The MacMillan Center’s International Travel Policy for Students
Students travelling abroad with Yale-administered funds must adhere to the MacMillan Center’s International Travel Policy for Students. Make sure that you have reviewed the Policy below carefully before embarking on your trip.
When making your travel plans we strongly encourage you to review the applicable country reports on Yale’s International SOS member website and take into account U.S. Department of State travel warnings and consular sheets.
You should stay informed of State Department travel advisories for the duration of your time abroad. Travelers may request a custom safety and security briefing from International SOS prior to travel, using this form. Additional resources in support of the Policy may be viewed here.
- Regardless of a student’s country of citizenship or residence, MacMillan Center will not fund, or otherwise sponsor or support any international academic or extracurricular project in any country for which at least one of the following conditions have been met:
- The U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Advisory Level 4 “Do Not Travel” for the country.
Students who intend to travel to a country for which the U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Advisory Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” should meet with an adviser for their program to discuss the heightened security risks.
NOTE: Students are responsible for carefully following all State Department Travel Advisories regardless of whether or not these advisories fall short of restricting student travel to the country. For example, an advisory might issue a “do not travel” advisory to specific parts of the country or highlight the dangers of undertaking particular activities in the country. Students are expected to monitor such advisories and to take appropriate precautions, avoiding any specified areas or activities.
- International SOS has issued a Travel Global Risk Rating of “Extreme” or “High” for the country.
NOTE: Students are responsible for carefully following all International SOS Risk Ratings regardless of whether or not these ratings fall short of restricting student travel to the country. For example, a rating may be “Extreme” or “High” in specific parts of the country. Students are expected to monitor such advisories and to take appropriate precautions, avoiding any specified areas or activities.
- Yale has determined that travel to this country poses a credible health or security risk to students.
- Travel restrictions will apply through the date of departure. If such a restriction comes into effect after the student’s departure, the University reserves the right to end its sponsorship at that time, and to require the student to end the trip and leave the country. Such determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis. No exceptions to this policy will be made and Yale reserves the right to decline to fund projects in particular regions if it so decides.
- Before departure, students must provide the University a statement in a Risk Waiver form provided by the University, acknowledging their understanding of the risks of such travel, affirming that they have reviewed and understand relevant safety-related materials, and assuming the risks related to their international travel.
Conducting Academic Work in Cuba and Iran
Students wishing to travel to Cuba and Iran should visit the International Toolkit website to review the requirements:
International Travel and COVID-19:
The MacMillan Center remains committed to supporting student research overseas even during these turbulent times. Because students’ health and safety is our top priority, we partner with students to make well-informed decisions about conducting research abroad.
We recommend that you confirm with a medical professional that there are no health-related reasons that preclude you from traveling. As a Yale community member, you will be automatically enrolled in the ISOS Travel Assistance Program. Please review the ISOS eligibility criteria, coverage details, and claim reimbursement procedures here. If you have personal health insurance coverage through Yale or another provider you should check with those providers for details of your personal coverage while abroad. MacMillan and Yale are not responsible for additional medical needs or costs not covered by ISOS and your own health insurance coverage.
Current Yale travel policy for students requires that they complete the travel self-assessment when making plans to travel internationally. All travelers must be prepared to follow all government regulations and guidelines for their destination(s).
You may be required to obtain visas before travelling to certain countries. If a visa is required, obtain it from the appropriate embassy or nearest foreign consular representative before proceeding abroad or consult with CIBT. Allow sufficient time for processing your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail. If you are a U.S. citizen, to see if the country you are travelling to has such visa requirements, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.
We also strongly urge all U.S. citizens to register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country(s) you are travelling to as part of your grant or fellowship. For more information and to register click here. Non-U.S. citizens should register with the embassy or consulate of their own country.
You may need to be immunized before travelling to some countries. To have your immunization requirements evaluated please make an appointment to visit the Student Health (203-432-8148) as soon as possible. Travel consultations and vaccines administered in preparation for travel are not a covered benefit so you will be charged the full amount for these services.
You are responsible for ensuring desired insurance coverage during your time abroad. Yale University Health Services provides limited coverage only. To learn more visit YHP website.
Travellers on Yale-related business (including students travelling on study abroad programs, doing research, attending conferences, or student organization travel) now have coverage for up to $250,000 in out-of-country medical expenses for treatment of accidents or sicknesses that occur while travelling through International SOS Global Travel Assistance Program. This coverage includes 14 days of personal travel deviation. If a traveller extends his/her trip, either before or after the Yale business component of the trip, e.g., to tour the area or visit another country, this coverage will still apply up to a maximum of 14 days. For more information, visit ISOS and scroll down to the section labeled “Out-of-Country Medical Care Coverage.” Please note that this coverage does not apply if the traveller is travelling to his/her country of citizenship.
Yale University provides ISOS Travel Assistance at no cost to all current students. ISOS provides international and domestic emergency medical, security and travel assistance services anywhere in the world. For more information and to print a ISOS ID card, please go here.
Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, most fellowship monies are considered taxable income. Certain fellowships are “qualified,” in which case specific portions of the funds awarded may be deductible. Fellowship recipients are advised to consult a tax adviser regarding the declaration of fellowship funds and to review carefully Chapter I of the IRS Publication 970 - Tax Benefits for Education. While the MacMillan Center cannot offer tax advice, the IRS Tax Office on Court Street, New Haven, offers free tax advice.
If you are a Non-U.S. citizen (except for resident alien for tax purposes under F or J visa status) and your research/study is conducted outside the U.S., there is no tax-withholding or reporting requirement. Since the tax laws are complex and may apply differently in individual circumstances, MacMillan staff cannot advise you on tax-related issues. International students should contact Daysi Cardona, International Tax Coordinator, with questions at daysi.cardona@yale.edu.