Your health and safety are our top priorities. Before you go abroad, we help you prepare through advising sessions, Study Abroad 101, and a Pre-departure Orientation. These resources cover important topics like health and wellness, cultural adjustment, and available academic and social support.
Staying well abroad
International health insurance
In addition to domestic coverage, all students must be enrolled in international health insurance while abroad. Clark Study Abroad partners with GeoBlue Travel Insurance for any student not already covered by a program plan.
You should also familiarize yourself with the Clark University Risk Management resources, including the Clark University International Travel Policy, emergency procedures and health insurance policies.
Mental health resources
While studying abroad provides participants with meaningful opportunities to get out of their comfort zone and gain a new world view, you may feel challenged in ways that you didn’t expect. CPG will still be able to assist you, even while while abroad. You will also have access to UWill, a service that provides telephone mental health support by professional therapists when CPG is not open. UWill is available to students 24/7, regardless of students’ physical location, offering mental health support and virtual counseling. Students can access UWill by going to app.uwill.com.
Please note, students must update their location on the app to where they currently are to find available clinicians.
We encourage you to be aware of the following resources for how to prepare for social-emotional issues that may arise.
Clark University Center for Counseling and Personal Growth
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.
