The health, safety and security of students and faculty traveling abroad is a top priority at Ohio State. So that every Buckeye who wants to gain valuable international experience through study abroad, research, field work, internships or volunteer opportunities is able to do so safely, Ohio State has developed a travel risk rating for every country as well as specific regions of the world.
Information on the university’s travel guidelines can be accessed at the Office of Business and Finance website.
While resources used in the risk designated scale factor-in the prevalence of COVID-19, the scale does not fully reflect current concerns for immigration restrictions, country medical capacity and other risks associated with the pandemic. Therefore, a designation of Tier 1: Universal Risk does not indicate travel is advisable.
Due to the potential for significant fluctuation due to COVID-19, the scale will be updated monthly. The scale is currently used to forecast for one month at at time.
Ohio State risk designated scale
The scale puts in place a tiered risk level for countries and regions and defines parameters for travel. The system is based on guidance from numerous resources: U.S. Department of State, Drum Cussac, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Ohio State Risk Designated Tiers |
Tier 6 |
Extreme Risk |
Tier 5 |
Significant Risk |
Tier 4 |
High Risk |
Tier 3 |
Moderate Risk |
Tier 2 |
Specific Risk |
Tier 1 |
Universal Risk |
When assigning a risk rating to a country or region, Ohio State also may factor in additional criteria from government, insurance and in-country resources. These resources are weighted by Ohio State so the university’s tiered scale may not be comparable to the risk ratings of other organizations.
- U.S. Department of State – Issues travel advisories for every country, including four standard levels of advice, risk descriptions and actions that U.S. citizens should implement to help ensure their safety.
- Drum Cussac Country Risk Ratings - Issues an overall country risk rating based on a scale of 1 (negligible) to 5 (extreme) using .25 increments. Drum Cussac is Ohio State’s current provider of the Political Emergency and Natural Disaster (PEND) evacuation insurance.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notices – Issues travel notices to inform travelers about current health issues related to specific designations and are categorized by Warning Level 3 (avoid nonessential travel), Alert Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions) and Watch Level 1 (practice usual precautions).
- U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) – Issues comprehensive sanctions against countries that prohibit all direct or indirect imports/exports, trade brokering, financing or facilitating against most goods, technology and services.
Updates to the risk designated scale
Updates to the risk designations will be posted at the beginning of each month, however Ohio State may make immediate adjustments if conditions in a country change significantly. Travelers should always monitor advisories for their intended location by registering in the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
International Travel Policy Committee
The International Travel Policy Committee (ITPC), appointed by the provost, develops guidelines and policies to maintain the health and safety of Ohio State students, faculty and staff studying abroad or conducting research or business in another country.
The committee is also responsible for conducting a risk assessment for students planning to study in risk designated countries and provides approval (in consultation with the provost) for university-related travel to these locations. The ITPC approval process evaluates the academic value of travel balanced with the current health, safety and security conditions of the intended destination.
Ohio State Risk Tiers
Travel is highly discouraged and may be restricted to countries with a Tier 6 extreme risk rating. Some of the factors taken into consideration include a Level 4 travel advisory (do not travel) issued by the U.S. Department of State; a Level 3 warning (avoid nonessential travel) issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; risk rating above 4.25 assigned by Drum Cussac.
Implications for student travel:
- Ohio State does not administer undergraduate education abroad programs in Tier 6 extreme risk countries
Individual undergraduate student travel:
Individual graduate student travel:
- Individual graduate student travel requires submission of ITPC Risk Assessment and review and consensus by the ITPC Committee
- The assessment would require a strong academic rationale and assume the individual has prior experience in the country or region; significant language skills or native fluency; connection to a strong local partner (Government, NGO, university) and a significant security plan. Likely requirements will be established for logistics including transportation and accommodation. A routine check-in protocol with international risk management is required.
Travel is highly discouraged and may be restricted to countries with a Tier 5 signifiant risk rating. Some of the factors taken into consideration include a Level 4 travel advisory (do not travel) issued by the U.S. Department of State; a Level 3 warning (avoid nonessential travel) issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; risk rating above 4.0 assigned by Drum Cussac.
