STUDY ABROAD AND CORONAVIRUS

ARGENTINA
All Argentina programs have been suspended for Fall 2021.

AUSTRALIA
All Australia programs have been suspended for Fall 2021.

CHILE
All Chile programs have been suspended for Fall 2021.

CHINA
All China programs have been suspended for Fall 2021.

CUBA
All Cuba programs have been suspended for Fall 2021.

ENGLAND
King’s College London – Premedical Program: Program suspended by host institution.

INDIA
All India programs have been suspended for Fall 2021.

NEW ZEALAND
All New Zealand programs have been suspended for Fall 2021.

Given the nature of the global pandemic, please read the important details about Fall 2021 programs below.

Some countries require students to quarantine upon arrival. If this applies to your program, we will communicate details, such as the length of the quarantine, where you will live, and how you will acquire food. We are primarily working in countries that allow students to self-quarantine in their student housing where we are able to have food delivered. You should expect some portion of your orientation to begin remotely, and you may have some initial academics that begin during this quarantine period.

Students may choose to share a room with an IFSA roommate, and single rooms are available in nearly all of our program locations. All of our housing providers have facilities to isolate students who get sick. You should expect an increased focus on cleanliness, especially in shared spaces.

AUSTRALIA
All Australia programs have been suspended for Spring 2022.

CHINA
IFSA Study in Shanghai: Intensive Chinese Language

ENGLAND
Life Science Career Accelerator
Life Science Career Accelerator Plus

NEW ZEALAND
All New Zealand programs have been suspended for Spring 2022.

Given the nature of the global pandemic, please read the important details about Winter and Spring 2022 programs below.

Some countries require students to quarantine upon arrival. If this applies to your program, we will communicate details, such as the length of the quarantine, where you will live, and how you will acquire food. We are primarily working in countries that allow students to self-quarantine in their student housing where we are able to have food delivered. You should expect some portion of your orientation to begin remotely, and you may have some initial academics that begin during this quarantine period.

Students may choose to share a room with an IFSA roommate, and single rooms are available in nearly all of our program locations. All of our housing providers have facilities to isolate students who get sick. You should expect an increased focus on cleanliness, especially in shared spaces.

What are the academic contingency plans if my program is suspended after I have arrived on-site?
IFSA will only send students to institutions that have assured us they will move to online teaching if in-person teaching is disrupted. In most situations, you would be expected to shelter in place and continue your studies from the host country. If your program involves all IFSA-taught classes, we will move to online teaching if in-person teaching is disrupted. In most situations, you would be expected to shelter in place and continue your studies from the host country.

What happens if my program is fully online?
IFSA will continue to operate programs on-site where it is reasonably safe to do so regardless of the delivery of the academic instruction. Check with your home institution’s study abroad office to ensure they will accept credit for coursework completed online. At this time, IFSA does not intend to offer programs comprised of solely IFSA-taught classes that are delivered online with students living in the host country.

What happens if my program goes online while I am abroad?
If it is safe to remain in the location, IFSA will continue operation and offer appropriate activities to supplement your experience. Your host institution will coordinate the academic delivery mode for your classes, and IFSA staff will provide co-curriculars and health and safety services to support you. If your program involves all IFSA-taught classes, you will have been using Canvas since the beginning of your program and will be prepared to continue with online studies.

What happens if my program starts online then moves to in-person teaching?
Great! Since you will already be living in country, you will be ready to make this transition. Our in-country IFSA staff will help you prepare for the differences between the U.S. educational system and that of your host country. If your program involves all IFSA-taught classes, our in-country IFSA staff and faculty will be prepared to welcome you back into our classrooms.

What is the expected class delivery method for my program?
Please see the Academic Delivery list for Fall 2021 programs. This list will be updated as host institutions provide additional information over the upcoming months.

How will IFSA determine whether a program should run or be cancelled?
IFSA maintains a detailed program viability matrix which is published on our website at IFSA’s Matrix. The matrix tracks barriers to entry, infrastructure concerns, the ability to manage pandemic risk in particular locations according to our standards, COVID-19 trends and statistics, and the pandemic management policies in place in a local context. IFSA considers these and additional features such as the ability to deliver and mode of delivery of academics in a location, the nature and extent of project lockdowns, hospital capacity, resource availability, and others in making decisions to run a program.

