Advice for Safe and Healthy Travel for Students

"Planning to study abroad, but don’t know how to start preparing for your trip? Use this guide from CDC Travelers’ Health to help you get ready for safe and healthy travel.

You’ve decided to study abroad. You have your program dates confirmed, and your flight is booked—now what? Spending a semester abroad can be a thrilling and memorable experience. See below for ways to prevent travel-related illnesses or injuries and ensure you enjoy yourself!

Before You Go

• Learn about health and safety concerns in your host country, including other countries you may plan to visit while you’re there.
• Make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist or your health care provider to get needed vaccines and medicines at least a month before you leave.
  • CDC recommends all travelers be up to date on routine vaccines, such as influenza and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). This year there are measles outbreaks in many popular destinations. Make sure you get vaccinated. Don’t go unprotected!
  • Discuss your itinerary with your health care provider to make sure you get any destination-specific vaccines and medicines, such as yellow fever vaccine or medicine to prevent malaria.
  • Get all your routine health checkups, such as seeing your dentist, before you leave, because the quality of dental and medical care may be different in host countries or more expensive than in the United States.
• Pack a travel health kit with your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines (enough to last your whole trip, plus a little extra), first aid supplies, condoms, and your health insurance card.
  • Make sure your medicines are permitted and properly packaged and stored for travel to your destination. Medicines commonly prescribed in the United States may be prohibited or unavailable in the host country.
  • Pack your medicines in your carry-on luggage. You don’t want to be stuck without them if your suitcase gets lost!
• Monitor travel warnings and alerts at your destination(s) through the US Department of State website.
  • Enroll with the nearest US embassy or consulate through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get safety updates and phone numbers in the event of an emergency.
• Prepare for the unexpected.
  • Leave copies of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, passport, and proof of school enrollment with someone at home, in case you lose them during travel.
  • Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad—many plans don’t! Consider buying additional insurance that covers health care and emergency evacuation.
  • Studying abroad may result in culture shock, loneliness, or stress. Discuss coping mechanisms, make a plan for who to contact if issues arise while abroad, and tell your health care provider about any existing mental health issues..."
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