Staff/Faculty

Know a student traveling abroad? While staff and faculty are not affected by the university’s requirements around Safety Abroad, it is good for staff and faculty working with students to be aware of the requirements and how the university community can work together to support students in having a safe experience abroad.

Update Notice

We have recently (May 2025) updated the tabs at the bottom of this page with further resources or information.

We appreciate your feedback. If you have suggestions for additional resources or changes, please email safety.abroad@utoronto.ca.

Attention: Scheduled Maintenance

The Safety Abroad Registry will be offline from 5PM to 9PM EST Friday June 6th 2025 for maintenance. During this time, students will not be able to access the Safety Abroad Registry. Access should be restored as of 9PM EST June 6th 2025. Should you have any questions or concerns, please email Safety.Abroad@utoronto.ca.

What is an Activity Sponsor?

All activities are connected to a university unit, department or faculty member that has oversight over the activity. These units, departments or faculty members are referred to as activity sponsors in safety abroad.

Activity Sponsors Can Be:

  • Academic supervisors directly responsible for student field research
  • Staff administering student exchange, course for credit programs and internship opportunities
  • Anyone who sanctions or financially contributes to student-organized extracurricular activities
Am I an Activity Sponsor?

Staff and faculty sponsoring international travel (including providing students with funding, academic credit or sponsoring academic research) have responsibilities within the University Policy Framework on Off-Campus Safety.

Staff and faculty should also review the Environmental Health & Safety Off Campus Safety webpage.

Activity Sponsors should familiarize themselves with the full list of requirements for sending students abroad on U of T sponsored events. Student responsibilities are outlined in the Get Started: Students page of this site.

What is involved in being an Activity Sponsor?

Regions identified as “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” or “Avoid All Travel” by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) are considered higher risk travel destinations.

Travel for university activities to these higher risk locations will not be approved for undergraduate and Masters level students. If you know of undergraduate or Masters students considering travel to these locations, please let them know, and you and/or the student can contact safety.abroad@utoronto.ca to explore alternative options.

PhD students travelling for research essential to completing their degree requirements may be eligible for an exception. Please ask the student to discuss with their supervisor and reach out to safety.abroad@utoronto.ca for guidance.

If Safety Abroad supports the student in moving forward with a request for approval, then please note that the student’s supervisor will also need to support with the process. Please also note that final approvals are not from Safety Abroad. Final approvals will come from the Department Chair and/or Division Head depending on the advisory level of the region. Depending on the complexity of the student’s experience, the process can take between 2-6 weeks on average.

If the higher risk travel is approved, Safety Abroad can then support students in completing the Safety Abroad requirements.

Do you have any questions that haven’t been answered on this page? Please email us: safety.abroad@utoronto.ca 

Faculty & Staff Travel

Staff and faculty are not required to register their travel with U of T Student Safety Abroad. However, we encourage you to consult our resource pages and you can reach out to U of T Safety Abroad for information prior to travel. Staff and faculty can refer to the International SOS Services for U of T Faculty, Staff, and Librarians, and are encouraged to reach out to U of T HR and/or their divisions for more information and guidance.

Staff & Faculty Supporting Student Travel Outside of Canada

If you are involved in supporting students travelling outside of Canada for university activities, please review the below resources for guidance on planning, pre-departure information, emergency resources, and additional resources for supporting students in their travel planning. If you have any questions or concerns about the information below, or if you would like to meet with a member of the Safety Abroad team to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us: safety.abroad@utoronto.ca.

Planning Travel

Staff and faculty acting as activity sponsors or travelling with students can reach out to U of T Safety Abroad for support in organizing and preparing a travel activity for students, including arranging Q&A sessions for a group.

While planning activities, please review:

We’d also recommend reviewing the International SOS Member Portal, a collection of useful tools and resources for planning travel.