However, once the decision has been made to run the program and students are on-site, it is unlikely IFSA would cancel the program due to COVID-19 related trends. IFSA would support students through all necessary lockdowns, quarantines, and shelter-in-place requirements until the end of the program.

What is IFSA’s COVID-19 health and safety risk mitigation strategy?
First and foremost, IFSA works hand in glove with our host institution partners and national hosts and follows all local guidance surrounding pandemic management and risk mitigation. This includes but is not limited to policies regarding social distancing, limits on gathering, testing and potential vaccines, self-isolation and quarantine, social distancing, and contact tracing.

How will IFSA’s risk mitigation strategy change in upcoming terms?
For Spring 2021 we developed a robust set of risk mitigation measures and policies that we will be revisiting for future terms to adjust as needed. However, we are adopting the stance currently that risk mitigation in Summer 2021, Fall 2021, and future terms will look much like spring and that we will re-evaluate as the terms approach.

What is IFSA’s stance on testing and vaccine requirements?
IFSA will require students test and/or are vaccinated in accordance with host institution, local, national, airline, or U.S. government requirements, but will not develop its own separate protocols.

Does IFSA require symptom monitoring and contact tracing?
As part of our social contract that students sign prior to going abroad, IFSA requires students to monitor their symptoms daily and report any symptoms to resident staff and appropriate local officials immediately while following local protocols for isolating and testing. This may impact other members of their household and their classmates as well. Contact tracing will be done per local resources.

What happens if borders are closed and I can’t get in?
IFSA will not be able to operate programs if the borders for your host country are not open to accept study abroad students. If we have to suspend the program for this reason, you are covered by the Future-Focused Guarantee refund policy.

How will IFSA prepare students for study abroad during COVID-19?
Prior to the program students receive regular targeted information about travel during COVID-19 and the circumstances specific to their host country. These are pushed to the student and available for regular access in the IFSA Student Portal. In addition, we hold a webinar and our Health and Safety Team may personally reach out to students based upon responses to the medical form and to the COVID-19 quiz and/or COVID Wellness Plan.

Students also receive a risk mitigation newsletter and this material is presented in multiple formats throughout.

Portions of the health and safety orientation are delivered to students in advance of departure and reinforced upon arrival. Once on-site, all students will receive a weekly update that includes COVID friendly activities and resources as well as updates on pandemic management policies and COVID trends in their location.

Fundamental to pandemic risk mitigation is attention to student health and wellness in advance. Not only do we closely monitor hospital trends and access to healthcare, we also work with students to ensure they set up telehealth in advance if necessary, and students are required to return a COVID-19 Wellness Plan that prompts them to think through healthy strategies for any quarantine.

Finally, students participate in a dedicated COVID-19 training complete with a scenario-based quiz. They are required to complete the quiz and to answer each question correctly. It covers basic COVID-19 information, IFSA policies, and the social contract that students sign.

Has IFSA developed any additional legal agreements of waivers to support COVID-19 risk mitigation?
All students are required to sign a COVID-19 social contract which emphasizes that they are part of a community and as such have a responsibility to their fellow students and their hosts to follow all protocols and best practices outlined in the document and by local authorities. Students who put other students at danger may be dismissed from the program as per their participant agreement and the social contract.

Students also sign a COVID-19 Acknowledgement of Risk which ensures they understand there is always the risk of contracting COVID-19 regardless of the precautions when participating in a study abroad program. This acknowledgement includes students assuming all responsibility for the impact of a positive COVID-19 test on their ability to participate in the program as planned, as well as any costs and logistics that come from a positive test when departing at the end of their program.

Check out the free Essential COVID Travel Resources ebook. 
GoAbroad, in partnership with IFSA, has created a free eBook called Essential COVID Travel Resources. It includes resources to help you plan, learn, and prepare for the changes the travelsphere has undergone over the past year. Download your free ebook here.