Implications for student travel:
- Ohio State does not administer undergraduate education abroad programs in Tier 5 significant risk destinations
Faculty-led or Group Programs:
- Graduate student education abroad programs in Tier 5: Significant Risk destinations require submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment. The sponsoring College would need a strong academic rationale for travel and support from the Dean or their designee.
- The assessment would assume faculty/staff leadership have prior experience in country; significant language skills, native fluency or access to full-time translators; and a connection to a strong local partner (government, NGO, university). Travel must be site specific and only to locations critical to the academic program. Likely requirements will be established for logistics including transportation and accommodation.
Individual undergraduate student travel:
Individual graduate student travel:
- Requires submission of ITPC Risk Assessment and review and consensus by the ITPC Committee.
- The assessment would require a strong academic rationale and assume the individual has prior experience in the country or region; significant language skills or native fluency; connection to a strong local partner (government, NGO, university) and a significant security plan. Likely recommendations will be established for logistics including transportation and accommodation. A routine check-in protocol with international risk management is required.
Travel may be restricted or confined to specific locations and there will be substantial requirements for the safety and security of students, faculty and staff. Some of the factors taken into consideration include countries issued a Level 2 (exercise increased caution) or Level 3 (reconsider travel) or regions issued a Level 4 (do not travel travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State; risk rating of 3.5 - 4 .0 assigned by Drum Cussac.
Faculty-led or Group Programs:
- Education abroad programming in Tier 4 High Risk countries requires completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment.
- The assessment would assume the academic rationale for the program cannot be accomplished in a location with a lower risk tier rating. Assessment would also assume that faculty/staff leadership would have significant language skills or native fluency, and a connection to a strong local partner (government, NGO, university). Travel must be site specific and only to locations critical to the academic program.
Exchange, Third-Party and Customized programs:
- Participation in Ohio State International Exchange (IEP), Third-Party Programs (TPP), or a Customized Experiential Educational Agreement may be limited to those students with a specific academic rationale and preparation (e.g. significant language experience).
Individual undergraduate student travel:
- Individual undergraduate student (e.g. university supported research, internship) travel is restricted.
- Individual undergraduate travel for select government sponsored programs (e.g. Boren, CLS, Project Go) is subject to ITPC review and approval.
- Extracurricular travel (away from an approved education abroad program site) is restricted.
Individual graduate student travel:
- Individual graduate student travel requires submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment and review and consensus of the ITPC committee.
Travel may be limited in country; certain forms of travel and programming may be restricted; some locations may require a higher level of in-country support, accommodations, transportation and logistics for the safety and security of students, faculty and staff. Some of the factors taken into consideration included countries issued a Level 2 (exercise increased caution) or Level 3 (reconsider travel) or regions issued a Level 4 (do not travel) travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State; comprehensive sanctions assigned by the OFAC; risk rating of 3.5 or less assigned by Drum Cussac.
Implications for student travel:
Faculty-led or Group Programs:
- Education abroad programming in Tier 3: Moderate Risk destinations requires completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and adherence to ITPC guidelines for the country.
- Travel may entail significant safety arrangements including specific on-site support, limitations on travel to specific regions and requirements on accommodations, transportation and other logistics.
Undergraduate student travel:
- Individual undergraduate student travel is limited and requires submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment for review and consensus of the ITPC committee.
- The risk assessment must include a statement of purpose and articulate relevancy of travel to the country to specific academic objectives. The Assessment assumes the individual student has prior experience in the country or region; significant language skills or native fluency; academic background in the location.
- Due to the diversity of the security profiles of countries in this category, there may be significant variation in approved opportunities between locations.
Graduate travel:
- Individual graduate student travel requires submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment and review by international risk management. Approval may entail significant safety arrangements including specific on-site support, limitations on travel to specific regions and requirements on accommodations, transportation and other logistics.
