Queen’s University Belfast
Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use
Overseas Placements
Checklist for Students
1. Visas
Make sure that you have the correct visa for the country you are visiting and that your passport is valid. Check visa requirements with your travel agent or contact the embassy of the country you plan to visit. See http://www.gogapyear.com/pages/passport.php for further information.
2. Passport
Ensure that your passport is in date and valid. Even for a day trip abroad, you must hold a full 10 year passport. For certain countries, your passport must be valid for six months after the date you travel – check this before you go. Take copies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals in case of loss or theft. If your passport is lost or stolen, you will need to complete an LS01 form so your passport is cancelled. You should also report the theft to local police and your nearest British embassy. See http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/passports# for further information and the LS01 form.
3. Insurance (see www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/travel-insurance for further information)
Your travel insurance should cover the whole time that you are away and should include:
· Medical and health cover for injury or sudden illness abroad
· 24 hour emergency assistance
· Personal liability cover (in case you are sued for causing injury or damaging property)
· Cover for lost/stolen possessions
· Cover for cancelling or curtailing your trip
· Extra cover for leisure activities such as jet skiing that are usually not covered in standard policies
You may also wish to have:
· Personal accident cover
· Legal expenses cover
· Financial protection should your airline go bankrupt before/during your time away
4. Medical Insurance
Arranging medical health insurance is essential. If you do not have it, you may have to pay thousands of pounds if you have an accident or fall ill outside of the UK. Always arrange travel insurance with health cover that is adequate for your destination – at least £1m for Europe and £2m for the rest of the world (see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/travel-insurance/medical-heath for further information).
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/travel-insurance/ehic for further information). For students on European based (European Economic Area) or Switzerland-based placements, this free card gives holders rights to free or reduced cost healthcare that becomes necessary during a temporary visit to an EEA. You do, however, still need full travel insurance.
5. Vaccinations and Immunisations
Visit your GP at least six weeks before you travel to check if you need any vaccinations or other preventative measures (eg malaria tablets). If you have an existing medical condition, extra preparatory measures may be necessary. See http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/health/ for further information. If you are going to be working with poultry or wild birds, see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/health/avian-and-pandemic-influenza for advice on Avian (bird) ‘flu.
6. Money
Make sure you have enough money for your trip plus some back-up funds in cash/travellers cheques. If bringing a credit card, check in advance that it is valid in the country you will be working in. Take a note of your card number and expiry dates and note the emergency help number. See http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/travel-money for further tips and advice.
7. Local Embassy
Find out where the nearest embassy will be – see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/embassies-and-posts/find-an-embassy-overseas - and keep a note of the address/telephone number in case of emergencies.
8. Driving Abroad
If you think you will be driving abroad, make sure your licence is current and valid and that you are aware of the driving laws in the country you are visiting. You must have minimum cover for your liability to third parties. This may not cover you for medical or hospital expenses after an accident. Ask your insurer/broker to extend the scope of your cover before you travel if required. A Green Card is required in some countries but not in the EU and certain other European countries where a Certificate of Insurance is enough. A Green Card provides no insurance cover in itself but is an internationally recognised document that proves you have the minimum insurance cover required by law in that country. See http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/driving-abroad for further information.
9. Female, Gay and Disabled Travellers
For advice on how to keep safe and avoid tricky situations overseas, see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/ta-relevant-to-you.
10. Crime
If you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a crime of any kind, including sexual assault/rape, contact your embassy and the local police as soon as possible. If you are arrested abroad, contact your embassy, high commission or consulate as soon as possible for assistance. See http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/things-go-wrong for further advice and guidance.
11. General
If on a long-distance flight, avoid tight clothing and do regular stretching exercises to avoid circulation problems. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water and go easy on the alcohol. If working outside in the sun for long hours, use a high factor sunscreen and drink plenty of water at regular intervals. Eat and drink sensibly to avoid stomach upsets, diarrhoea or more serious illnesses (see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/eat-drink-safely) Practice safe sex – take condoms with you as the quality varies in different countries. Do not openly display valuables, be careful taking photos (especially near military installations), find out about local customs and dress/behave accordingly and obey local laws, respect the environment and avoid buying wildlife souvenirs. In short, think about what you are doing at all times, trust your instincts and do not take risks that you would not even consider at home.
12. Placement-Related Problems
If you experience any placement-related problems whilst abroad, contact your placement programme co-ordinator as soon as possible to discuss them on 028 90 976514, . (IAFLU students), or, for Agricultural Technology students, Ms Ruth Moore (Greenmount College), 028 94 426814, .