Study abroad: Prepare to travel

TRAVEL RISK ASSESSMENT 

The University is committed to ensuring your health and safety, and this includes travelling overseas. While most of this travel is low risk, all overseas travel requires careful planning and approval by your Head of Department or Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor. 

To get your travel approved, you must complete the online pre-departure questionnaire before you travel - this will be sent to you around 8 weeks before you leave. 

It is important that you feel fully prepared for travelling and studying abroad. The Study Abroad Team is available for face-to-face meetings, where we will be happy to support you with any aspect of your preparations. Please call us on 0161 247 1253 to arrange a meeting. 

Important:  

• You will not be able to travel if the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice changes to “against all travel”.  

• In the event of a change in Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice to “against all travel” whilst you are abroad, you would be required to return to the UK or your home country. 

• You should not make any non-refundable financial commitments for travel until travel is approved. 

• If you are travelling to Europe, follow UK Government advice on Visiting the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein (as appropriate).   

VISAS 

WHAT IS A VISA? 

To study abroad legally, you may need a student visa or residence permit for your host country. Every country sets its own immigration requirements, and no two countries are the same. 

FIND OUT WHICH VISA YOU NEED 

Read your Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Living In Guide to find the entry requirements for your host country. You should research: 

• the cost 

• when you should apply 

• what you will need to support the application 

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION 

Depending on the process for your host country, you may need to provide the following: 

• application form 

• supporting documents, such as a medical certificate, police certificate or evidence of your financial status 

• proof of insurance 

You may also need to book an appointment and travel to the relevant embassy or consulate. 

INSURANCE 

You will need to confirm that you have comprehensive travel insurance in place before travel. 

MANCHESTER MET TRAVEL INSURANCE 

Manchester Met provides worldwide travel insurance for students travelling with their programme of study, for example, placements, exchange, and field trips. 

For details about the insurance policy and FAQs, please refer to the policy summary. 

If you need any other help, please contact the Insurance Officer. 

Important: 

• Check to see if your destination is covered under the UK Global Health Insurance scheme and apply for a card as required. 

• You will not have coverage under the University travel insurance policy if the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is advising against all travel at the point of travel. 

HOST UNIVERSITY INSURANCE 

Some host universities, especially on the worldwide exchange, may require you to take out their own mandatory insurance policy. You may be eligible for an insurance fee waiver. 

Send your Manchester Met insurance details to the host university to see if they can waive their insurance fee. 

Please be prepared to pay for the host university insurance if this is not possible. 

ACCOMMODATION 

Most partner universities offer information and advice on accommodation. Some universities will have their own accommodation services, and others may only offer private options. 

ON-CAMPUS HOUSING 

The partner university will normally advise you about accommodation when you receive your offer. You are responsible for securing accommodation and meeting any application deadlines. 

PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING 

Please take extra care when applying for private accommodation. Make sure that you: 

• use reputable websites and agencies 

• do thorough research before making any payments

• request a copy of the contract or further information if the offer sounds too good to be true 

• think about security: Is it physically secure? Is there access to a safe? Are there security guards on site if necessary? 

• consider the accessibility of the accommodation: Are there proper WC facilities? Is there lift access? Are there adapted rooms? 

• check that the accommodation has proper fire controls in place, such as fire alarms, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers 

• check that the accommodation has a stable electricity supply, or whether additional equipment such as surge protectors are needed 

For further help and advice, please contact the exchange team at your host university. 

SHORT-TERM HOUSING IN MANCHESTER 

If you are going abroad for less than one academic year, you should consider short-term housing options in Manchester and abroad. Manchester Student Homes can help you find short-term housing in Manchester. The host university should be able to advise you on short-term housing options overseas. 

LEARN A LANGUAGE

Learning the basics of your host language can help you settle into your new environment. It is also a great skill to include in future CVs when applying for jobs, so why not start now?

PRIVATE LANGUAGE COURSES

Private language classes, such as those run by the International Society, are a fantastic way to meet new people and develop your language skills. They run classes throughout the year, so you can study at a time that is convenient for you. Visit the International Society website for further information.

LANGUAGE LEARNING ON ARRIVAL

If you prefer, you can learn the language when you arrive in your host country. Your options may include:

• language classes at your host university or organisation

• intensive language courses at your host university

• local classes in the community

• private classes at a local language school

• online language learning and apps

Some of these options may involve an extra cost, so make sure that you research this and check affordability.