Managing risk for study and work abroad placements

We aim to

• Maintain the quality and standards of the placements
• Ensure parity for students
• Ensure the health and safety of students
• Reduce financial risk for students and for Goldsmiths

This guides our risk assessment process. For study and work abroad placements that are credit-bearing, form part of your degree and are supported by the Global Opportunities team, an enhanced risk assessment of your host institution will be undertaken. For shorter placements or summer activity, students will be provided with a risk assessment to be completed by themselves in advance of the placement

All students must have travel insurance in place prior to starting their placement. If the placement is credit-bearing this will be provided by Goldsmiths. If the placement is not credit-bearing it is the responsibility of the student to organise. Check out our insurance pages for more information.

Status of study or work abroad destination

Before a study or work placement can be approved the following conditions must be met:

• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office must not advise against all but essential travel
• Appropriate insurance cover must be in place
• The host organisation must confirm that they are able to host you safely
• Goldsmiths must approve travel

In order to assess the risk of a particular study or work abroad destination, the following traffic light system will be used based on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice.

Staus	Situation	Outcome
Green	FCO guidance allows travel to the destination and The host organisation is able to provide planned activity	Placement approved as long as risk assessment requirements met. Student can remain abroad or travel to placement if they have not already departed. Regular review of risk assessment
Amber	FCO guidance allows travel to the destination and The host organisation is able to provide some level of provision, but this is significantly restricted	Placement approved as long as risk assessment requirements met. Student can remain abroad or travel to placement if they have not already departed. Regular review of risk assessment
Amber/Red	FCO guidance allows travel to the destination and Host organisation is not able to provide physical activity, either due to the extent of lockdown restrictions or due to government orders to remain closed. Remote option available.	Student can remain in the host destination and continue remotely or return to their permanent place of residence. If a student hasn’t departed Goldsmiths will consult with the host organisation and consider appropriate action. Regular review of risk assessment
Red/Amber	FCO advises against all but essential travel to the destination area	Goldsmiths will consider the situation based on FCO guidance and advice from the host organisation and may advise students to return home. If students have not departed they will not be allowed to travel but a remote start may be considered.
Red	FCO advises against all but essential travel to the destination area and FCO is advising British Nationals to leave the area	Recall students: Goldsmiths will request students to return home. If students have not departed they will not be allowed to travel but a remote start may be considered.

When there is a change to the status of a study abroad destination, Goldsmiths will review the information based on the agreed guiding principles and the traffic light system and communicate to students.