Staying safe and well

Whatever your plans abroad, prioritise your personal safety and your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Personal safety

Things like pick pocketing, protests and demonstrations, or even terrorism are a possibility wherever you go. Knowing what steps to take to minimise these risks will help your time abroad be as safe as possible.​​​​​​

Use common sense - during your time at Edinburgh, you will be used to either living in or navigating around a city, so you will probably already be taking various steps to ensure your personal safety. Just remember to take the same steps whilst abroad, especially while you are getting familiar with your new destination.

The following guidance and practical tips will help you ensure you're as well prepared as you can be.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a wealth of information to prepare you for your travels:

For a broad overview of some of the considerations you'll need to be aware of when travelling overseas: 

Visit the Travel Aware website 

For more in-depth travel advice for your specific destination:

Use the FCDO's specific travel advice 

Read up on your destination including local laws and customs:

Read the FCDO's Foreign Travel Checklist

There are additional resources for travellers who are: 

Women

LGBT

Disabled

As well as all of the websites above, we recommend following the FCDO on social media to get up-to-date travel advice on your feed:

FCDO travel on Facebook

FCDO travel advice on Twitter 

FCDO Travel Aware on Instagram 


It's a good idea to research your destination in advance. You can collect advice from:

  • Your host institution or local students, for tips on safe areas to live and socialise (and any areas to avoid)
  • Former exchange students

Visit the Go Abroad Facebook group

Questions to ask:

  • What are the different neighbourhoods? Are some less safe than others?
  • Who are my local resources, my local contact people?
  • Do I understand the current political climate in this country/region?
  • Have I collected recommendations from people familiar with this destination?

Researching your chosen destination and completing a risk assessment prior to departure are both essential steps in the process of ensuring your experience is as safe as possible. Your research will help you identify possible risks, and your risk assessment should record this and suggest how you plan to mitigate them.


Students say they feel the most vulnerable right after landing in their host country. Having just stepped off the plane, you may feel disorientated, tired, jet-lagged, and excited. The combination of all of these factors can leave you less sensitive to potential risks than you might normally be. 

Some top tips to stay safe are:

  • Arrange transportation directly to your accommodation from the airport in advance. Ask your host institution if they can recommend a private transport service. Some hosts even offer a welcome service for exchange students!
  • If visiting a higher risk country, you may want to agree a secret phrase or password with the person who will be meeting you so that you can check it is really them.
  • Be careful when using your smartphone - you'll be eager to let everyone at home know you’ve arrived safely, but remember you'll be laden down with your bags and could make a tempting target.

  • Take care of your valuables: when you go out only take what you really need, and avoid drawing attention to your belongings. Use a bag that zips closed, as opposed to an open-mouthed style pouch.
  • Maintain a “low-profile”: it's generally wise to avoid engaging in overly boisterous or belligerent conversation, especially in a non-local language.
  • If a situation makes you feel uncomfortable, remove yourself from that situation as quickly as possible.
  • When going out at night, avoid traveling alone (at least when you first arrive). If you do have to travel alone at night, stick to well-lit areas and walk with confidence and a sense of purpose, even if you’re lost.
  • Don’t plan to arrive at an unfamiliar place at night or alone.
  • Try to maintain an awareness of your surroundings to avoid being caught by surprise.
  • Stay in regular contact with friends and family and make sure they know your schedule and any travel plans. (See Important contact information below)

Depending on where you are staying, it may be a good idea to consider the following additional precautions:

  • Adjusting how you dress to match local customs
  • Refraining from wearing flashy jewellery
  • Calling for a taxi in lieu of hailing one off the street

  • Before travelling, scan and make photocopies of important documents (including your visa and passport), so you can access the information if they are lost or stolen.
  • On a day-to-day basis, use a different form of photo ID (e.g. driving licence) to keep your passport as safe as possible.
  • If your passport is lost or stolen, contact the police immediately to report it, followed by your embassy/consulate to arrange a replacement.

  • Make sure that both the University of Edinburgh and your host institution have an up-to-date email address and phone number for you.
  • Check your University e-mail account regularly - you will receive important information to this address.

  • Remember your email account is subject to Multi-Factor Authentication so you need to take your authentication method with you or install an authenticator app on the device you intend to use while you are away.

