Start researching your options and reach out to the study abroad office at the campus offering the program. If you plan to study abroad through another CUNY campus, be sure to follow up with a study abroad advisor at your home campus.
CUNY’s International Travel Guidelines requires coverage by a specific insurance policy that includes medical coverage abroad, medical and security evacuation, traveler assistance services, among other benefits. Although the required policy provides wide-ranging coverage, all policies contain exclusions, and pandemics and epidemics are excluded as reasons for security evacuation.
Please consult your study abroad office if you have questions about your coverage pertaining to a study abroad trip, or global@cuny.edu if you have questions about coverage for other types of international travel. Even if you are not participating in a CUNY-sponsored trip, in most cases students and faculty can use the policy required for CUNY program participants for travel with a connection to study or work at CUNY.
Before you go, read the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory and the CDC’s recommendations for your destination(s). Please note that:
If you are traveling on a non-CUNY program, be sure to register your travel in CUNY-GO, and if your program does not offer travel insurance, ask your study abroad office how to enroll in CUNY’s plan. It is also recommended that U.S. citizens and nationals sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which gives you access to updates and support in emergencies from the nearest consulate or embassy while you are traveling. (Students planning for-credit travel on a non-CUNY program should also make advance plans with their study abroad office to arrange for the transfer of credits and (if applicable) financial aid).
If you are traveling to a country affected by Zika or other mosquito-borne illnesses, please review these recommendations and bring any questions to your pre-departure orientation.
You may be asked to complete a medical exam before you leave to verify you are healthy enough to travel abroad. If you have any special health concerns, it is recommended that you confidentially disclose them to the program administrators so that they can assist you in case of emergency.
A pre-departure orientation is required for students studying abroad. You will learn how to prepare to travel and study abroad. You will learn about local customs and currency and be given advice about what to pack for your trip and how to stay safe while you are abroad. This is also your opportunity to have your questions answered.
You can never apply too early for a passport. It can take eight weeks to have your passport processed, so the sooner you apply, the better. Information on applying for and renewing your passport is available here. If you have a passport, make sure it is valid for at least six months after your program ends.
If you are traveling to a country that requires a visa, you will need to have your passport before you can apply for the visa. If you need a visa, your study abroad program will send you information on how to apply for it. Visa processing times vary from country to country and consulate to consulate, so advance planning is imperative. With some countries, non-U.S. citizens will need to plan well in advance to ensure enough time to obtain a visa.
CUNY is committed to protecting your privacy under all applicable law. If you are traveling to an EU country (or to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or the United Kingdom) engaged in CUNY activities, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may apply. Participants in CUNY Trips to any of these countries will be asked to review and sign CUNY’s Acknowledgement and Consent Regarding Data Protection.