International Travel Checklist for Students

Review the UNC-Chapel Hill Travel Policy. In our increasingly connected and complex world, the risks of international travel are unavoidable. All students must comply with official UNC Policy Concerning Study, Travel and Research in Countries Under State Department Warnings and CDC Travel Notices
Review the Study, Travel and Research in Countries under US State Department Warnings webpage to determine the risk level of the country you intend to travel to for academic purposes. This list is based on the  US State Department and CDC travel warning lists.
Register all international travel through UNC Global Travel Registry. All public health students traveling abroad will be required to register their university-related trips in the online travel registry through the UNC Global Travel Registry. This will involve all students on formal university-related travel, including study abroad, exchange programs, internships, service programs and research projects. Please remember to mark your trip affiliation with the Gillings School of Global Public Health when registering your travel.
Obtain Medical Evaluation Insurance. All UNC students must have medical evacuation insurance. As a UNC student, you must purchase this insurance through the UNC Office of Risk Management -Janet Hoernke is the contact at the Study Abroad Office for this policy (janet_hoernke@unc.edu).
Complete an original, singed General Travel Waiver: All public health students must submit an original, singed general travel waiver (open pdf file) to the Office of Student Affairs(263 Roseanu), if traveling internationally for academic purposes (including work with student organizations).
 
For further information about these UNC travel requirements please contact global@unc.edu

Other International Travel Information That May Be Useful

Health and Safety Information 

• Passport Information- Info about obtaining and renewing passport. Also, each fall UNC Global hosta a Passport Drive. Watch the UNC Global Events calendar.
  
• Register with US Embassy. Students are encouraged to register with the US Embassy in the destination county. Register Online.
  
• Campus Health Services: International Travel Clinic. You can get vaccines here. Schedule your appointment now!
• Students are not required to use the UNC Travel Clinic. If you have your own doctor, feel free to get your necessary vaccinations through him/her.
  
• Check the CDC travel website for more information about which vaccines you may need. Students can get vaccines through Student Health on campus, and if they do this, then they must also attend the Travel Clinic. Contact Student Health for more information. Otherwise you can get your vaccines from your own healthcare provider.
• The State Department International Travel website and the site specifically for students who are traveling abroad both have useful information on country-specific information, including information about visas, entry requirements, safety, medical facilities, etc. We encourage you to familiarize yourselves as much as possible with the country you are traveling to.
• View a safety presentation (pdf file) created by the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID) to provide tips on ways to stay safe while traveling internationally. Additional information can be found here.
  
• The UNC Study Abroad Office also offers advice on how to stay safe while traveling.

Research Ethics Overseas

Suggestions of what to take when you take off

(from UNC students who have done their practica abroad)

Please also visit the Transport Security Administration(TSA) to see what items are prohibited.

small flashlight batteries conservative pants, skirts and shirts travel size toiletry kit vitamins kitchen wipes / hand sanitizer plug and voltage adapters sink/drain stop small quick dry travel towel small container of dry laundry detergent used books that you can leave behind gifts for hosts, co-workers, etc. pillowcase sleep sheet ziplock bags to keep things dry refillable, sturdy water bottle iodine or other water purification tabs if you think water quality will be an issue a spoon med kit with all the normal stuff plus packets of gatorade in case you are dehydrated spare medication in case a bag gets lost or stolen (e.g., birth control pills, cold medicine, pain reliever, etc.) spare eye glasses or contacts or perhaps a copy of your prescription good walking shoes sunglasses hat for keeping out of the sun sunblock travel clock camera money belt for hiding money and passport underneath clothing tampons (sometimes hard to find depending on where you're going) stick/lotion all purpose piece of fabric (which can be a towel, blanket, sheet, pillow, skirt, curtain, etc.) clothes that dry quickly photocopies of all important documents (passport, credit cards, etc.) a 'lonely planet' guide for wherever you are going language dictionary if you suspect no one will speak your language maps of the area where you are going good backpack, not a suitcase smaller backpack for day trips and overnighters traveler's checks if ATM's or credit cards wont be available/accepted if you anticipate that internet service will be available where you are going, email important documents to yourself for safe keeping. keep copies of your address book, scanned documents like passport photo page, my CV, flight info, reference materials, etc. in my inbox for access anywhere in the world where there is an internet cafe. Thanks to Katie Drasser (MSPH '06) and Frances Tain (MPH '06) for these suggestions!

Health education class in Honduras.       Constructing a water system in Peru.       Nurses in Malawi.

Safe Travels!