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Pre-Departure and Preparation 

First, read up on your host country on the to understand local health issues, diseases, and recommended vaccinations. 

º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ’s Health Services offers travel consultations for students studying off-campus. Students should make an appointment particularly if they have personal health needs that may require additional attention in a new country or if they are traveling to a country that may pose higher health risks. Health Services can also complete program/university medical forms and visa-related medical forms. Be sure to schedule the appropriate appointment well ahead of a form’s due date. 

If you have chronic medical problems or conditions, visit a primary care physician to discuss your care and needs while away. If you have significant allergies or chronic medical needs, consider a MedicAlert bracelet. If a regular health-care visit will be due while you are away (e.g., an eye exam, dental exam, or OBGYN appointment, you may want to take care of it before you depart. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, travel with the written prescription, and consider bringing an extra pair. Depending on the country, you may also want to bring some over-the-counter items (e.g., pain relievers, nausea medicine, feminine hygiene products, COVID-19 tests) which can be expensive or harder to find elsewhere. 

If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, learn how to communicate them in the local language and in a culturally sensitive way. Take note of food and water precautions recommended by the . 

Accessing Care 

Programs/universities will provide information about on-the-ground healthcare services available to students. If you need to see a doctor, you should contact your program/university for recommendations, lists of contacts, and if you have program insurance, how your doctor’s visit will interact with your program medical insurance (see the Medical Insurance section below for more information). 

Parents may want to consider obtaining power of attorney and HIPAA and FERPA releases in order to make medical decisions for a child overseas in case an emergency arises. 

If you are currently seeing a therapist, speaking with your program/university about what therapy services will be available to you locally. Do not discontinue any prescription medication that you may be taking for mental health conditions; plan ahead with your care team at home and your program/university abroad for how you can take the medication you need while abroad. 

Additionally, º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ students retain access to remote counseling services while abroad. There is free access to crisis management and short-term counseling via text chats, phone calls, and video sessions, as well as a host of online educational and coping resources. This service is good for short-term counseling and is free and confidential.  

Sexual Health

If you are sexually active, it is important to understand how to maintain positive sexual health in your host country and where to obtain resources and supplies. Depending on how you identify, you may want to consider:

• What are the supplies available for safe sex in my host country?
• What are the supplies available for pregnancy prevention (e.g., prescriptions, Plan B, condoms, pregnancy tests) in my host country?
• Where will I go for the supplies I need?
• Where can I get tested for STDs?

Bring sufficient prescription medication for your entire time away; your primary care physician can help you get a waiver from the insurance company to obtain more than the usual one-month supply. Carry prescription medication in its original container and have a copy of the written prescription that gives the drug’s generic, not U.S. brand, name. Some countries restrict the importation or supply of certain medications commonly prescribed in the U.S., so be sure to check with the consulate or embassy. This is a helpful resource. If you take such a controlled medication, it will help to bring a copy of your medical records and a doctor’s note in case you need to seek a prescription in the host country. Do not mail any kind of medicine. The Health Center can advise on birth control pills, emergency contraceptives, and the use of condoms in preventing STDs (see Sexual Health Abroad section below). 

Additional Considerations for Psychiatric Medications

You should check if the medication you are taking is allowed in the country you will be studying in, and you should check if your program/university provides psychiatry or medication management. This is particularly important if you anticipate needing to adjust your current medications while away.

If you are studying away in the fall:

• You will need to find a provider who can meet with you over the summer and prescribe you a six-month supply of your medication. A primary care office can often do this, but an appointment needs to be made well in advance.
• º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ does not provide psychiatric services over the summer and a six-month prescription cannot be given if you have not been seen within three months by your local provider. Often, a letter from º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ Counseling Services that confirms the medications you are taking will be required. Please request this letter before summer break.

If you are studying away in the spring:

• If you have º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ Health Insurance; call Pharmacy Member Services one month prior to departure to request authorization for a six-month supply of medication.
• If you have private insurance, contact your insurance provider one month prior to departure to request authorization for a six-month supply of medication.

Country Resources

You should learn more about your host country by reviewing the resources at the , U.S. State Department. Of particular interest is to search for a particular country to read issued by the U.S. State Department. Please note that any student that travels to a country with a level 3 advisory level will be required to sign (together with a guardian) a waiver. Finally, prior to departing for your study abroad experience, we encourage you to register your abroad experience with (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). This is a free service provided by the State Department so that U.S. citizens and others can be better supported in an emergency. Citizens of other countries may reach out to their respective countries’ consular services for a similar service.

Program/University Resources

Students should resist viewing what is strange or new as inevitably dangerous or hostile, but it will take time for a student to be able to interpret signs of danger in an unfamiliar country. During on-site orientations, students will likely learn about potential hazards in the local context and how to avoid or navigate them.

Students studying abroad through a program provider will receive information about safety measures, likely including a 24/7 contact number to call should an unsafe situation arise. In the event of an international or local emergency, if the program’s sources indicate that students’ safety is likely to be threatened, they will take whatever measures they decide to be necessary and prudent, including cancellation, relocation, or even evacuation in the most extreme circumstances.

Students enrolling directly in an international university will rely on the visiting students’ office at the host institution to provide information about safety. Students may need to more vigilant about current events on-site.

Emergency Plans

First, memorize local emergency contact numbers for your program/university and your host country (remember: 911 isn’t the emergency number in other countries), as well as the local consulate/embassy. That said, your program/university staff will likely be the first point of contact for you as you navigate the situation.

Then, compile an emergency action plan. Keep it safe along with other items that you would need in an emergency and share a copy with your emergency contacts at home.

