Health & Safety


Health & Safety

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Health and Vaccination Information

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Health Insurance

You must not study abroad without Health Insurance. You are eligible to use your Columbia Insurance while abroad, or you may waive out of Columbia insurance if your family plan meets the criteria set by Health Services.

  • Columbia University Health and Related Services.
  • International Student Identity Card (ISIC): This worthwhile and inexpensive identity card provides additional benefits to those traveling abroad.
  • International SOS:

    All Columbians who travel abroad for study, research, work projects or other university business, will be entitled to special emergency coverage through International SOS (ISOS). ISOS provides world-wide assistance in the event of an emergency that requires special evacuation and repatriation services or immediate medical intervention. Membership in the program will be provided at no charge to you.Such services include:

    • pre-trip information on travel health issues
    • emergency message transmission
    • emergency evacuation
    • medically supervised repatriation
    • companion ticket for medical repatriation
    • medical monitoring
    • online travel security information

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Diversity Issues Abroad

  • Diversity Issues In Study Abroad The Diversity Issues in Study Abroad booklet is a collection of quotes by Brown University students about their experiences abroad.The quotes were gathered through a survey of study abroad students returning from either spring semester/full year 1999-2000 or fall semester 2000-2001abroad. The survey directly addressed issues of diversity in study abroad including ethnicity, heritage, sexual orientation,religion, minority/majority issues, physical appearance, and language.
  • Journey Woman: Stories and travel tips for women traveling abroad.
  • Mobility International: Mobility International is a non-profit organization that provides information about travel and living abroad for those with disabilities. American students with disabilities studying abroad in the UK are also protected - check out the Web site for more information.
  • Indiana University: Minority Students and Study Abroad
  • Lesbigay SIG Student Resources: The Association of International Educators Lesbigay Special Interest Group (SIG) seeks "to identify information, links, and resources for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered international student community and study abroad students…"
  • Cornell University Abroad: "Cornell University appreciates that LGBT students may need or want information regarding the receptivity of their host country's culture. These internet resources can be used to discover the mores, taboos and social climate before arriving there…"
  • Indiana University: Includes a link for literature on travel and gay issues outside the United States.
  • Duke University: Provides additional links and resources for GLBT students.
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