Will students be covered by insurance?
Yes. All students must be covered by CISI. CISI insurance will cover all medical related COVID-19 expenses. Students have the option to purchase additional insurance to cover trip interruption and cancellation.

How will IFSA communicate with students on-site?
IFSA’s dedicated resident staff is prepared to support students virtually when required and in person when allowed by local circumstances. We also have a well-developed communication and check-in protocol in the event students must isolate or quarantine that includes a file on each student with medical form, applications, and wellness plan, a standard set of goals to guide check-in conversations and a regular video check-in to supplement shorter more regular phone check-ins.

How will IFSA handle arrival quarantines?
IFSA tracks these and other entry requirements as well as associated costs and ensures that students are informed of requirements. Some students, as noted, will be able to quarantine in their housing and some will be required to enter hotels or designated facilities.

IFSA will be delivering portions of orientation online, has established a regular check in and communication protocol and will provide virtual activity support to all its students. In addition, IFSA will ensure all students have access to needs, are connected to health care providers, and are able to receive regular food deliveries.

How will IFSA communicate confirmed cases to partners, emergency contacts, and other students onsite?
If a student tests positive, we will call our partner institution to inform them of the positive result and the follow-up actions for care. We will contact the student’s emergency contact in accordance with the information provided prior to the program by the student about doing so. All students onsite will be informed of positive tests so that we can determine who may or may not have been exposed.

How will IFSA manage pandemic housing, travel, and activities?
IFSA will not leverage homestays for Summer 2021. For Fall 2021 and beyond, IFSA will provide homestays in select locations, but placements will be optional and not guaranteed. Placements will be contingent upon you and/or your host family being vaccinated.

In addition, we will place students in singles and single ensuites, where possible. In some circumstances, IFSA students may be placed in apartments with shared bathrooms. Strict hygiene protocols are published and enforced for all shared spaces. Overnight visitors to housing and indoor social gatherings among households are forbidden. Travel outside of the program location is strongly discouraged and travel is prohibited in alignment with local policies.

Finally, all extracurricular / cocurricular activities have been modified in alignment with local pandemic best practices.

What is IFSA’s plan for isolating sick students?
IFSA has ensured that students can isolate in their own housing in most locations. In the event they are required to isolated in a hospital, this will be covered by CISI. Students may need to follow household isolation protocols based on local structures and housing conditions.

What happens if there is a lockdown in my city while I am abroad?
Our local IFSA staff as well as our Health and Safety Team will communicate with you regarding expectations if there is a mandatory lockdown while you are abroad. A lockdown can mean different things according to your host location. For example, business operations, regional travel, or even local movement may be restricted according to different levels of risk as defined by the local government. You will be expected to adhere to all local and national laws.

Will IFSA allow personal travel?
IFSA highly discourages all personal travel outside of the host city. This is due to the varying regional COVID-regulations that may be experienced in the host country as well as the potential for sudden border closures that could strand the student with no support.

Will IFSA pay for students who must quarantine due to personal travel?
Students who undertake personal travel or test positive for COVID-19 prior to departure may find themselves with a delayed departure and requirement to quarantine in the host country. The required quarantine period in a hotel will be at their own cost. The optional purchase of additional insurance may mitigate these costs.

How will IFSA support students who test positive prior to end of program?
IFSA is constantly working with its local partners to meet the changing needs of the pandemic. Currently, we are gathering information on procedures surrounding required testing prior to returning to the United States. If a student tests positive and must delay the return, the student is responsible for extra housing and airfare costs. To this end, the student has the option of purchasing additional insurance coverage. We will be providing regular information to students about best pandemic processes and encourage them to limit social contact 14 days before departure.

In the event that students have to return home early due to COVID, will IFSA cover their flight costs?
IFSA is unable to purchase tickets for students or make flight arrangements or ticket changes on their behalf. It is up to the student to secure their early return flight in the event that they are advised to depart the country. IFSA encourages students to secure flights that have flexible ticket policies so they do not have to pay a change fee.