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Studying abroad in the COVID era

To protect the health and safety of our students and staff and respect the wellbeing of the communities where we live and learn, IFSA has instituted a range of COVID-19 risk mitigation measures based on recognized best practices.

Our vaccination policy

To protect the health and safety of our students and staff and respect the wellbeing of the communities where we explore and study, IFSA has instituted a range of COVID-19 risk mitigation measures. These are based on recognized best practices from authorities like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

Vaccination is clearly the most important and effective way to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19, as well as to minimize spread among students and communities. Beyond protecting student and community health, vaccination is also crucial for students to thrive. It enables a richer overall experience with broader program options and helps prevent quarantine and social restrictions, as well as added expenses like testing and quarantine housing.

For these reasons, all IFSA students are required to follow the latest vaccination and booster protocols for protection against COVID-19. In addition, we strongly recommend that students and homestay families follow current best practices for mitigating risk of exposure.

Effective May 15, 2023, IFSA continues to strongly recommend, but will no longer require participants to be vaccinated against COVID-19. IFSA continues to support practices in risk mitigation, but all participants travel at their own risk regarding exposure to COVID-19 and interactions with unvaccinated individuals. For more details, please download a copy of our COVID-19 policy.

Moving forward

As the pandemic evolves and vaccination rates around the world increase, mitigation measures are beginning to ease. IFSA staff will continue to remind students of steps they can take to keep themselves and their communities safe, including adhering to any local requirements in their host location

COVID-19 resources

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Travel Health Notices

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories

U.S. Embassies and Consulates

IFSA COVID-19 Policy