The Office of International Affairs is committed to providing a secure learning experience for every member of the Ohio State community pursuing an educational experience abroad. Recommendations to protect the security of those on an international experience have been developed to promote the well-being of every participant including students, faculty and staff.
This section is for Ohio State students, faculty and staff traveling on international academic or co-curricular programs that are not administered by the Office of International Affairs (OIA). Global Education programs administered by OIA are those programs for which students apply and are admitted directly through OIA.
Students admitted to an OIA global education program are automatically registered and do not need to complete this process.
Six weeks prior to departure, individuals engaging in Non-OIA administered travel should register their travel to:
- Complete university protocol for international travel, including potential completion of the approval process for travel to a risk designated country.
- Identify and register your travel.
- Confirm your enrollment in the supplemental international health & security insurance.
- Register in The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
- Receive additional health and safety information to prepare for their travel.
Students
If you are uncertain about which type of program you selected, please consult your global education specialist.
If you are traveling on international academic or co-curricular programs that are not administered by the Office of International Affairs, you must register your travel. Students admitted to an OIA global education faculty-led program are automatically registered and do not need to complete any additional registration process.
Faculty-led Programs
You will register for your education abroad course(s) for each semester you study abroad. Course enrollment instructions will be provided after you have been accepted. You are required to maintain your education abroad enrollment for the duration of your program. Should you remove your education abroad enrollment from your schedule or fail to enroll by university enrollment deadlines, you will be responsible for any penalties incurred, including removal from your education abroad program.
Your university Statement of Account will list your Ohio State tuition (instructional, general and nonresident fees, if applicable) and your Office of International Affairs education abroad program fee. Your acceptance notification from the Office of International Affairs will indicate the amount of your education abroad program fee.
Third Party Provider or Direct Enroll Programs
You will register for your education abroad course(s) for each semester you study abroad. Course enrollment instructions will be provided after you have been accepted. You are required to maintain your education abroad enrollment for the duration of your program. If you do not enroll in the necessary education abroad course(s), you are responsible for any penalties and will be removed from your education abroad program.
For third party provider programs, you will pay the program fee directly to the provider. For direct enroll programs, you will pay the program fee directly to the host institution.
Students are responsible for paying any balance due to Ohio State, as well as a supplemental international insurance fee (if applicable). Please note that this applies to each semester of registration at Ohio State.
International Exchange Programs
You will register for your education abroad course(s) for each semester you study abroad. Course enrollment instructions will be provided after you have been accepted. You are required to maintain your education abroad enrollment for the duration of your program. If you do not enroll in the necessary education abroad course(s), you are responsible for any penalties and will be removed from your education abroad program.
Your university Statement of Account will list your Ohio State tuition (instructional, general and nonresident fees, if applicable) and your Office of International Affairs education abroad program fee. Students participating in international exchange programs will pay their tuition and fees to Ohio State. International exchange students will be assessed an Office of International Affairs education abroad program fee for mandatory supplemental international insurance.
Faculty and staff
Steps to register travel
Programs coordinated by university faculty and staff
- All students traveling on programs coordinated by university faculty and staff should complete a travel registration process.
- For groups, this process is initiated upon receipt of the Group International Travel Form.
- For individual supported travel, this can be initiated by notifying International Risk Management at irm@osu.edu of the name and University email of the traveler(s) along with the country(ies) and dates of travel.
- Faculty and staff should not lead or arrange experiences for students who do not complete the travel registration requirement.
If traveling with university-managed programs:
- University faculty and staff coordinating or leading student travel abroad that is not administered on the OIA platform should consult with their individual college, school or unit about specific protocols and policies.
- Pending approval from the appropriate college, school or unit, university faculty and staff should submit a Group International Travel Form in advance of their travel. The form should be initiated at least 60-days from the planned date of departure. The form collects basic information needed to establish the travel registration process.
Student organization travel
The Ohio Union has over 1,000 registered student organizations. Each year, multiple organizations coordinate volunteer and service projects abroad. This travel is non-credit bearing and the development of the travel opportunity is managed directly by the student organization, not by an administrative office of the university. While this travel is largely independent, student organizations are still required to follow certain university policies as set forth in the Student Organization President Training section on Travel Abroad.
If your organization has an active registration status (new/reestablished or established) with the Ohio Union, it may sponsor a travel abroad activity. The organization’s leadership should submit and complete a Group International Travel Form, 90 days in advance of your travel.
If your organization is seeking a program provider for your experience or is looking to vet a service experience, the Office of International Affairs encourages you to use the resources of the International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA) to determine if the experience is the right fit for you. In particular we recommend the sections on:
- Questions to Ask Your Program – this is a simple guide to the types of questions you should ask any organization seeking to recruit you.
- Principles and Practices – a more in depth measure of how to identify a reliable program that offers worthwhile program experiences.
All Ohio State students pursuing registered student organization travel abroad are required to adhere to the policies and guidelines set forth by the university’s International Travel Policy Committee.
- Be sure to check the status of your prospective host country with the list of Ohio State Risk Designated Countries. If your host country is currently listed as a Risk Designate Country, you must submit a petition to the International Travel Policy Committee.
- Students traveling to international locations for academic or co-curricular purposes are required to enroll in the university's supplemental travel insurance. Visit supplemental travel insurance for detailed steps on how to register for the supplemental insurance online.
Non-university student organization travel
Registration is not required for students traveling with a registered student organization; however, students traveling with registered student organizations are still encouraged to participate in the international travel registration protocol.