We consider the health and safety of students on education abroad opportunities one of our top priorities. We encourage students to be proactive in planning for a healthy and safe international experience. The following items are a few of the most important tasks related to your health, safety and security:

1. Fully and accurately complete the Medical & Disability Self-Assessment questionnaire in your online application. Please note this material will appear in your application after you are accepted to study abroad.
2. Consult with your medical professional(s) about any medical needs, and how to manage these while abroad.
3. Learn about your destination, including any health or safety concerns, via the travel.state.gov website.
4. Review guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for travelers health in your destination.

In addition to your own personal planning, the Office of International Education provides a variety of resources related to your health and safety abroad: 

Insurance

The University of Wisconsin System mandates that all University of Wisconsin students studying/traveling abroad under a UW sponsored program or abroad experience must be enrolled in health insurance through the University's provider, Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). The policy has provisions for medical coverage, emergency evacuation and repatriation. Students may also want to consider purchasing trip cancellation and/or trip interruption insurance. More information about insurance can be found here.

Travel Advisories

The U.S. Department of State issues Travel Advisories to provide information about the relative safety of traveling to various international destinations. Learn more about travel advisories, and UWRF policy related to travel advisories here.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

All students participating in a UWRF education abroad program are enrolled by the Office of International Education in the U.S. Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The STEP service allows U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate of their destination. The students will receive updated information and travel alerts from the STEP program should a global situation trigger such information. In addition to students' enrollment by the Office of International Education for their official program location and dates, students are encouraged to personally register any additional travel they may undertake outside official program dates, or beyond the official program location. Registration can be completed here.

Campus Safety

Each year UWRF compiles an annual Security and Fire Safety Report to keep you informed about safety on our campus, including our campus locations abroad.