At the start of your term abroad, review the emergency procedures to be followed in the event of fire, earthquake, civil unrest, or terrorist attack. There will probably be emergency phone numbers, and perhaps a common assembly point if it is impossible or unsafe to meet at a central study center/office; keep the numbers handy in your wallet. Programs will likely require you to have a cell phone so that they can reach you quickly in an emergency. In such circumstances, you are unlikely to need to contact º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ’s Office of the Dean of Students or the OCS Office right away, but a dean is always on call if you need follow-up assistance or advice. Given time differences, you can always call º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ Security at 207-725-3500.

General Precautions

• Learn key phrases in the local language that could help you in an emergency.
• Americans and/or U.S. college students can be seen as wealthy (even if they are not) and, therefore, can be a target for robbery, and as representatives of U.S. foreign policy and a target for retaliation (no matter an individual’s views).
• Be cognizant of what you wear (avoid obviously American clothing and display of expensive electronics), and how you act in public. Speak the local language as much as possible, and avoid tourist or ex-pat hangouts.
• Stay away from political demonstrations and local protests.
• Finally, be especially careful about alcohol use. Most safety incidents that students have while studying abroad, especially accidental injuries and brushes with crime, occur in conjunction with unsafe drinking.
• When you go out, bring no more money or credit/ATM cards than you will need. A wallet or passport in a backpack is vulnerable to theft in crowded places. If you do not need valuables with you, store them in a safe place. Leave expensive watches or jewelry in the U.S.
• Before you leave, photocopy or scan your passport’s photo and data pages and other important cards. Keep copies separate from the originals and other valuables.
• You are strongly advised not to drive a car while abroad. For information on traffic-related safety conditions, including bus safety, in countries abroad, consult the A.

Identity-based Safety

• Review the Diversity and Identity page for country- and identity-specific resources as you considering your own identities and prepare for your time away.
• In particular, be aware that cultural norms related to gender and sexuality vary widely. Behaviors that are perfectly acceptable in one culture might be highly inappropriate, or even illegal, in another. For example, most Americans think that men and women can have non-sexual relationships with one another — they can be friends and companions without being physically intimate. In some other cultures, people believe it is difficult or impossible for such relationships to exist. Educate yourself about gender and sexuality norms and laws in your host country and be mindful of how behavior that could be unremarkable at º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ might be interpreted in a different cultural context. Be extra-cautious regarding nightlife and the consumption of alcohol until you are familiar with the culture and city.

In the case that you, or someone you know, has been assaulted, there are several different resources available both abroad, and at º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ. Your safety, health and well-being are extremely important. You should follow the in-case-of-emergency guidelines provided by on-site staff.

• Your program’s staff or your university’s visiting student staff and can be good resources to give you support while in your host country. (You may want to ask the on-site staff about local resources that can provide area specific information about sexual health.)
• Whether you are a survivor of sexual assault, or a friend of a survivor, º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ is committed to providing resources and foster healing for all students while abroad and back on campus. If you are interested in learning more about support, options, preventing gender violence, or understanding any part of the process of recovery, healing, or navigating the experience of sexual assault, reach out to Rachel Reinke, Director of Gender Violence Prevention and Education, at rreinke@bowdoin.edu at any time.
• Students are encouraged to reach out to any of the Confidential Resources* on campus including the Counseling Center for support in dealing with an assault. (*These are resources that do not connect to the Title IX office.) They can provide support and help you navigate campus services and options. They include:
  • Katy Stern, kstern@bowdoin.edu
  • Rachel Reinke, rreinke@bowdoin.edu
  • Health Services, healthservices@bowdoin.edu
  • Counseling Services, counseling@bowdoin.edu or +1 (207) 725-3145. Any appointment or referral discussion is confidential.
• If you would like to report an incident of gender-based violence experienced or witnessed by you or someone you know, you can do so anonymously using the . Reporters may remain anonymous through the online form.
• You can also connect with Bowdon’s Title IX Coordinator, Katherine O’Grady, via phone +1 (207) 725-3493) or email (kogrady@bowdoin.edu) to make a report or to understand the reporting process.

Medical Insurance

All º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ students must be enrolled in a health insurance plan while studying off-campus. OCS students will be automatically enrolled in the º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ Student Health Insurance Plan and a charge will remain on your student’s bill. To learn more about study away coverage through º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ, please refer to this site. Students may waive º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ coverage if they have comparable coverage for both emergency and non-emergency services. If insured by a family or a private insurance plan, be sure you have sufficient health and accident insurance, including travel before and after your program/university semester. Students’ needs and preferences for insurance depend on the location and facilities of their program and host country, and whether they are covered by the º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ plan, family insurance, program insurance, and optional supplementary insurance. Families may choose to maintain private insurance or purchase the study away program’s insurance in addition to the º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ plan; in such cases, º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ’s plan will be secondary to any other insurance plan.

WorldRisk Emergency Assistance

In case of an emergency, please refer here. In addition, the College issues all students, regardless of citizenship, a Travel Guard WorldRisk Assistance Card. This is not a physical card so much as a service and resource. If you are traveling abroad and experience an emergency, resources are available to assist you. Recommended steps are:

• Contact your local program/university;
• Contact your local police for immediate assistance;
• Students are to call AIG WorldRisk when they are traveling outside of the USA and Canada on a º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ trip or study away program and they need help with services such as:
  • medical assistance and travel medical emergency services
  • legal assistance
  • lost baggage or lost passport
  • insurance coordination
  • medical or political or natural disaster evacuation

While overseas, you are subject to the laws of your host country, without the protections of American law and legal procedure. This applies to everything from drug possession and alcohol laws to currency exchanges, dress codes, drunk driving, and more, of which the penalties may be severe. If you are arrested, the U.S. Embassy (or that of your country, if you are not a U.S. citizen) can only notify your family and help arrange for legal representation within the laws of the host country. Your program and home college cannot extricate you.