Go Global - Health and Safety

It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with all Health and Safety regulations that apply to your place of work or study while you are abroad. For more information on your specific destination visit: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

SafeZone: Swansea University provides a free app service to help give around-the-clock safety reassurance to students both at home and abroad. SafeZone is a simple-to-use application that’s free to download. It’s designed to help students summon security or safety assistance via their mobile phones. This will also allow students to call the emergency services of the country they are visiting. 

1. Go to www.safezoneapp.com and follow  the instructions for your device.
2. Once you have downloaded the free app, enter your email address, select Swansea University, then follow the on-screen instructions.

Global Risk Manager: Before you travel you should download the GlobalRiskManager app for travel advice, security information and to receive alerts for any incidents occurring in your destination country or region. Alerts can be configured by country, proximity, severity and/or category to ensure that you receive the alerts that you need. Make sure that the app used is the black one.

• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dc.globalriskmanager&hl=en_GB
• https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/globalriskmanager/id1251926213?mt=8

Any international opportunity due to be undertaken by students is subject to Swansea University’s international travel approval process, which is defined in the University’s International Travel Policy (https://myuni.swansea.ac.uk/living-in-swansea/health-and-safety/undergraduates/policies-and-procedures/#international-travel=is-expanded). Ideally, students should not make any financial commitment to an international opportunity (for example, book any travel or accommodation) until your travel plans have been approved however this may not always be possible. Any financial commitments made prior to full approval of your time abroad will be at your own risk. You will be liable for these costs in the event you cannot participate. 

Year and Semester Abroad 25/26 participants

COMPLETED FORMS TO BE SENT TO YOUR FACULTY. FURTHER DETAILS BELOW.

Information about the travel approval process is available on the university’s health and safety webpages – it is important you review all guidance. We have also provided a useful overview video which all students must watch before starting the process

The steps for year and semester abroad participants to follow are:

1. Watch the Year and Semester Abroad Travel Approval Overview video (Passcode: RzD9+bD8)
2. Complete the online Crisis24 training module
3. Complete the Request to Travel form
4. Determine the risk rating of your planned destination and any transit countries if applicable (green, amber or red).
5. Complete the relevant International Risk Assessment form concerning your destination and any transit countries
6. Complete the Health Declaration Form
7. Submit all forms, plus evidence of your training to your Faculty

• Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences: i.reppa@swansea.ac.uk
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: FHSS-International-Travel@swansea.ac.uk
• Faculty of Science and Engineering: fse-exec@swansea.ac.uk - deadline 10^th June at 10am

Summer 2025 programme participants

COMPLETED FORMS TO BE SENT TO THE GO GLOBAL TEAM - studyabroad@swansea.ac.uk 

Information about the travel approval process is available on the university’s health and safety webpages – it is important you review all guidance. We have also provided useful guidance videos which all students must watch before starting the process.

The initial steps for all participants to follow are:

1. Watch the Summer Programme Travel Approval Overview video (Passcode: pFpA76%.)
2. Complete the online Crisis24 training module
3. Complete the Request to Travel form
4. Determine the risk rating of your planned destination and any transit countries if applicable (green, amber or red)

Next steps:

If your planned destination and transit countries (if applicable) are categorised as green…

1. Watch the Summer Programme Green Risk Assessment video (Passcode: sy^T0K.3)
2. Complete the green International Risk Assessment form
   

If your planned destination or transit countries (if applicable) are categorised as amber or red...

1. Watch the relevant programme provider video. 
   • Travelteer Sri Lanka - information video (passcode: T1$mt?x3)
   • Travelteer Nepal - information video (passcode: F4.!ibFU)
   • Think Pacific Bali - information video (passcode: 3tn%6@SC)
   • Think Pacific Fiji - information video (passcode: 6qynf%%s)
   • Challenges Abroad Peru and Tanzania - information video (Passcode: 2SC6YA@%)
   • Challenges Abroad India and Cambodia - information video (Passcode: NK8KrkD#)
2. Complete the amber or red International Risk Assessment form
   
   

Final steps for summer programme participants:

• Complete the Health Declaration form
• Send your completed documents together to studyabroad@swansea.ac.uk for review

Useful sources of information include:

• Swansea University Health and Safety webpages- copies of the relevant forms can be found here

• FCDO Travel Advice webpages

• Crisis 24 portal

• SafeZone App

• Risk Monitor Traveller 

Swansea University has a Personal Accident and Travel Insurance Policy that provides cover for students during their Year Abroad, Semester Abroad or Summer/ Short Programme. There is no charge for this insurance cover. Details of the cover are available on the following webpage: Insurance Information - Swansea University 

It is your responsibility to check the above policy is suitable for your needs. Be prepared to purchase additional Health Care Cover as required by your host university. This is compulsory in the USA, Canada, Australia and increasingly in many other countries.

If you have a medical emergency whilst abroad and need assistance through the travel insurance described above, you or someone on your behalf must contact Global Response who will assist further. Contact information is provided in the travel insurance policy. Failure to do so may make the above Travel Insurance cover null and void. 

If you have an on-going medical condition make sure that you have a letter from your GP/hospital that states you are fit to travel, and also always take a list of the medication that you need with you. You will need to declare any health conditions and allergies as part of the travel approval process. In addition to discussing any conditions with your GP, useful information is available online https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-take-my-medicine-abroad/ 

Prescriptions and Medication: If you are prescribed any regular medication, discuss the process of continuing your prescription abroad with your GP before you depart. Remember that medication, trade names and dosage levels may vary abroad. Consider taking translated copies of any important health documentation. If you need to take a large amount of medication with you, you are advised to ask your GP to provide a description of the medication.

Vaccinations and Immunisations: You are responsible for ensuring you receive all the necessary vaccinations required for your destination. Your host university may also require you to have certain immunisations. More information is available via: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice 

Medical Certificate: This is a requirement for entry in some countries and may be necessary as part of the application to your host university or organisation. 

Additional support: If you require additional support to undertake your period abroad, please be sure to contact the relevant service here at Swansea University well in advance of your travels. You may wish to contact the Wellbeing and Disability Service on campus.