Safety
The number one concern in study abroad—even before academic considerations—is safety. The UC Merced Office of International Affairs strongly encourages students to take an active role in assessing and minimizing their own risks and to follow guidance for safe behavior from study abroad professionals, host country staff, and the program. Your program guide, your on-site orientation, and your program’s on-site staff will be your best sources of safety information specific to your program, host city, and region.
Safe Behavior and Precautions
While every endeavor, including study abroad, involves some risk, and some calculated risks are worthwhile, you should attempt to minimize all unnecessary risks to your safety. It is the student’s responsibility to actively seek to minimize those risks by following instructions for safety. Host institution staff or study center staff will detail safety precautions for students, especially during on-site orientations. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Avoiding specific parts of town designated as less safe,
- Knowing what types of taxis to use or avoid,
- Not visiting specific regions or nearby countries deemed too unsafe,
- Not walking after dark alone,
- Not drawing unnecessary attention to yourself, and
- Avoiding the over-consumption of alcohol or any consumption of illicit substances.
Alcohol, in particular, is involved in the vast majority of student incidents and emergencies abroad. Students are strongly urged to minimize risks with alcohol.
Watch the UC Merced CARE Office's 8 tips for reducing risk abroad.
Emergencies and Emergency Contacts
What qualifies as an emergency?
- Life or death situation
- Traumatic event requiring immediate assistance
- Arrest
- Natural disaster or civil unrest locally
There are usually several sets of contacts students should keep in case of emergencies:
- Local program contacts: These could be contacts for your host university or the study center.
- Other program contacts: Your program will usually have an additional emergency contact number in the U.S. For UCEAP, this number is (+1) 805-893-4762.
- 9-1-1 equivalents: Most countries will have different numbers for 9-1-1. In many countries, there will be a separate number for police, fire, and medical responses. Your program guide and the U.S. Department of State will have a listing of 9-1-1 equivalents.
- US Department of State contacts: Contact information for the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate will help in case of arrest, natural disaster, or civil unrest. More USDOS resources are available below. Students who are not U.S. citizens should find the nearest consulate or embassy of their home country.
Most of the program contacts and local 9-1-1 equivalents will be listed in program guides. You should program these numbers in your phone and memorize 9-1-1 equivalents.
The UC Merced CARE Office video below provides tips and next steps for survivors of assault while abroad.
U.S. Department of State Resources
The first order of business for U.S. citizens when going abroad is to register with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The STEP program allows U.S. nationals to receive alerts in real time to potential issues abroad such as riots and protests, natural disasters, or political unrest and logs contact information for U.S. travelers in case of emergency. Embassies and Consulates can also assist U.S. citizens who encounter legal, medical, and even financial difficulties abroad by providing loans for the destitute. If your passport is stolen while traveling, they can also assist you with obtaining a replacement so you can continue with your study abroad program and other travel plans. Similar programs may exist for citizens other countries.
Road Travel
The UC Merced Office of International Affairs discourages students from renting and driving motor vehicles. Some study abroad programs will forbid driving and others will recommend against it. If you do drive, you must understand local driving laws, look into insurance requirements, etc.
Identity: Gender, Race, Sexual Orientation, Religion, and Tolerance
College is often a time where students explore and solidify their identity, especially when that identity is not outwardly apparent. Study abroad often adds an additional dimension to the question of identity for students as they come from the U.S.—where they have established communities or potential coping mechanisms—to another country where identity dynamics differ significantly. There are many opportunities for personal growth as you explore various aspects of your personal identity while studying abroad and potentially personal challenges as well. In some cases, outwardly observable student identity can pose risks to student safety. The Office of International Affairs desires to see programs be as accessible to students as possible but you should be prepared when you arrive in your host country and culture. You should explore the perceptions of your host country toward various aspects of identity prior to departure:
- Gender: gender roles and perceptions and protections for women and transgender students will vary greatly from one country to another.
- LGBTQ+: some countries will have strong LGBTQ+ communities with a high level of tolerance, or even acceptance, but other countries do not protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation or even categorically forbid LGBTQ+ relationships.
- Race: perceptions of racial minorities abroad range from innocent curiosity to seemingly blunt observations or stereotypes to misplaced misconceptions or associations (e.g. illegal immigration or prostitution).
- Ability: some countries have misconceptions or superstitions of physical or learning disabilities while others may not protect or provide for those with disabilities.
