Student Health and Safety Check

Student Pre-Departure Health and Safety Checklist for Study Abroad

• Review State Department and Centers for Disease Control country pages for general health and safety information about your destination country. Make note especially of any required vaccinations, as well as recommended vaccinations and medications.
• Review visa requirements, COVID entry requirements and COVID-related restrictions for your destination. Up-to-date information is generally available on the homepage of your destination country’s embassy in the United States and of the embassy of the United States in your destination country. Check COVID requirements and restrictions periodically as they change frequently.
• Book a travel medicine consultation with Graham Health Center, your general practitioner or a travel medicine clinic.
• Obtain necessary vaccinations and medications. Some vaccinations will require multiple shots over a period of time, and some may have limited local availability, so do this well in advance (at least two months prior to travel). Many tropical destinations require the Yellow Fever vaccine for entry. In countries where malaria is endemic, a malaria prophylactic is highly recommended. Procure an adequate supply of any prescription medications you will use, in their original packaging and with printed prescriptions. If you will need to fill prescriptions while you are abroad, make a plan to see a local physician upon arrival.
• Ensure your passport will be valid for at least six months beyond your anticipated return date. If you need to renew your passport (or get a first passport), current average wait times are approximately 6-8 weeks.
• Apply for your visa if necessary.
• Attend a study abroad pre-departure orientation. Details of your orientation will be provided to you by the International Education Office (for independent programs) or by your program leader (for faculty-led programs).
• Complete your pre-departure forms on your OU study abroad account on the Independent Travel Abroad Registration page, including the health information form, passport copy, COVID vaccination form and insurance registration certification.
• Register for OU's free international health insurance through CISI.
• Follow the instructions in your CISI welcome email to log in to the myCISI portal and download the CISI Traveler app. You may use the portal and app to view your insurance policy documents, request assistance, search for preferred healthcare providers in your destination country, and update your itinerary. The portal will also give you real-time updates regarding health and safety in your destination country.
• Consider purchasing supplemental insurance which will cover trip cancellation and extension due to COVID or other reasons. You may use an aggregator site to search for policy plans. To search plans, you can visit the aggregator page at Forbes. OU does not vouch for or recommend any specific policy.
• Register your travel with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will receive updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate regarding health and safety issues and the embassy will contact you in the event of an evacuation.
• Review your destination’s COVID entry requirements and current COVID restrictions once more prior to travel. If testing is necessary for your destination, you may schedule a COVID test at the Graham Health Center or numerous other locations nearby.