Study Abroad Incorporates Many Safety Precautions

Parents sometimes worry their student may be susceptible to danger while studying abroad. But it’s actually a pretty safe experience. A mere 1.9 percent of students studying abroad reported an incident between Jan. 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, according to the Student Risk Report, published by The Forum on Education Abroad. This equates to about one in 52 students.

The most commonly reported incident during the first six months of 2024 was property loss. The second most common was a physical health or illness issue, followed by a mental health crisis. All of these incidents were largely addressed successfully, with 89 percent of students returning to their program afterward, according to the report.
 
St. Norbert College takes plenty of precautions before approving a study abroad program, and staff continually monitor and assess all approved study abroad sites. Some of the things the college considers before giving a program the green light is a locale’s current safety rating according to the U.S. State Department's Travel Advisories, and whether there is easy access to health services, says Alli Reed, global experiences coordinator. 
 
The college also uses International SOS, which provides medical and travel security information and expertise, both before students depart and while they’re abroad. It also has its own 24/7 emergency on-call system.

In addition, students are required to sign up for the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, operated through the U.S. State Department. Once a student enrolls their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate, they receive information about safety conditions in their destination country. Enrollment in STEP also helps the U.S. Embassy contact them in an emergency, whether that’s a natural disaster, civil unrest or a family emergency.
 
“We’ve always been able to resolve any safety or security issues with our students, plus any health issues,” Reed says, noting the most common snag SNC students report is losing their phone. “We have a couple of those every semester.”
 
Sometimes this occurs when a student sets down their phone on a café table, then forgets to pick it up when they leave. Other times a pickpocket snatches it.

Parents can help ensure safety
If your student is preparing to head abroad, there are several things you can do to help ensure they have a good experience. First, make sure to have a chat about alcohol consumption, says Reed — it’s the biggest contributing factor to student health and safety. 
 
In most foreign countries, the legal drinking age is 18. This means students often find themselves able to drink legally for the first time. So talk to your student about responsible alcohol consumption and how they should always have a plan if they intend to drink. 
 
“They should plan to use the buddy system, they should plan a meeting place and time in case they get separated or someone’s phone dies, and they should plan a safe way to get back to their housing,” says Reed.
 
It’s also helpful to speak with your student about the process of adjusting to another culture. Many cultures are more laid back than the U.S., often responding to emails and other communiques at a slower pace, for example. Students’ digestive systems may need to adjust to new foods, and there may be language barriers. If your student calls home about such issues, assure them these are normal.
 
“In these moments of culture shock, it’s important to help your student distinguish between feeling uncomfortable versus feeling unsafe,” Reed says. “These smaller discomforts may make a student feel as though they will not be successful abroad, but this is a normal reaction to experiencing culture shock.”
 
Finally, remind your student to share both the positives and the negatives. “We often see students venting to their parents about cultural adjustments if they’ve had a bad day, but they can forget to talk about the good times, too,” Reed says. 
 
Most SNC students, in fact, rave about their time abroad. “Not one of my students has reported regretting their study abroad experience,” Reed says, including those who initially struggled. She also says the growth SNC sees in these students once back on campus is undeniable. “In many cases, it feels as though I am talking to a brand new person.” 

Last updated January 2025