Travel to specific geographic locations may be restricted or require significant vetting. Some locations may require a higher level of in-country support, accommodations, transportation and logistics for the safety and security of students, faculty and staff. For areas that demonstrate inadequate healthcare resources, travelers may need to identify competent medical facilities in the area. Some of the factors taken into consideration include countries issued a Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) or Level 2 (exercise increased caution) or regions issued a Level 3 (reconsider travel) or Level 4 (do not travel) travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State; risk rating of 3.5 or higher assigned by Drum Cussac.
Implications for student travel:
- Education abroad programming and on-site faculty-led research to Tier 2 Specific Risk countries requires an initial International Risk Management Itinerary Review
- Objections to the risk management evaluation will require completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to review and consensus of the ITPC committee
Undergraduate student travel:
- Individual undergraduate travel requires submission of an International Risk Management Itinerary Review listing all travel destinations in the country
- May restrict or limit travel to specific regions
- Objections to the risk management evaluation will require completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to review and consensus of the ITPC committee
Graduate student travel:
- Individual graduate student travel requires submission of an International Risk Management Itinerary Review listing all travel destinations in the country
- May restrict or limit travel to specific regions
- Objections to the risk management evaluation will require completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to review and consensus of the ITPC committee
Travelers should not assume that travel to Tier 1 destinations is devoid of risk. Hazards such as inadequate medical facilities, ongoing demonstrations and exposure to tropical diseases do not necessarily result in a country being assigned to a higher tier. Travelers to these countries are still advised to read the country specific information at the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory and CDC destination profile prior to travel.
Ohio State Risk Designated Country List (Alphabetical)
Country | Overall Risk Rating |
Afghanistan | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Albania | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Algeria | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Andorra | Tier 4: High Risk |
Angola | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Anguilla | Tier 4: High Risk |
Antarctica | Tier 4: High Risk |
Antingua and Barbuda | Tier 4: High Risk |
Argentina | Tier 4: High Risk |
Armenia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Aruba | Tier 4: High Risk |
Australia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Austria | Tier 4: High Risk |
Azerbaijan | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Bahrain | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Bangladesh | Tier 4: High Risk |
Barbados | Tier 4: High Risk |
Belarus | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Belgium | Tier 4: High Risk |
Belize | Tier 4: High Risk |
Benin | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Bermuda | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Bhutan | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Bolivia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | Tier 4: High Risk |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Botswana | Tier 4: High Risk |
Brazil | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
British Virgin Islands | Tier 1: Universal Risk |
Brunei | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Bulgaria | Tier 4: High Risk |
Burkina Faso | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Burundi | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Country | Overall Risk Rating |
Cabo Verde | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Cambodia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Cameroon | Tier 4: High Risk |
Canada | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Cayman Islands | Tier 4: High Risk |
Central African Republic | Tier 6: High Risk |
Chad | Tier 6: High Risk |
Chile | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
China | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Colombia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Comoros | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Costa Rica | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Cote d'Ivoire | Tier 4: High Risk |
Croatia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Cuba | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Curacao | Tier 4: High Risk |
Cyprus | Tier 4: High Risk |
Czech Republic | Tier 4: High Risk |
Democratic Republic of Congo | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Denmark | Tier 4: High Risk |
Djibouti | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Dominica | Tier 4: High Risk |
Dominican Republic | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Ecuador | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Egypt | Tier 4: High Risk |
El Salvador | Tier 4: High Risk |
Equatorial Guinea | Tier 4: High Risk |
Eritrea | Tier 4: High Risk |
Estonia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Eswatini | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Ethiopia | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Fiji | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Finland | Tier 4: High Risk |
France | Tier 4: High Risk |
French Guiana | Tier 4: High Risk |
French Polynesia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
French West Indies | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Country | Overall Risk Rating |
Gabon | Tier 4: High Risk |
Georgia | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Germany | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Ghana | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Greece | Tier 4: High Risk |
Grenada | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Guatemala | Tier 4: High Risk |
Guinea | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Guinea-Bissau | Tier 4: High Risk |
Guyana | Tier 4: High Risk |
Haiti | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Honduras | Tier 4: High Risk |
