About Country Specific Issues

There are some policies and procedures that are consistent for all study abroad programs (course syllabi, insurance policies, etc.). However, as each country (and city) around the world is different, it is important to provide background information that brings forward the realities the students will face in their particular programs. In terms of health and safety, this may include language, medical facilities, experiences of previous study abroad students, health care, transportation, discrimination, communication, crisis response, support for special needs, accessibility, etc. Program administrators should consider what information to impart and how it is to be imparted to students during the pre-departure and the on-site orientation sessions.

(NAFSA’s Guide to Education Abroad for Advisers and Administrators, Third Edition, p. 261 and p. 479)

A critical step for college, university, and other study abroad advisors is to check with the U.S. Department of State's International Travel Information website. From this site, program administrators will find links to Country Specific Information and Country Background Notes, which provide important country-specific information. For some countries, there may be travel warnings in effect, so administrators must be sure to check the Department of State's current Travel Warnings site. Travel warnings are issued when the Department of State decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. These travel warnings will highlight potential for student safety problems; therefore, institutions should consider not offering programs in such countries, as this may put students at greater risk and possibly create future institutional liability. It may be important to cross-reference with country-specific travel information from different sources, such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the U.K. Foreign Commonwealth Office.

Part of a study abroad program administrator's responsibility is to provide student participants extensive information on health and safety issues. The "Web Links" section below includes resources from the U.S. State Department and U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention that can be starting points for research. Other resources include:

Program staff, faculty, and past participants
Other university staff, faculty, and students with experience in the program locations
Other study abroad program administrators
Health professionals at home and abroad

Furthermore, to address study abroad students' country specific need for information, the Center for Global Education is creating online country specific handbooks for a number of study abroad destinations.

• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Information
• Australian Department of Health and Ageing
• Countries Under Travel Warnings
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Health Canada
• U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• UK Public Health Association
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Traveler's Health
• U.S. CIA World Factbook
• U.S. Justice Department: World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems:
• U.S. Library of Congress Country Studies
• U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets
• University of California Education Abroad Program Brazil Student Guide
• University of California Education Abroad Program Costa Rica Student Guide
• University of California Education Abroad Program South Africa Student Guide
• University of California Education Abroad Program General Information Guide
• University of Michigan Documents Center Foreign Government Resources