Here is general information that may be helpful before you travel on a Columbia-Led program. This is meant to supplement information from your program orientation, materials in your study abroad account and on the UGE website.
Health, Wellbeing, and Support
Immunizations:
Depending on your destination, there may be recommended or required vaccinations for travelers. Please refer to the CDC Website, and/or visit a Travel Clinic to learn more about what is required for your destination.
Disability Services:
If you have a documented learning or physical disability that requires an accommodation, please submit a letter from your institution’s Office of Disability Services outlining the accommodations that you receive and that you use. If you have been evaluated but have not registered with your Office of Disability Services, please do so and ask them to submit a letter to our office outlining the accommodations.
Mental Health Services:
Students needing ongoing support for mental health conditions may find that resources abroad that are limited compared to the type of support that can often be found in the U.S.
International SOS will cover the students for five free consultations with a mental health counselor. Students seeking counseling should contact ISOS directly either by telephone or via the ISOS app, which you should download onto your smartphone or other device. ISOS will help to arrange remote sessions with a counselor, as needed.
For students who already have a counselor they are seeing in the United States, our recommendation is that you inquire before you leave about the possibility of continuing consultations via Zoom or telephone during your time abroad. Students are encouraged to consult their insurance plan regarding coverage for ongoing counseling while abroad.
UGE program staff are also happy to meet with you should issues come up that you need to discuss. So please do not hesitate to ask for help!
Personal Safety:
As a traveler with Columbia, you must register with ISOS My Trips before departure, which allows the university to know what country you are in and for how long. Please download the ISOS Assistance application to your phone and remember to log any travel that you do while abroad. If something happens in the place you have indicated that you are traveling, you will be contacted by Columbia via text or the app so that you can check in. Program staff may also reach out to you to see if you need any kind of support.
In case of an emergency, the program staff both in New York and onsite work to account quickly for all students and to supply aid to students in need. You must update the app or on the My Trips website with your local phone number as soon as you have it and register your travel. It's the only way we will be able to locate you in case of an emergency.
Gender-based Misconduct:
Columbia University is committed to fostering an environment that is free from gender-based discrimination and harassment, including sexual assault and all other forms of gender-based misconduct. The University recognizes its responsibility to increase awareness of such misconduct, prevent its occurrence, support victims, deal fairly and firmly with offenders, and diligently investigate reports of misconduct.
The University encourages all students affected by gender-based misconduct to seek immediate assistance, including students studying abroad. Seeking assistance promptly may be important to ensure a student’s physical safety or to obtain medical care or other support. It may also be necessary to preserve evidence, which can assist the University and/or law enforcement in responding effectively. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A list of confidential and non-confidential resources is included on the University’s Sexual Respect website.
Misconduct may be particularly difficult to identify abroad, where cultural norms are often different than those in the U.S. However, cultural sensitivity does not mean that you need to submit to behaviors that invade your personal boundaries or that make you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Educating yourself about sexual harassment, assault and gender dynamics abroad can empower you and your peers to make safe choices. Do not hesitate to contact your on-site staff or your study abroad adviser with concerns.
Financial Matters
Please remember that each person has individual spending habits and that ultimately, you must decide how much you should bring. On your program page, we have estimates of how much money you will spend out of pocket. Set aside a generous estimate of what you will need for your program, and keep track of your expenses so you can plan accordingly for your time.
Cash on arrival: If you do not have local currency when you arrive, you can find ATMs or private currency exchange booths at the airport. We do suggest having some cash in case of emergency. You may want to look up ATM fees and charges before using any exchange service or withdrawing cash from an ATM.
ATM: Typically, the easiest way to get funds from the U.S. is by using your bank debit card at an ATM. You should check with your bank as to the daily limit and service charges, and also notify them how long you will be abroad so your attempts to withdraw funds will not be rejected due to “suspected fraudulent activity.” Typically the service charges range between 1% and 3% of the amount withdrawn, and some banks charge flat fees as well. You might consider shopping around before leaving, and if necessary set up a new account with a bank that will not have expensive service charges.
Credit cards: Credit card companies/banks may also charge a 3-5% “foreign transaction fee” on top of any purchase. You should notify your credit card company as to your travel in order to avoid their putting a hold on your account due to suspected fraudulent activity.