Summer Abroad

Pre-Departure

Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing in order to participate in summer programs. While abroad, students are subject to the local laws in their host country, which vary widely worldwide. Any illegal or unacceptable behavior may result in BC disciplinary action upon return to campus. The OGE and on-site staff also reserve the right to dismiss students from the program if necessary.

Health & Safety

Diversity & Inclusion

Summer Abroad Handbook

Summer 2025

Pre-Departure Overview

In order to make the most of their experience, students are expected to:

Educate themselves about and fully immerse themselves into their host country’s culture
Serve as exemplary BC and US ambassadors by taking full responsibility for their personal conduct and academic performance
Learn and obey local laws and customs
Maximize personal safety by taking reasonable precautions, safeguarding belongings, and keeping emergency contact information on hand
Disclose any existing physical or psychological conditions to their OGE advisor to ensure a safe and healthy experience abroad
Consider host country culture, attitudes, and laws regarding personal relationships, sexuality, race, religion, and gender
Carefully review all program materials and respond to communications from the OGE, on-site staff, and faculty leader in a timely manner

To study abroad, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your US return date. Visa requirements and processes vary by country and length of stay. The OGE will provide general information for each program, but students are responsible for securing their own visas when required by the host country.

Non-US citizens may have different requirements, and these students are responsible for reviewing and complying with their host country's visa regulations. The OGE will provide an official letter verifying student participation in a summer program if required in order to secure a visa.

If you have a physical or psychological condition that requires ongoing treatment, it is strongly recommended that you notify the OGE prior to departure and consult your physician or counselor to ensure that you have the resources and support you may need while abroad.

Students are strongly encouraged to have medical and dental exams prior to departure and to verify that all vaccinations are current. Certain countries may also require or recommend additional vaccinations prior to departure. For further information on recommended vaccines for your specific country, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

The OGE registers all summer program participants for international health insurance with International SOS (ISOS) Medical and Security Services for the duration of their time abroad. For more information, please visit the BC Participant Plan Guide.

Attitudes, customs, laws, facilities, and social practices relating to various populations may be different than in the US. Some countries are very progressive, while others are far more conservative. To prepare for cultural differences, students are encouraged to research their host country and speak with others who have traveled there. Students will be subject to their host country’s laws, even if these may be considered discriminatory. Do not hesitate to contact your OGE advisor if you have any questions or concerns. All matters will be kept confidential.

Attendance at a general pre-departure orientation session (in April) as well as a program-specific meeting is mandatory for all students.

All students are expected to review the OGE Summer Handbook prior to departure for detailed information on travel preparations and resources/expectations while abroad.

Health & Wellbeing

Boston College Travel Health & Safety Support
For urgent medical needs, BC works with Zurich American Insurance Company and ISOS to ensure seamless assistance. Boston College partners with International SOS (ISOS) to provide 24/7 medical, security, and emergency support for students abroad.

Coverage Info
The Boston College Study Abroad Insurance plan underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company applies to all BC summer faculty-led and internship programs, and all semester & academic year programs starting in the academic year 2025–26.

The BC plan includes Political and Natural Disaster evacuation services. General policy exclusions apply. Program coverage dates vary by program. Prior to traveling, please review the plan summary and coverage details, including plan benefits and general exclusions.

How to Access Services
Call ISOS at +1 215-942-8478 or use the ISOS Assistance App for support, insurance coordination, real-time alerts, and travel planning tools.

How to Access Services:

Call ISOS at +1 215-942-8478 or use the ISOS Assistance App for support, insurance coordination, real-time alerts, and travel planning tools.

Get Started:

Download the ISOS Assistance App (App Store/Google Play)
Enable GPS and alerts
Log in to the ISOS Portal with your BC credentials
If you are a faculty member, go to the Global Engagement Gateway

The Boston College Study Abroad Insurance policy is in effect for all students studying abroad on BC semester and summer programs, including all external programs, and cannot be waived.

Study Abroad Insurance does not replace required medical insurance within the United States. It provides International ISOS medical services and assistance outside the U.S. Please note that certain countries may have additional requirements.

Students remain registered at the University while they study abroad and are, for this reason, expected also to maintain their U.S. domestic insurance coverage, adhering to federal law. Information regarding domestic insurance waivers is available via the Office of Student Services.

Students traveling abroad before the start of their program, or those who wish to remain abroad after the program ends, have the option to extend their ISOS coverage. For insurance enrollment outside of the program dates, please refer to the leisure coverage self-enrollment form. Please note that the BC Study Abroad Insurance plan already provides a buffer of up to 14 days prior to and after offical program dates at no additional cost to students.