Before Departure: What to Share with Students

Prior to student travel, please share the following information with them:

  • Safety Abroad requirements: students must complete all Safety Abroad pre-departure requirements prior to departure. Tip: We recommend setting a deadline 4-6 weeks prior to help students organize their time.
  • In an Emergency resources: remind students to review the resources available in an emergency, especially those offered by International SOS, and program the numbers into their devices. We also strongly advise students write down the numbers to carry with them, in case they aren’t able to access their devices.
  • Mental health resources: let students know that they have access to mental health resources while outside of Canada, and that they can reach out any time for support.

For templates and slides to help distribute this information, please refer to the Resources to Share with Students tab.

In Case of Emergency

Staff and faculty supporting student travel should be aware of the resources available In an Emergency, and can reach out at any time for support and assistance. Please ensure that you also share these resources with students travelling abroad, and with any faculty or staff travelling with them. Slides and email templates are available under the Resources to Share with Students tab.

If you need urgent support, please call Safety Abroad 24/7 via Campus Safety: +1 416-978-2222.

International SOS Resources

International SOS also has useful tools available via the U of T Member Portal. Please refer to the below International SOS Guide for some essential tips and instructions on how to navigate the International SOS portal and access up-to-date information for your destination. The guide includes:

  • Instructions on how to navigate the Member Portal
  • Viewing and downloading a Destination Guide with security advice, vaccination recommendations, and active alerts. 
  • Step-by-step process to sign up for health and security email alerts. 
  • An explanation of how to interpret different types of alerts. 
  • A link to download the iSOS Assistance app, allowing you to receive alerts directly to your device.

Access the International SOS Guide.

Further Resources

Travel Health Insurance Information for Students – Students are required to secure sufficient and appropriate travel health insurance prior to departure.

Resources available In an Emergency – 24/7 support for any urgent situations.

Mental health resources available outside of Canada – Travelling and studying abroad can trigger mental health issues such as stress, depression and homesickness.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre – Support for students, staff and faculty who have been affected by sexual violence or sexual harassment.

U of T Accessibility Services – Support for students experiencing ongoing or temporary disabilities.

Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO) – Provides innovative education, programming, resources and advocacy on sexual and gender diversity for students, faculty, librarians, and staff across the University’s three campuses.

As an Activity Sponsor, and/or as someone supporting students travelling abroad, you may need to remind students to complete their pre-departure Safety Abroad requirements. Not sure if this applies to you? Please Email us at safety.abroad@utoronto.ca or refer to the FAQs tab above for more information about the Activity Sponsor role.

The Safety Abroad team have developed several resources that staff and faculty can share with students travelling outside of Canada:

  • Email Reminder Template: to ask students to complete their pre-departure Safety Abroad requirements, ensuring students review the Global Affairs Canada Travel Advisories, secure appropriate and sufficient travel health insurance, and add their trips to the Safety Abroad Registry, including completing Consent & Terms of Participation waivers.

  • Presentation Slides and Script: to share the pre-departure requirements and resources available outside of Canada with students. These slides help provide structured guidance for students to understand their responsibilities and prepare for a safe and well-informed international experience.

Request Access to Resources

An Activity Sponsor is the U of T staff or faculty member who knows the most about the student’s travel and can support Safety Abroad with more information about the student and their activity, in case of a situation that may impact the student and/or their academics.

The Safety Abroad office continuously monitors global events. If an emergency occurs abroad involving U of T students, we will be in contact with the affected students, and coordinate with the activity sponsor listed if additional support is needed.

Please note that we do not expect Activity Sponsors to be on call 24/7 (as that is our role). Rather we will reach out during regular office hours should we need your support.

University activity is defined as any of the following:

  • Activity that is funded in part or in whole by the university
  • Activity that is organized, sanctioned, recognized, or administered by the university
  • Activity which provides participants with academic credit

Faculty and staff often organize field trips, internships, research opportunities, study exchanges, conferences, and other events abroad. Travel for activities related to the student’s degree or research at the University of Toronto (e.g. conferences) is also considered to be a university activity.

In addition, if you are signing any documents supporting the student’s travel outside of Canada (e.g. internship forms), then the activity would also be considered to be sanctioned by U of T, and students should complete the Safety Abroad requirements.

Finally, it’s important to note that travel-related funding (e.g. International Experience Awards, SGS grants, and others) usually requires completion of the Safety Abroad requirements prior to departure. Students considering applying for U of T funding should be informed that they will need to complete the Safety Abroad requirements.

If a student is unsure if they are participating in a university activity, they can always email safety.abroad@utoronto.ca for help.

One of the most important ways you can support students is through ensuring that they are aware of what to do in an emergency.

Please note that while Safety Abroad continuously monitors global events and reaches out to those who may be impacted, those on the ground may know of situations before us. Students, staff, and faculty should not hesitate to reach out to let us know if they see a situation unfolding or have any concerns.

Please share the resources available In An Emergency with your students prior to departure:

Please refer to Resources to Share with Students to access PowerPoint slide templates to share this information.

Laws regarding gender, relationships and sexual activity vary significantly between countries. Visitors must follow the laws of their host country, and understanding these laws is essential in making informed decisions about where to travel. Specifically, all travelers should be aware of the following: 

  • How gender (self-identified or perceived) can be a factor in traveler safety 
  • The legality of same-sex sexual behavior
  • The age of consent 
  • Restrictions on freedom of association or expression for LGBTQ+ individuals and/or allies 
  • Anti-discrimination laws
  • Potential for entry restrictions or requests for binary sex information if travelling on a passport with a X gender marker

In addition, even while a country may legally protect same-sex relationships, that does not mean that same-sex relationships are socially accepted or treated equally.  

There are unique challenges that LGBTQ+ students may face when studying abroad, including: 

  • Navigating identity in a foreign cultural context and understanding how LGBTQ+ issues are perceived in different countries 
  • Managing relationships abroad 
  • Deciding whether or not to come out while abroad 
  • Re-adjusting when returning home after a study abroad experience

Keep in mind that LGBTQ+ students can often draw on knowledge of the risks from their own lived experiences and may be more informed than you regarding the risks in their destination. As staff and faculty, our role is to ensure that all students travelling to another country are aware that treatment of and laws relating to LGBTQ+ folks and advocacy can vary widely, so that they can consider how this could impact their travel. The Safety Abroad Workshop that all students are required to complete prior to departure does contain information and resources regarding the varied treatment of LGBTQ+ relationships and identities, as well as the impact of gender. However, this is intended as an overview, and individual student needs can differ.

General Best Practices:

  • Students should not have to declare their gender or sexual identity to receive support. Share information and resources with all students, without assuming or asking about their identities.
  • Students should be included in conversations around travel planning, so they are able to raise concerns early in the planning process.
  • Encourage all students to reach out, whether to yourself or to safety.abroad@utoronto.ca if they have any questions or concerns.

If students reach out with concerns, staff and faculty members can support by providing: 

  • Transparency: Offer clear guidance on available funding and resources, as well as open advice on possible options. For example, if the student does not feel comfortable, are there other opportunities in which they could participate? Are there contacts or resources that you could connect the student within their host country for support and more information prior to travel? 
  • Agency: Ask what the students’ concerns are and what support they may need. Avoid making any assumptions about how best to support the student, and instead help the student think through what their concerns are and what could help.
  • Connections: Are you able to help students connect with others who have had similar experiences, such as alumni or current students from LGBTQ+ backgrounds? Are there resources on the ground that could provide support before or during the trip?
  • Referrals: Direct students to the Safety Abroad office (safety.abroad@utoronto.ca) if they have concerns about the safety of their trip, or if they need safety or legal guidance for their destination. 

If you have concerns for a student participating in an international activity, don’t hesitate to reach out to Safety Abroad for further resources and support.

Further resources:

  • Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, resource from the Government of Canada.
  • Safety Abroad Resources – Adjusting: resources related to personal identity, including gender roles, LGBTQ+, race & ethnicity, and accessibility needs.
  • Global Affairs Canada Travel Advisory: This government resource offers up-to-date information on each country’s laws and culture. Pay special attention to the “Laws and Culture” section, which often includes details on the status of LGBTQ+ people in the host destination.
  • Safety Abroad Workshop Training: Students are required to complete this mandatory training, which includes information on local customs, laws, and how to research your destination before departure. 
  • Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO): U of T’s SGDO offers resources and support to students across all campuses. This office is dedicated to advancing community development and policy related to sexual and gender diversity within higher education. 
  • ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association): ILGA provides in-depth information on LGBTQ+ rights in each country. You can use their maps to explore the status of LGBTQ+ individuals around the world. 
  • Equaldex: This tool lets you explore LGBTQ+ rights and progress globally. It’s a great resource for understanding the landscape of LGBTQ+ laws and policies worldwide.  

If a student shares that they have experienced a form of sexual violence, the most important support you can give is to listen, and validate that it is not their fault, and that they deserve to be treated with care and respect. Each person’s reaction to sexual violence is different, and there is no “right” way for someone to react or feel. Do not assume that you know what they need; it is up to the student what they would like to do next.

Keep in mind that in international destinations, legal and cultural approaches to sexual violence can vary. In some locations, survivors of sexual violence could be criminalized, for example where sexual relations outside of marriage or with a married person are considered crimes. The level of support provided by police and hospitals can also vary. Be aware that reporting to the police may not be the safest next step in some locations.

As mentioned above, what happens next is up to the student. There is no “right” path forward. In general:

  • Confirm the student’s safety. Are they in a safe and comfortable location? If not, are they able to go somewhere they feel safe and comfortable? Do they need any help in doing so?
  • If the student has been sexually assaulted, encourage the student to access medical attention if safe to do so. You and/or the student can call International SOS 24/7 for referrals to local medical support (e.g. clinics) or for more information: +1 215-942-8478.
  • Encourage the student to reach out for support. Students do not need to make a formal report in order to access any of the below support and resources.
    • Considering offering to make an introduction/warm referral – students may feel more comfortable if you are able to introduce them directly to a person, rather than a service.

Support & Resources

A note about privacy: When reaching out to any of the below resources, you do not need to share any details of the student’s situation beyond their needing support. Please respect the privacy and agency of the student, and let them decide when and what they would like to share.

  • Safety Abroad 24/7 via Campus Safety: +1 416-978-2222
    • Students, staff, and faculty can call at any time for support with an urgent situation abroad.
    • Safety Abroad can make referrals to services on U of T’s campus, or connect the student with resources available in their destination.
  • International SOS 24/7: +1 215-942-8478
    • Speak with a security expert, doctor, or nurse who can provide location specific advice and information.
    • Faculty & Staff can call on behalf of students, or can also call for advice on how to respond to a situation.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre (business hours): 416-978-2266; svpscentre@utoronto.ca
    • Note: if calling, the SVPS team asks that you leave a first name, a phone number, and a preferred time to call back. SVPS also needs to know if it is safe for them to leave you a voicemail. If you do not let them know, they will not leave a voicemail message and will instead call you back at another time.
    • The Centre offers:
      • Confidential, non-judgmental, client-centred services
      • Coordination and navigation of University supports, services and accommodations
      • Support in making a disclosure
      • Assistance with reporting
      • Referrals to on- and off-campus services
      • Self-care resources
    • SVPS Centre Introduction Video (YouTube)
    • Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, please keep in mind, you do not have to be the only source of support for the student. If you are feeling overwhelmed or impacted, you can also reach out to the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre for support for yourself. Staff and faculty have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) for counselling and other support services.

For student situations outside of Canada, please call the Safety Abroad team’s 24/7 number via Campus Safety: +1 416-978-2222. You’ll be asked to leave a callback number and your name, and then a member of Safety Abroad’s on call team will call you back.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or impacted by a student situation, whether in Canada or abroad, there are resources available to you:

We would also encourage staff to reach out to their supervisors and/or division HR offices for further supports, and faculty to reach out to the Office of the Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life: vp.fal@utoronto.ca.

While we are glad to help guide you to supports for students within Canada, our role is primarily with students participating in university activities outside of Canada.

If you have a student on a University of Toronto campus or in Canada, and have concerns about them, you may find the following resources helpful: