First and foremost, we want you to have a fantastic time during your time away. However, if you do find yourself needing wellbeing support, we are here to help you access the most appropriate and accessible resources to meet your needs. 

Mental health support and counselling

If you require mental health support or counselling, the Student Health and Wellbeing Service can offer you an initial telephone appointment to discuss your needs and concerns. However, we are not able to provide ongoing counselling if you are outside the UK. This is to ensure your needs are best met and your safety is prioritised. The most appropriate resources are often those within your host institution or city. 

Disability support

Please remember that you can continue to engage with our Disability Team as usual, even while you are abroad. They are available to help and support with any disability-related concerns you may have. If you require remote appointments with the Disability Team, please let us know, and we will make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

While we aim to support you as much as possible, it's essential to note that we do not have an emergency or out-of-hours service available. It is important that you acquaint yourself with the relevant urgent help resources in the location you will be based in. 

Reach out to the Student Health and Wellbeing Service

If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding your well-being, counselling, or disability support while you are away, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Student Health and Wellbeing Service. We are committed to helping you make the most of your experience abroad while ensuring your well-being remains a priority.

Monthly welfare check-ins

The Global Opportunities Team will send you a monthly email to check you’re well and happy. The email will contain a link to an online form for you to select from the following options:

• I am well and I don't need further support at the moment
• I am well, but I need to ask an administrative or practical question about my placement
• Something serious has happened and/or I am experiencing personal issues and would benefit from some extra support

It is essential that you complete the online form. If you don’t, we will contact you again after five days, ten days, fifteen days and twenty days. If you still do not respond we will contact the host institution, your School Exchange Coordinator, and eventually your next of kin.

Settling in

When you arrive for your placement abroad, make sure you take time to adjust. You might experience jetlag, but you’ll settle in quickly if you drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, eat healthy food, exercise and rest.

Being apart from your friends, family, and your everyday routines can be quite a challenge. It's natural to experience a mix of emotions, like homesickness, fatigue, and even a little stress. Don't be surprised if you're feeling a blend of excitement and nervousness – that's totally normal. The key here is to embrace your feelings and take the initiative to reach out for support when you need it, whether it's from friends, family, your personal tutor, School Exchange Coordinator, or staff at your host university.

Register for in-country alerts

Sign up to receive country alerts for each country you will be travelling to or through during your time abroad. The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will email you if any of their security advice changes. This could include natural disasters, illness epidemics, terrorist threats, transport problems etc).

Personal safety and socialising

Just like in the UK, you’ll need to keep yourself safe when you’re out and about. It’s important to remember that cultural differences and language barriers might make it harder for you to assess potential dangers in social situations.

• Don’t walk alone after dark, and travel in a group when you’re in an area you’re not familiar with. Find out which areas you should avoid.
• Plan journeys in advance and make sure you have payment with you. Only use licensed taxis.
• Pickpockets are very common. Don’t leave your belongings unattended and hold tightly onto your bags. Avoid interacting with people on the street that you don’t know and stay on the alert. Don’t carry too much cash with you, and don’t display valuable items.
• Don’t agree to carry bags or additional goods for anyone.
• Remember that alcohol significantly reduces your ability to assess danger and can make you more vulnerable to attack.

Eating and drinking

One of the exciting aspects of adapting to life in a different country is the opportunity to sample new cuisines and savour the must-try dishes of the region. It's all about being adventurous and exploring novel flavours, but it's equally essential to exercise caution and be aware of what you're eating.

In some countries, it's wise to steer clear of certain items like ice cream, ice in beverages, unpasteurized milk, unpeeled fruits, or salads that may have been washed in potentially contaminated water. Street food, while delicious, can sometimes carry higher health risks.

If you have specific dietary needs, it's crucial to thoroughly research your destination. You might discover that replicating your home diet could be challenging, so it's essential to identify what options are available that align with your requirements.

Your time abroad will more than likely be an amazing experience without any major issues. But, just like when you’re in Newcastle, unexpected things can happen. This might be a personal emergency such as being the victim of a crime or falling seriously ill. Or it could be a regional or national crisis caused by things like earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, or even civil unrest like protests and riots.

If you experience an incident, you should contact:

• The team that looks after exchange students and your academic supervisor at your host institution.
• Student support or the student welfare/wellbeing team at your host institution.
• Your personal tutor and School Exchange Coordinator at Newcastle know.
• The Global Opportunities team by emailing [email protected].

If it is an emergency

1. If you need urgent help, please call the local emergency services.
2. For emergency medical and travel assistance, contact the University's insurance provider, AIG by phoning +44 (0)1273 552 922.

If, after contacting the two sources of help above first, you need urgent support from the University, you can contact the Student Health and Wellbeing Service. They are available between 09:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays and University closure days:

• By telephone on +44 (0)191 208 3333
• By email at [email protected]

Out of office hours, you can call the University’s 24-hour security line. They will then follow the emergency escalation procedure and contact the relevant out-of-hours emergency contacts.

• +44 (0)191 208 6817

Insurance

Current registered Newcastle University students participating in an overseas placement will receive insurance cover from AIG Travel Assistance. For details of the policy, download the Summary of Student Insurance Cover (PDF 0.7MB). For more information, download the Student Travel Pack (PDF 1MB). Their website provides:

• Security awareness training
• Country reports
• Security travel alerts
• Global New roundup
• MyHealthPortal, an online health clinic with access to fully trained nurses in the UK via phone, email, SMS or online chat

We strongly recommend that you download the AIG Travel Assistance App which will ensure effective travel risk management. Whether it’s prior to travel, during your time abroad, or returning home. The app provides you with convenient access to in-depth travel, security and health information 24/7/365.

AIG Travel Assistance contact details:

• Emergency medical and travel assistance 24/7: +44 (0) 1273 552 922
• Money and personal property claims: 0344 892 0319 (UK only) or +44 (0)20 7359 3433 (Worldwide). Or email: [email protected] (Open 08:00-18:00, Mon-Fri UK time)
• All other claims: +44 (0)34 5602 9429 or email: [email protected] (Open 09:15-17:00, Mon-Fri UK time)
• All other enquiries: +44 (0) 1273 552 922 (Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)