- Religion: while most study abroad locations are normally legally safe from a religious perspective, students may find prejudice against certain religious minorities in their host country and proselytizing may have social or legal consequences.
To learn more about identity topics abroad, explore the Diversity Abroad country-specific guides which provide overviews of major cities, cultural events, safety, immigration, and the diversity and inclusion climate of locations abroad. To access the full Diversity Abroad guides, create an account with your UCM credentials.
IES Abroad also maintains country-specific diversity resources including things like local support groups for LGBTQ+ students and food options for vegans for the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, China, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, and South Korea.
You may want to research these topics on your own or connect with a study abroad returnee to get more information.
Women’s Safety, Dating, and Relationships
Women make up the vast majority of study abroad participants but students should remember that women are perceived and treated differently from culture to culture.
Unwanted attention is a significant issue for many female students abroad. In some countries there are similar views toward sexual harassment as in the U.S., but in others women can become the focus of attention ranging from staring or catcalling to explicit sexual comments or even grabbing, particularly in tight public spaces (e.g. on buses or in crowds). Women in the local country may find the same male behavior to be offensive or may be resigned. Female study abroad students should look to how local women react to—or avoid—such scenarios to minimize risk and put their safety first. On-site staff, past participants, and even the program guide might have great suggestions for how to react to or avoid such situations.
Tips
- Observe local women: what do they do? How do they behave around men?
- Be aware of cultural clues:
- a woman’s willingness to be alone with a man can signal a willingness to have sex
- “no means no” will not necessarily slow sexual advances; in some cultures, “no” is what “nice girls” are taught to say prior to surrendering to advances
- learn what behaviors are associated with prostitution and avoid them
- Seek advice: learn from past participants, local study center staff, an exchange student from the host country, or local women.
- Control your own behavior: set limits and do not compromise, particularly with alcohol.
- Dress conservatively: U.S. dress for women trends toward immodesty in many other countries and students should seek to dress in a way that is both culturally sensitive and does not draw unwanted attention.
- Stick together: avoid visiting less safe areas without companions, especially after dark or in less public areas.
Healthy Relationships
What does a healthy relationship look like? What are some ways to insure a healthy relationship? Watch the video below for tips from the UC Merced CARE Office.
Local Conditions
The U.S. Department of State will be a great source for general conditions on the ground in your host country. Travel advisories will alert you to significant risks to your safety.
Sample listing of Travel Advisories on the USDOS website
Local crime
The study center or host university staff will go over safety issues with regard to local crime during your on-site orientation. This will often include issues of safety and dangerous places around town, taxis to take and avoid, handling money, women’s safety, and much more.
Climate and weather conditions
Climate and weather rarely affect study abroad experiences but some examples in which study abroad programs have been affected include:
- Natural disasters such as heavy seasonal flooding, blizzards, or extreme heat with power blackouts
- Heavy air pollution, particularly in urban areas, where students with lung conditions or asthma might struggle
- Countries under holes in the ozone layer or with more direct sunlight being closer to the equator may lead to sunstroke or extreme sunburns
- Tropical conditions that facilitate the spread of malaria or dengue fever
Take time to review normal conditions and keep yourself aware of forecasted extreme weather and climate conditions. You may be able to prepare for some conditions before leaving for your program.
Political, social, and environmental concerns
Study abroad providers endeavor to run programs in locations that are safe and stable. Sometimes a changing political or social environment is a great learning opportunity to observe history or understand the global impact of new ideas, but sometimes conditions can become unsafe quickly (e.g. Egypt in spring 2011). The U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is your best resource, but your study abroad provider will attempt to keep students updated with local conditions. Students participating in UCEAP and UC Summer Abroad programs will automatically get WorldAware announcements alerting them to conditions in their country. Conditions may change such that your program might forbid you to visit specific regions or countries with the threat of discipline including possible dismissal for violating the ban. Country guides can also be found on the Crisis24 website.
Liability Waivers, Releases, and Travel Sign Outs
UCEAP will require you to register your travel prior to leaving your host city. For UCEAP, this is called the “Travel Sign Outs” and can be found in the UCEAP Portal. The Travel Sign Out is for your protection so that the program will know how to locate you in the event of an emergency or if they may need to contact your family. In case of civil unrest, natural disasters, or geopolitical upheaval in your host country or your travel destination(s), your program would have an easier time finding you, connecting you to services, and accounting for your safety.
