Your program will provide you with specific visa and arrival and departure information as soon as possible.
Once you have your flight information, you must submit a flight form to the Study Abroad Office.
Book your flight
- Wait to hear from your program regarding your exact arrival and departure dates before booking a flight or personal travel.
- Your program may offer travel recommendations or you may choose to book your flights independently. Some visas require that you have a round-trip ticket. Know and understand your selected airline’s costs and procedures for changing your flight.
- Make a plan for your arrival in the country. Secure any necessary transportation ahead of time, if possible, and decide whom to contact back home to let them know you arrived safely.
- Early departure from the program is not generally permitted and students are expected to attend all classes, excursions, and final exams.
Travel safety
Safety tips
- Create a written communication plan. Discuss how you and your family will address any emergencies. Your plan should include how to get in contact, methods of communication to use, and how to use them depending on the time of day or week. Make a small card with your emergency contact information to carry in your wallet.
- We encourage all students to practice strong digital hygiene while abroad. This includes using secure passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious when accessing personal accounts on public or shared networks.
- We recommend you and your family each keeps a back-up file of critical information while away. This includes: contact information, contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate closest to the program, insurance policy information, copies of your passport, flight information, medical history (immunizations, prescription medications), and copies of credit card numbers.
- Keep everyone informed. Make sure the program, foreign university international student office, host family and your family back home are aware of any independent travel plans and expected return date. Consider providing your program, family members, and host family with an itinerary and emergency contact information.
- Orientation. Be sure to attend on-site orientation programs run by your program or foreign university. These sessions provide up-to-date, region specific information regarding health and safety.
- Make contact. Contact the program provider or host university directly to get up-to-date emergency and safety plans.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
Clark University recommends that you register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) on the U.S. State Department website, where you will find additional useful information for traveling abroad. If you are not a U.S. citizen, register with the Embassy/Consulate of your home country.
