Safety & Security Abroad

Requirements Before You Go Abroad

International Research

Undergraduate and Graduate students undertaking research abroad are required to follow the guidance of the Field Research Office and Register in UGo.

Conference Travel

Conference travel is deemed as Low Risk if all the following conditions are met:

1. you are a Graduate-level student at the University of Alberta;
2. you are traveling to a country with a Global Affairs Canada (GAC) “Exercise Normal Precautions” advisory level;
3. you are traveling to a conference outside of Canada for no longer than 10 days.

If your conference travel is determined to be Low Risk:

• Ensure the Checklist for Low-Risk Graduate Student International Travel is reviewed and all required items are completed prior to travel. 

If any of the above conditions are not met and your conference travel is deemed Medium Risk, you must:

• complete a Risk Assessment/Management Plan in the Education Abroad Pre-Departure eClass, using the enrollment key Conference2025;
• confirm travel medical insurance;
• register in UGo, including providing health insurance information;
• complete the Education Abroad Waiver (accessed through UGo);
• review Modules 1,2 and 3 of the Education Abroad Pre-Departure eClass and complete the quizzes.

Other International Travel

Students undertaking other types of international travel MUST complete the following:

• UAI’s online Pre-Departure eClass or equivalent (login information to be shared by UAI, please contact uairm@ualberta if you have not been given access and an enrolment key will be provided);
• a Risk Assessment and Management Plan (accessed through the pre-departure eClass);
• confirm travel medical insurance;
• register in UGo, including providing health insurance information;
• complete the Education Abroad Waiver (accessed through UGo).

Please contact uairm@ualberta.ca if you have any questions. Requirements for all travellers must be completed at least four weeks prior to travel to allow for review and approval.

Approvals for High and Extreme Risk Travel

Students travelling to countries/regions with a Global Affairs Canada "Avoid Non-Essential Travel" or "Avoid All Travel" advisory must consult with the relevant offices and receive the necessary additional travel approvals prior to travel, as per the Off-Campus Activity & Travel Policy. No travel to these countries/regions may take place until final approval is received.

For Students Currently Abroad

Students currently abroad on University of Alberta programs can contact us at uairm@ualberta.ca. This email is monitored daily and we will reply as soon as possible.

UGo Travel Registry for Students/Staff

For students and staff planning for University-related activities abroad, education abroad program leaders planning for programs abroad, please refer to the University of Alberta's Off-Campus Activity and Travel Policy here.

Before leaving Canada for University-related activities, students and staff are required to register with the U of A's UGo Off-Campus Travel Registry and recommended to sign up for the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad if travelling outside of Canada.

In the event of an emergency or crisis situation while overseas, this information will help both the University of Alberta and the Government of Canada obtain knowledge of:

• Where you are located
• How to get in contact with you
• How we can be of assistance to you
• Your emergency contact information

Emergency Contact - Students are also required to provide an emergency contact in their  UGo registration before going abroad.

International SOS

International SOS is a medical and travel security assistance service provided to University of Alberta students travelling abroad. The company provides the following services:

• a website to find extensive health and security information about your destination that you can access before you leave and at your destination
• an email and mobile app service that will send messages to you with the latest news about developing security or health threats in the region you are visiting

UAlberta Students can access the University's membership number and International SOS services here. (Please sign in to your UAlberta account to access the document)

Trip Cancellation Insurance

With recent events such as plane groundings due to technical issues, inclement weather, and demonstrations leading to flight cancellations and even airport closures, students must be covered by Trip Cancellation Insurance. When purchasing Trip Cancellation Insurance, students should review the fine print of the policy in case there are exclusions. For example, if coverage or compensation for flight disruptions due to airport closures is not covered, students may not be able to recover the costs of cancelled flights. The University's Student Care plan for graduates and undergraduates includes Trip Cancellation Insurance and a similar level of coverage needs to be provided if you are looking at other plans.

Vaccinations and Immunizations

Consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.

Routine Vaccines

• Be sure that your routine vaccines are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.
• Some of these vaccines include: COVID-19, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Vaccines to Consider

• You may be at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g. Hepatitis A and B, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, mpox) while travelling abroad. Talk to your travel health provider about which ones are needed for the region you are travelling to.