Course pre-registration for Spring 2025 Barcelona programs has been rescheduled. All students will be informed of the new date soon.
Health & Safety Abroad
We Plan for "What Ifs"
With more than 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
Once you've been accepted to a program, more detailed health and safety tips unique to your study abroad location will be made available in your MyIESabroad account.
Leader in Health & Safety
In fact, we wrote the book on it.
Highly-Trained Global Staff
Our on-site staff are your go-to support for health and safety concerns.
24/7 Emergency Support
We provide training of all our staff to respond to crises abroad.
International Health Insurance
The policy is specially designed for students traveling internationally.
Your program fee includes international health insurance for the duration of your program. The policy is specially designed for students traveling internationally, and it includes coverage for physical and some mental health issues, counseling, medical and other forms of evacuation, a bed-side benefit for students hospitalized for more than a few days (which pays to fly family members to their bedside), and more.
Our on-site staff are your go-to support for health and safety concerns while you're abroad. As local residents, they're familiar with health care providers and local authorities and have established relationships with nearby U.S. consulates and embassies.
You will participate in a comprehensive mandatory orientation program that focuses on known health, safety, and security risks in your host city or region and how best to avoid or mitigate them.
During orientation, you'll be provided with detailed information and written materials that include resources such as city maps, local emergency numbers, and specific instructions regarding various health, safety, and security issues. You'll also be given a small card to carry with you at all times that contains the full contact information of the IES Abroad office and key on-site staff members, as well as the IES Abroad emergency phone number, and the equivalent of “911” to reach local police, fire, and other emergency services.
In order to help our staff members stay in touch with you in an emergency or crisis, you'll be required to have a cell phone that works where you will be studying abroad. By keeping your cell phone with you, charged, and turned on at all times, you'll be able to respond promptly to emergency calls, emails, and text messages from IES Abroad staff.
We provide thorough and ongoing training of our U.S.-based and on-site staff to proactively plan for, and respond to, emergencies and crises abroad. We have a dedicated Crisis Management Team made up of U.S. staff members, as well as on-site staff at every IES Abroad Center worldwide, who are on-call and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for emergencies and crises.
Crisis Management Plans & Protocols: IES Abroad maintains an extensive global crisis management plan and corresponding protocols. In addition, every IES Abroad Center around the world has its own tailored local crisis management plan.
Monitoring of Local & World Events: Members of the Crisis Management Team receive real-time safety and security alerts for all of our locations worldwide, consulting both private and governmental global security sources and experts.
Ongoing Communications: Should a serious event arise, we will consistently communicate all safety alerts with you, your parents, our Centers, and your home college/university throughout the process so you have the most up-to-date information.
Our on-site staff maintains close relationships with local police and governmental authorities, as well as with the local U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Additionally, should you need to see a medical or mental health professional, our on-site staff will connect you with an English-speaking health care provider. When it comes to your health, we don't want the details to get lost in translation.
When traveling independently, we require that you inform on-site IES Abroad staff of your specific travel plans before leaving through our TripTracker system. This system is designed to help on-site IES Abroad staff locate traveling students swiftly in a crisis or emergency.
We conduct a mandatory crisis management drill at each Center at the beginning of every term. The primary purposes of these drills are to educate you and your peers on our system for reaching you swiftly in an emergency or crisis, to test how long it takes for all students to respond, and to verify the accuracy of the cell phone number our staff has on file for you.
Any students who fail to respond or are slow to respond are counseled by our on-site staff regarding the rationale underlying the drill and the reasons it is important for them to respond promptly.
Your program fee includes international health insurance for the duration of your program. The policy is specially designed for students traveling internationally, and it includes coverage for physical and some mental health issues, counseling, medical and other forms of evacuation, a bed-side benefit for students hospitalized for more than a few days (which pays to fly family members to their bedside), and more.
We provide thorough and ongoing training of our U.S.-based and on-site staff to proactively plan for, and respond to, emergencies and crises abroad. We have a dedicated Crisis Management Team made up of U.S. staff members, as well as on-site staff at every IES Abroad Center worldwide, who are on-call and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for emergencies and crises.