Additional Boston College Resources

In an Emergency

In a medical emergency abroad, go to the nearest physician or hospital without delay and then contact International SOS Medical and Security Services at: +1 215-942-8478.

In the event of an emergency, public health or political crisis, or natural disaster in a city or country in which the OGE currently has a program in session, OGE staff will be in close contact with our on-site colleagues, students, and emergency contacts as necessary. Our staff will also be in contact with our international exchange students regarding events that occur in their home countries.

Emergency Response

The Emergency Response Preparedness Guidelines were designed to help students prepare for and respond to emergency incidents that may that occur overseas. If you encounter an emergency abroad such as a natural disaster, severe illness or injury, physical or sexual assault, or political disturbance, you should:

Contact on-site staff immediately
Contact the OGE at +1 617-552-3827 during business hours (Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm EST) or the Boston College Police Department (BCPD) if outside of business hours at +1 617-552-4444. BCPD is available 24 hours/day and will contact the appropriate university personnel to assist you.
Contact your family in the US/abroad

Sexual Assault

Boston College takes all reports of sexual misconduct and discrimination very seriously, regardless of where such incidents occur. Cultural norms may mean that actions are interpreted differently in other countries. Regardless of these norms, you are encouraged to utilize BC support resources and report any incident of harassment or sexual violence.

The OGE works closely with BC’s Title IX Coordinator to ensure survivors receive the privacy and support they need both overseas and upon their return to campus. In the case of an incident of sexual assault, get to a safe place, seek medical care if necessary, and take time to decide how you wish to proceed, i.e. reporting the incident to the local authorities, reaching out to BC, or speaking with someone you trust. Your resident director and faculty program leader are always available as a resource, and you should not hesitate to contact the OGE directly as needed.

Any student who is a victim of sexual assault is strongly encouraged to utilize the services of the Sexual Assault Network at Boston College, a 24-hour/7-days-a-week private and anonymous resource that is staffed by advocates who are trained to listen, provide options, and support the survivor. SANet resources are available to you while overseas and when you return to campus. Call +1(617) 552-BC11 (2211) for assistance.

Safety Abroad

We care deeply about events that occur throughout the world, including those that may impact our students abroad, international exchange students currently studying at BC, and our extended university community. In the event of an emergency, political crisis, or natural disaster in a city or country in which the OGE currently has a program in session, OGE staff will be in close contact with our on-site colleagues, students, and emergency contacts as necessary. Our staff will also be in contact with our international exchange students regarding events that occur in their home countries.

The Office of Global Engagement monitors a variety of sources on international safety and security on a daily basis, including the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), OSAC, local media, peer universities, as well as updates from on-site staff around the world. We recommend that students also stay informed. Under the current DoS system, every country has a travel advisory providing levels of advice from 1-4. The CDC has a Travel Health Notice system, also with a four-level scale. In the event of a severe natural or political disaster abroad, BC has an evacuation plan in place. The OGE operates programs in countries with an active DoS Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory on a case-by-case basis; if we do have a program in a country with an active Level 3 advisory, students will need to complete additional requirements to be cleared for departure.

The OGE operates programs in countries with an active DoS Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory on a case-by-case basis; if we do have a program in a country with an active Level 3 advisory, students will need to complete additional requirements to be cleared for departure.

Boston College undergraduate students are typically not permitted to travel to DoS Level 4 countries (Do Not Travel), as well as locations under a CDC Travel Health Notice Level 3 (Avoid Non-essential Travel), or CDC Travel Health Notice Level 4 (Avoid All Travel).

Students should also be aware of countries with varying levels of advice that apply to specific locations or areas within a country. Higher-risk areas designated by the DoS within Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 countries (as seen on the map) are to be strictly avoided. Conditions in any country may change rapidly and at any time. The DoS Travel Advisories also provide clear reasons for assigned levels, using established risk indicators, and offer specific advice to U.S. citizens who choose to travel there, such as Crime, Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Health, Natural Disaster, Time-Limited Event, Kidnapping and/or Hostage Taking, Wrongful Detention and Other.

Please be sure to thoroughly acquaint yourself with the advisory for the country you plan to study in, as well as any other countries you plan to visit. Note that non-program related travel is only encouraged before or after official program dates and that Boston College does not take responsibility for students who choose to travel independently outside their designated program dates.

AlertTraveler offers a world of up-to-date country and city travel intelligence in your pocket, including location safety scores and practical information. Keep up to date with timely alerts based on your GPS location, the travel itinerary you submitted to your institution, and by creating opt-in subscriptions.

Among its many features, AlertTraveler allows you to: