International travel: what you need to know
08 Jul 2021
You must follow our overseas travel risk assessment approval process
The current pre-travel approval requirements for overseas travel are as below:
- Staff and students must seek approval from their Head of School or Director for all overseas travel.
- Travel will only be approved when no virtual-based alternative form of contact/research/experience is available.
- Where travel is proved to be essential, a travel risk assessment must be prepared to seek pre-travel approval.
The approval process applies to all business travel by staff and students, including research fieldwork. However, travel for the purpose of an undergraduate international placement should be guided by COVID-19 principles and guidance for international mobility for taught programmes 2021/22 as approved by Teaching and Learning Group March 2021.
Overseas pre-travel approval process flowchart
To enable the University to continue its business and operate as normally as possible, we have a duty of care to all staff and students while they travel overseas. Additional consideration to the overall risk potential must be given, over and above our usual travel risk assessment. This extra duty of care must play a major part of any pre-travel approval process.
In addition to the country risk of terrorism, political and civil unrest, the following COVID-focused assessment must be considered as part of the pre-travel approval process for all overseas travel requests.
Overall country risk:
- latest COVID situation (coronavirus statistics/coronavirus worldometer)
- health care infrastructure (AIG travel guard country report)
- entry / exit requirements of the country (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice)
- re-entry rules for entering England (red, amber and green list rules)
- personal risk including pre-existing medical conditions and vaccination
If a trip is to a country of 'moderate' risk in infrastructure, such travel amid COVID-19 is considered to be extreme risk. Travellers must submit their travel request, together with a contingency plan in their risk assessment, to the Head of School for approval.
Please refer to the flowchart illustrated above and you should consult our recently-updated overseas travel risk assessment approval process and travel FAQs for further guidance.
The pandemic situation across the globe is still very fluid with the possibility of a third wave in some countries, which could lead to local lockdowns in-country and the possibility of a change in the travel restrictions both in and out of the UK with little or no warning.
Travel insurance
If you are insured under our University business travel policy, please visit our travel insurance page for the latest advice.
We also strongly recommend that you sign up for health alerts with our insurance provider AIG and download their travel assistance app if you are intending to travel.
More information: