Safety abroad
During a stay abroad, situations might arise in which your safety is no longer guaranteed. Behavior that is not appropriate abroad can also pose a risk to yourself or others. Therefore, it is important to prepare well and conduct yourself accordingly during your stay.
As a rule, get information from your contact person at the host university and your coordinator at University of Hamburg during your stay.
Health abroad
- Make sure you are prepared for any illness abroad. The travel-related medical and pharmaceutical tips from the Federal Foreign Office (German only) provide a comprehensive overview, for example, of vaccinations and first-aid travel kits.
- You can usually get information about health insurance requirements in the host country from your host university or institution. We recommend taking out travel health insurance that includes coverage for a return trip—for example, health insurance from the DAAD that also includes accident and private liability insurance.
- Find out about local German-speaking and English-speaking doctors.
Safety and reachability in the host country
- Before you leave and throughout your stay in the host country, inform yourself by reading the travel and safety tips issued by the Federal Foreign Office (German only).
- Sign up to ELEFAND, the crisis prevention list used by the Federal Foreign Office (German only) to keep an electronic record of Germans abroad. The local diplomatic mission responsible can use the list to contact you quickly in the event of a disaster or crisis. If you are not a German national, please check for similar services of your embassy or consulate in the host country.
- The Federal Foreign Office’s Sicher Reisen app (German only) consolidates important information for a safe stay abroad and provides push notifications for your destination.
- You can use this for news and weather reports in your host country and to save important emergency numbers.
- Inform your contact person at the host university or institution and your coordinator at the University of Hamburg about any changes with regard to your reachability—for example, a new phone number or mailing address.
- Take part in the predeparture events hosted by your mobility program for important information and to clarify any questions.
- Inform yourself about the rights and recommended behaviors for LGBTIQ individuals in the destination country, if applicable.
- The DAAD’s tips on travel safety (German only) include further measures to observe before and during your stay.
How to behave abroad
- Inform yourself extensively about the cultural and social peculiarities of your host country and adapt to their customs. Follow the tips offered by your host university or institution. This will minimize any risks to yourself and others.
- We recommend avoiding demonstrations or other (politically motivated) crowds in your host country so that you do not endanger yourself or others.
- Before you leave for your destination, take part in intercultural training—for example, with PIASTA—to become aware of your own cultural socialization and to prepare for cultural differences.