirement. IPO cannot provide advice for individual travellers (unless you are a student on one of our approved study abroad programs or exchanges), however we have created these visa guidelines for general reference only.  

Export Control Compliance 

It is the responsibility of all campus community members to be familiar with and adhere to U.S. export controls. Export controls are laws and regulations that regulate and restrict the release of controlled items, such as critical technologies and equipment, technical data, software, and chemical and biological materials, and information and services to foreign nationals and foreign countries for reasons of national security and foreign policy. Export controls apply to all activities – not just sponsored research projects. If you have questions about the application of export controls to your travel, please contact the Office of Research Compliance at (413) 545-5283 or visit the Export Control website.

UMass Amherst IT Security Guidance for International Travel 

There are information and information technology risks when traveling. UMass Amherst IT provides the following general guidance for all types of travel, including specific recommendations for domestic and international travelers. It is intended to help mitigate the risks to your information, university data and IT assets.The appropriate controls should be implemented to maintain compliance with federal law, university policy, data use agreements, and security plans. Please see the IT Travel Guidance website

UMass Travel Clinic 

University Health Services (UHS) has a full service Travel Clinic and offers care to UMass faculty and staff, along with their spouses, domestic partners and/or dependents. The UMass Travel Clinic can help you learn about specific health needs for your destination as well as administer the vaccinations you might need depending on your destination.  Appointments are required and you should be seen at least four weeks before you leave. Before making an appointment, consult your health insurance plan for coverage information. Some insurers may require a referral from your primary care provider. 

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) Registration 

Faculty and staff are encouraged to register their travel with the US Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. STEP is a free service to allow US citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Travelers receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in their destination country and registration helps the US Embassy contact you in an emergency. Please note: non-US citizens cannot register their travel but can subscribe to country-specific alerts and messages. 

US Department of State Travel Advisories and Alerts 

Please see the US Department of State website for more information. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notices

CDC Travel notices are designed to inform travelers and clinicians about current health issues related to specific destinations. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health. You can review the travel notices on the CDC Travel Health Notices website and you can review country specific information by selecting your country of travel here

 

Travel Policies 

The following policies have been approved by the Campus Leadership Committee and the International Risk Management Committee: