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Safety Abroad

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The Department of Campus Safety, in partnership with the Office of Global Affairs, works to create a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to pursue their educational and professional goals and aspirations. A New York-based campus safety officer is available 24/7 to assist with international emergencies at +1 (212) 998-2222.

Before you depart for your program, please be sure to read travel advisory and alerts for the country you will be visiting. The U.S. Department of State website provides safety and security information for every country around the world.

Identification

You must travel on your original passport. We also recommend keeping two copies of your passport’s biographic page and any visas with you when you travel. Prior to travel, make a note of the address of the embassy or consulate in (or nearest to) your destination city. This is important to have on hand if you lose your passport, are the victim of a crime, or end up involved with the local authorities.

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Emergencies

To report an emergency while studying abroad, students are recommended to follow the below actions based on the nature of their emergency:

In a life- or limb-threatening emergency:

  • Call the in-country emergency phone number for police, fire, and/or ambulance services. You can find the emergency number for your host country in the Safe NYU app and on Wikipedia’s List of Emergency Telephone Numbers page.
  • As soon as possible, contact your program’s faculty leader to report the incident and receive additional support. Alternatively, call NYU Campus Safety at +1 (212) 998-2222 to report the emergency.

For urgent medical needs:

  • If at an NYU global site, Student Life and Residential Life staff can assist you in obtaining help at a local Emergency Room or with making an appointment at a nearby clinic or hospital. Otherwise, contact your program leader for assistance with getting to a nearby clinic/hospital.

For urgent mental health needs:

  • Call the Wellness Exchange 24/7 hotline at (212) 443-9999
  • Or call NYU Campus Safety 24/7 at (212) 998-2222

Communication During and After an Incident

Should there be an incident that may potentially impact an NYU study abroad program abroad, please note the following communication plan:

  • Your program’s faculty leader will serve as your primary point of contact. Depending on the nature of the incident, you may also receive communications from the local Global Site staff, Global Affairs, and/or Campus Safety.
  • NYU Traveler, in which all participants are automatically enrolled, is used in the event of an emergency situation to alert university administrators of all students in a particular location, based on registration information. NYU administrators will contact students abroad to ensure their safety.
  • If you have questions during the incident, please contact your faculty leader. If you are not able to reach them immediately, contact the local NYU global site staff or NYU Campus Safety.

Sexual Assault

We strongly advise that you obtain help from a professional counselor as soon as possible. You don’t have to give your name if you prefer to remain anonymous.

Theft

If any of your possessions are lost or stolen, contact a local NYU staff member for assistance with reporting the loss to the police. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims. Also, report the loss of airline tickets to the airline or travel agent and your passport to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Be sure to make copies of your airline ticket, passport identification page, driver’s license, and credit cards prior to travel and to keep them separate from the actual documents. This may help you replace these items if they are lost or stolen.

Terrorism, Political Unrest, War, or Natural Disaster

  • Report your whereabouts by contacting your on-site faculty member immediately.
  • Return to your living quarters, if possible to do safely, and await contact from program staff or local authorities. Follow their instructions; specific response plans will vary according to the situation at hand.

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Safety Best Practices

The same safety measures that apply in New York apply worldwide. Below are a few guidelines:

  • Be aware of your belongings at all times and do not bring what you do not need.
  • Never walk alone at night.
  • Use the buddy system whenever possible.
  • Be aware of pickpockets, especially on public transportation and in tourist areas.
  • Be concerned with what people might be taking from you, but also what they might be giving you! Do not accept items, food, or drinks from anyone you do not know.
  • Learn about the local laws of your host country and the countries you plan to visit prior to your departure.
  • If you travel alone anywhere, let your program leader know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Obey Local law

An arrest or accident during your study abroad experience can result in a difficult legal situation. Your U.S. citizenship does not make you exempt from full prosecution under another country’s criminal justice system. Many countries impose harsh penalties for violations that would be considered minor in the United States. If you find yourself in a legal jam, contact the closest U.S. Consulate, U.S. Consular Agency, or the U.S. embassy for assistance. Keep in mind that U.S. consular employees cannot arrange for local officials to release detained American citizens.

Protect Personal Belongings

Keep wallets, cell phones, laptops, passports, and other valuables with you at all times. Crimes of opportunity can be minimized by safeguarding your property and not leaving it unattended.

Alcohol and Illegal Drugs

“Overdoing it” leads to the majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes, and deaths suffered by American students when traveling to international destinations. In addition and as in the U.S., disturbing the peace, lewd behavior, driving under the influence, and drinking on the street or on public transportation may all be considered criminal activities by local authorities.

Don’t import, purchase, use, or have drugs in your possession. Drug charges can carry severe penalties.

All study abroad program participants are bound by the NYU Substance Abuse and Alcoholic Beverages policy while on their program.

Pickpockets

Be aware of pickpockets in crowded situations, including on public transportation, at tourist sites, and in dining establishments. Carry your wallet in the front pants pocket or use a bag that zippers shut and can be held close to your body.

ATM Security

The best time to use ATMs is during daylight hours. Use bank-affiliated ATMs whenever possible. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; avoid counting or displaying money on the street.

Taxi Safety

Always confirm that you are using a legal taxi rather than an illegitimate transportation service. Legal taxis generally have a meter, a taxi sign on top of the car, and the taxi driver’s I.D. with the driver’s photo on display. If using a ride-share service (e.g., Uber), make sure to double-check that the car model, license plate numbers, and the driver’s name match the information in the app.

Residence Hall and Hotel Room Security

Program participants are prohibited from bringing guests into NYU-provided housing. This includes friends, family members, and significant others. There are no exceptions. Violation of this policy can result in immediate dismissal from the program.

When staying at NYU provided housing, be sure to lock ALL doors when you leave your room and when you go to sleep – your room doors, the apartment doors, and the front door of the residence hall or hotel room. Report any suspicious persons immediately to a Residence Assistant (RA), Security Officer, or concierge on staff.

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Safe NYU APP

Safe NYU is New York University’s free mobile campus safety app, created to provide safety information for more than 190 countries on six continents. The app offers preparedness tips, transportation information, and emergency numbers at the tap of an icon. The application offers the following safety features:

  • Emergency Contacts – quick access to local emergency responders and NYU duty emergency lines.
  • Mobile Blue Light – simultaneously send your location and call NYU Campus Safety.
  • Friend Walk – share your location with a friend who will monitor you as you walk to your destination.
  • Report An Incident – easily report an incident by cellphone via in-app forms, real-time chats, or voice calls.
  • Support Resources – link to community services info about Wellness Exchange & Bias Response Line, etc.
  • Local In-country Maps – gain access to local metro area transportation maps (e.g., bus, train, etc.) and related information.
  • Emergency Procedures – describes emergency situations and how to survive them.
  • Safety Toolbox – set of tools to enhance safety (e.g., Flashlight, Share Map With Your Location, etc.)

The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Download it now and be prepared for when you travel abroad.

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NYU Traveler

Students will be registered in NYU Traveler, the university’s trip tracking and emergency response service. NYU Traveler provides travelers with the following benefits:

  • Country Information: including currency tips, transportation overview, and cultural norms
  • Safety Report: delivered the day before departure, as applicable, highlighting travel warnings
  • Proactive Alerts: emailed alerts during your trip in case of local incidents
  • Outreach if the university becomes aware of local unrest, we may attempt to establish contact and provide support

Students are encouraged to use NYU Traveler to report personal trips to other cities or countries prior to and/or after their study abroad program.

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Computer Data & Internet Security

Traveling abroad requires particular attention to safety, security, and compliance considerations for your computer and all other electronic devices and for the data on those devices. We recommend that NYU students consult the Technology Compliance and Security Abroad website before traveling so that they are aware of best practices for device security when traveling abroad. Below are a few guidelines for your consideration regarding the use of computers and mobile devices abroad:

Before You Leave

  • Ensure that you will be able to use NYU Multi-Factor Authentication to access NYU services while traveling.
  • Secure your device with a strong password and install O.S. security updates and anti-virus, anti-spyware, and, if possible, firewall software.
  • Install anti-virus software.

While Traveling Abroad

  • Consider using NYU VPN services to access NYU resources, where permitted.
  • Refrain from using internet services at Internet cafes, airports, or other public locations to access NYU data and services.
  • If a device is taken away from you in another country and given back, it very well may have been compromised. Report that information to NYU IT Office of Information Security (OIS) and request guidance.

Upon Your Return

  • If you notice any unusual activity with your accounts once you have returned, use a trusted computer to change any passwords you used while traveling and report the activity to the Office of Information Security.

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Travel Insurance

While it’s not mandatory that you purchase personal property travel insurance, we strongly recommend that you consider it before your travel begins, particularly if you are bringing electronics with you. 

The Gallagher & Co. College Student Property & Renters Insurance, a company that provides international personal property/effects insurance, is the same company that offers a similar policy for students’ personal items on the NYU campus in New York. Please visit the College Student Property & Renters Insurance website for more information.

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Additional Safety Resources

NYU Department of Campus Safety

NYU Information Technology

NYU Wellness Exchange

U.S. Department of State: Travel.State.Gov

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