    Find out more about Multi-Factor Authentication

  • Let your parents/next of kin know where you're going, and keep in touch with them on a regular basis. Also ​​​maintain regular contact with your School Exchange Coordinator and Student Adviser.
  • Keep a list of important contacts, both as a hard copy and electronically. For example:
    • Details of how to report your bank cards as lost or stolen
    • The embassy/consulate of your home country
    • Local emergency services
    • Travel insurance contacts

Your local British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission abroad will be able to offer a range of services including issuing replacement passports; assistance if you are the victim of a crime; and liaison with family and friends on your behalf.

You are strongly advised to locate the nearest British Consulate to your host destination and store the telephone number and address. Most British Consulates operate an answerphone service outside working hours with an emergency number if needed.

Students who are not UK nationals are advised to locate their nearest consular representation and follow the same guidelines.

Find a British Consulate


Healthcare

Remember that hospitals, doctors surgeries and the healthcare system in general in your host country are likely to work differently from the UK. It's a good idea to do a bit of research before you go, to make sure you're as prepared as possible.  You can find out more using the following resources:

National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website

NHS Fit for Travel website

GOV.UK country healthcare guides

Take a look at some more tips and guidance to ensure you know what you need to be aware of before you go away:

If you need immunisations for your host country you will need them at least 6 weeks in advance of your departure.

You can check if you need immunisations on the NHS Fit for Travel website and contact your travel health clinic or GP to arrange an appointment. Many international institutions will require you to get immunisations before arriving and registering. 

Visit the NHS Fit for Travel website

If you plan on doing any travelling whilst on exchange, you should also check if you need immunisations for any other countries you want to visit. Some countries require that you have vaccination certificates with you when you enter or depart.

Be aware that your travel insurance may be invalid if you have not taken the appropriate immunisations before you travel.


If you take regular medication and need to take it abroad with you, make sure you take the following steps:

  • Check that you are legally allowed to take your medication into your host country (their embassy/consulate website is a good starting point for this)
  • Take an adequate supply with you (provided your medication is not perishable)
  • Get a letter from your doctor explaining what your medication is and why you need it, in case you get stopped at immigration or customs.

Find out useful information on travelling with medicines

  • Get translated copies of any important health documentation you might need 

You should register with a doctor when you arrive – don’t wait until you’re ill! Here are a few key things to remember:

  • Check if your host institution has an on-campus/affiliated medical centre
  • Check what mental health support services are offered by your host university, and how to access them
  • Insurance - you may be able to claim for doctor/hospital appointments through the UoE insurance 

Mental health

Moving and living abroad is a huge step and can be a stressful and anxious time.  Mental health issues, existing or new, can flare up.  It's important to be aware of the impact that cultural and lifestyle differences can have and to look after your mental and physical health.

Even if you're only going abroad for a short time, and even if you’ve travelled a lot in the past, it can take a while to adjust. This is perfectly normal. Please remember you’re not the only one to experience this. Getting involved in local life at your host institution and in your host town/city may help you adjust more quickly and easily.

We recommend doing some research on the support available at your host institution (e.g. counselling service) and how to access it before you arrive. You can also connect with other University of Edinburgh students on an exchange abroad through the Discord channels for peer support.

You can find information on a range of health and well-being resources offered across the university:

Student Wellbeing Service

How we support you

Support in a crisis

Remember you can still access UoE support whilst abroad, including:

The Advice Place 

Nightline 

Chaplaincy Listening Service

Student Counselling Service 

Student Counselling Service offers email or video counselling for students who are not in Edinburgh. Video counselling is available via MS Teams unless the student is in a country that has its own regulations relating to therapy provision; in this case email counselling is available.


You can access mental health support via Togetherall 

Visit Togetherall

You can also find helplines and crisis numbers to call at home and abroad via TherapyRoute:

Visit TherapyRoute

More services and support are now available virtually. If you receive therapy or counselling here in the UK it can be worth checking whether you can continue appointments virtually whilst abroad. 

You can also find a range of free mental health support services available digitally – Samaritans, Shout and Calm all offer email, text and web chat support which you may be able to access abroad. 


See also:

This article was published on