Hong Kong | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Hungary | Tier 4: High Risk |
Iceland | Tier 4: High Risk |
India | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Indonesia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Iran | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Iraq | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Ireland | Tier 4: High Risk |
Israel, The West Bank and Gaza | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Italy | Tier 4: High Risk |
Jamaica | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Japan | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Jordan | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Kazakhstan | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Kenya | Tier 4: High Risk |
Kiribati | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Kosovo | Tier 4: High Risk |
Kuwait | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Laos | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Latvia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Lebanon | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Lesotho | Tier 4: High Risk |
Liberia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Libya | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Liechtenstein | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Lithuania | Tier 4: High Risk |
Luxembourg | Tier 4: High Risk |
Country | Overall Risk Rating |
Macau | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Madagascar | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Malawi | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Malaysia | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Maldives | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Mali | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Malta | Tier 4: High Risk |
Marshall Islands | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Mauritania | Tier 4: High Risk |
Mauritius | Tier 4: High Risk |
Mexico | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Micronesia | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Moldova | Tier 4: High Risk |
Mongolia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Montenegro | Tier 4: High Risk |
Montserrat | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Morocco | Tier 4: High Risk |
Mozambique | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Myanmar (Burma) | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Namibia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Nauru | Tier 4: High Risk |
Nepal | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Netherlands | Tier 4: High Risk |
New Caledonia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
New Zealand | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Nicaragua | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Niger | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Nigeria | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
North Korea | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
North Macedonia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Norway | Tier 4: High Risk |
Oman | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Pakistan | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Palau | Tier 1: Universal Risk |
Panama | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Papua New Guinea | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Paraguay | Tier 1: Universal Risk |
Peru | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Philippines | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Poland | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Portugal | Tier 4: High Risk |
Country | Overall Risk Rating |
Qatar | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Republic of the Congo | Tier 4: High Risk |
Romania | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Russia | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Rwanda | Tier 4: High Risk |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Tier 4: High Risk |
Saint Lucia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Samoa | Tier 4: High Risk |
Sao Tome | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Saudi Arabia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Senegal | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Serbia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Seychelles | Tier 4: High Risk |
Sierra Leone | Tier 4: High Risk |
Singapore | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Sint Maarten | Tier 4: High Risk |
Solvakia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Slovenia | Tier 4: High Risk |
Solomon Islands | Tier 4: High Risk |
Somalia | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
South Africa | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
South Korea | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
South Sudan | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Spain | Tier 4: High Risk |
Sri Lanka | Tier 4: High Risk |
Sudan | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Suriname | Tier 4: High Risk |
Sweden | Tier 4: High Risk |
Switzerland | Tier 4: High Risk |
Syria | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Country | Overall Risk Rating |
Taiwan | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Tajikistan | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Tanzania | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Thailand | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
The Bahamas | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
The Gambia | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
The Kyrgyz Republic | Tier 2: Specific Risk |
Timor-Leste | Tier 4: High Risk |
Togo | Tier 4: High Risk |
Tonga | Tier 4: High Risk |
Trinidad & Tobago | Tier 4: High Risk |
Tunisia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Turkey | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Turkmenistan | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Turks and Caicos Islands | Tier 4: High Risk |
Tuvalu | Tier 4: High Risk |
Uganda | Tier 4: High Risk |
Ukraine | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
United Arab Emirates | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
United Kingdom | Tier 4: High Risk |
Uruguay | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Uzbekistan | Tier 5: Significant Risk |
Vanuatu | Tier 4: High Risk |
Venezuela | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Vietnam | Tier 4: High Risk |
Yemen | Tier 6: Extreme Risk |
Zambia | Tier 3: Moderate Risk |
Zimbabwe | Tier 5: Significant Risk |