Crisis Management Plans & Protocols: IES Abroad maintains an extensive global crisis management plan and corresponding protocols. In addition, every IES Abroad Center around the world has its own tailored local crisis management plan.
Monitoring of Local & World Events: Members of the Crisis Management Team receive real-time safety and security alerts for all of our locations worldwide, consulting both private and governmental global security sources and experts.
Ongoing Communications: Should a serious event arise, we will consistently communicate all safety alerts with you, your parents, our Centers, and your home college/university throughout the process so you have the most up-to-date information.
Our on-site staff are your go-to support for health and safety concerns while you're abroad. As local residents, they're familiar with health care providers and local authorities and have established relationships with nearby U.S. consulates and embassies.
Our on-site staff maintains close relationships with local police and governmental authorities, as well as with the local U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Additionally, should you need to see a medical or mental health professional, our on-site staff will connect you with an English-speaking health care provider. When it comes to your health, we don't want the details to get lost in translation.
You will participate in a comprehensive mandatory orientation program that focuses on known health, safety, and security risks in your host city or region and how best to avoid or mitigate them.
During orientation, you'll be provided with detailed information and written materials that include resources such as city maps, local emergency numbers, and specific instructions regarding various health, safety, and security issues. You'll also be given a small card to carry with you at all times that contains the full contact information of the IES Abroad office and key on-site staff members, as well as the IES Abroad emergency phone number, and the equivalent of “911” to reach local police, fire, and other emergency services.
When traveling independently, we require that you inform on-site IES Abroad staff of your specific travel plans before leaving through our TripTracker system. This system is designed to help on-site IES Abroad staff locate traveling students swiftly in a crisis or emergency.
In order to help our staff members stay in touch with you in an emergency or crisis, you'll be required to have a cell phone that works where you will be studying abroad. By keeping your cell phone with you, charged, and turned on at all times, you'll be able to respond promptly to emergency calls, emails, and text messages from IES Abroad staff.
We conduct a mandatory crisis management drill at each Center at the beginning of every term. The primary purposes of these drills are to educate you and your peers on our system for reaching you swiftly in an emergency or crisis, to test how long it takes for all students to respond, and to verify the accuracy of the cell phone number our staff has on file for you.
Any students who fail to respond or are slow to respond are counseled by our on-site staff regarding the rationale underlying the drill and the reasons it is important for them to respond promptly.
“Because I used the resources available to me through my home university, IES Abroad, and the Berlin-specific program, I feel confident, excited, and prepared to start this new experience. Armed with a lengthy pre-departure guide, an updated accommodations list, and a soon to be very full suitcase, I can’t wait to head to Berlin!”
Tal P. • Brandeis University • Berlin Summer - Urban Studies & Culture
Alex S. • Bowdoin College
Your Health and Safety is Our Priority
Our staff at our headquarters as well as our centers abroad are extensively trained to think about you and your wellbeing abroad. From international health insurance to intense crisis response training to an unwavering commitment to your mental health, IES Abroad is synonumous with health and safety.
We’ve been known for our health and safety standards since long before the pandemic. In fact, we wrote the book on it: The IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Managment.
“Before even leaving home, I received phone calls from people [in Chicago and Paris] checking up on my mental health needs and medications. It was so thoughtful and personalized.”
Bridget A. • Gettysburg College • Paris
Refund Policy
A core philosophy of our health & safety procedures is that we plan for the what ifs so that you don't have to worry.
“Immersing yourself in the culture and living completely on your own makes you grow as a person. IES Abroad played a huge part in this. They took care of every aspect of living, health issues, etc. They support you in every way possible and my experience wouldn't have been as amazing without IES Abroad who made me feel safe every second.”
Kaylin C. • Penn State University • Sydney Direct Enrollment – University Of Sydney
We’re Here for You
Study abroad safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home. Check out our tips and resources for your journey.
