Going Abroad for your Work Placement

if you are working abroad as part of your work experience, there will be a number of additional factors you need to consider when it comes to Health & Safety, and planning

Learning outcomes

By the end of this section, you will:

• Understand some of the additional risks associated with overseas travel and working in another country

• Understand the additional research you will need to do to make sure you are ready for a placement abroad

• Understand more about the University’s support available to you, e.g. travel insurance

• Understand what to do if your placement becomes unsafe and you need to travel back to the UK

1.1 Additional risks associated with overseas travel and working in another country

Depending on the country you are travelling to, you may be in a very different environment to that which you are used to; this is a potential risk. You may already have some experience of being in the country you will be working in, for example, you might already have experience from visiting previously.

For any overseas travel, you need to be aware of risks associated with:

• Travel

• Health & healthcare provision

• Law & tax

• Immigration, borders & Visas

• Language

• Culture & customs

• Criminal activity

• Terrorism

• Accidents

This training won’t tell you everything you need to know about the above topics, but you will need to conduct your own research to make sure you have a full understanding of all types of risks associated with overseas travel and working in another country.

To help you to conduct your own research, we recommend using reputable sources, such as: The UK Government Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website and their Foreign Travel Advice pages.

On the Foreign Travel Advice pages, you will find an A-Z list of every country or territory, with detailed information and advice that you will need to make an informed decision about travelling to that country, and working there on your work placement.

In addition, you may also find advice on the Embassy website of the destination country you are travelling to. You should make a note of their contact details for use during the placement.

1.2. Right to work in other countries

In addition to the safety-related aspects of working outside the UK, there is also a requirement for you to check you have the appropriate right to work in your destination country. There is a distinction between being able to travel to a country, being able to study in that country and to be able to work in that country; and each country has different limitations and documentation requirements which you will need to take responsibility for checking and applying for, in good time. Do not assume you are able to work in the country you are planning to travel to without checking and where appropriate, applying for the correct type of visa or permit.

The key places to check are:

• The consulate website of the destination country;

• The UK Government website (E.g. for UK Nationals living & working in the EU); and

• Any advice your placement provider is able to offer you

1.3. What support is available from the University?

As a Sheffield Hallam student, you have access to a comprehensive range of support to help you undertake a work placement, including work placements abroad. The additional support you will have access to for working abroad includes:

• Access to the online pre-departure course on Blackboard

• Access to free Travel Insurance – with varying levels of cover depending on your destination country and this does not include personal possessions cover

• Access to an academic buddy who will check-in with you more regularly than a UK-based placement

• Access to additional funding from the Erasmus+ / Turing scheme

• Access to the International Experience Team

We also recommend you sign up to WorldAware, a free service whereby you receive travel alert notifications direct to your mobile phone for your destination country (and any countries you may be transferring through). Details on how to access this are provided on your University insurance certificate when this is issued to you, and are also available here: 

• Visit WorldAware, go to “Register”, enter our code 7796 and click “proceed”

• Enter your travel and contact information and click “save form”

1.4. Planning your work placement abroad

When your placement has been approved by the University, you will need to think about:

• Your Visa application (if applicable)

• Accommodation – book refundable accommodation where possible

• Travel – booking flights – book refundable tickets where possible

• Money – opening a bank account

• Insurance – purchasing additional cover, e.g. for your Personal possessions 

• Health – apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance card (GHIC).

All of these could be potential risks if you do not plan carefully. For example, if you can’t find where you need to go on the first day of your placement, or if you book accommodation too far away from the workplace.

We recommend visiting the University’s Go Global pages on preparing to travel and reviewing the Bon Voyage guide, for a few quick tips on orienting yourself.

You can also book an appointment with the University’s International Experience Team for advice & guidance in relation to Visas via hallamhelp@shu.ac.uk.

Your placement provider will also be able to help you to plan and get started on work placement. They will be able to tell you about the local area, staff social networks, what to do about paying tax etc. Don’t forget to ask your placement provider if you are uncertain about anything.

1.5. Emergencies whilst on placement and returning home

During your placement, it may be necessary to contact you in the case of an emergency incident. The University has a comprehensive emergency incident management plan which includes checking-in with students who we suspect may have been affected.

You should not wait to be contacted by the University. Depending on the type of incident, it may be appropriate for you to contact:

• Your placement provider

• Your Placement Academic Supervisor (or equivalent) 

• The Work Experience Team: workexperience@shu.ac.uk

• British Embassy of your host country

• University’s emergency assistance insurer (+44 (0)20 7173 7796) – save this number!

• Your own insurer

If you have a genuine emergency outside normal university working hours, you can use the emergency central number on +44 (0)114 225 8888. This number is printed on the back of your shucard.

It may become necessary for the University to ask you to leave your placement, or continue your placement remotely from a safer location, such as by returning to the UK, or to a country of which you are a permanent resident. If this should happen, your situation and next steps will be discussed in detail, with assistance provided by the University’s insurers where appropriate and available depending on the level of cover we have been able to provide for you.

1.6. Your responsibilities whilst on placement abroad

You will need to take responsibility for, and accept the following:

• Checking for any travel restrictions or requirements set by both the UK Government and the destination country in terms of travel access, testing, quarantine and vaccinations and that you will need to regularly monitor the UK Government’s travel advice and the FCDO advice for the host country (and any countries you may transit through) both pre-departure and in preparation for my return.

• That you are aware that the travel restrictions imposed by the UK Government and the destination country can change at any time before departure and during the mobility.

• That you understand that travel restrictions can change at any time and a short notice and there is a risk that my mobility may have to be cancelled in the event that on the day of travel if it no longer meets the conditions under which the University is permitting travel.

• That you understand that any costs for testing and quarantine will be at your own expense.

• That you understand that you need to adhere to any local regulations for managing the COVID-19 risk in the destination country, such as social distancing, wearing of face coverings, hand hygiene, ventilation etc.

• That you understand it is your responsibility to apply for the University’s travel insurance (a mandatory requirement), a UK Global Health Insurance card (GHIC) as well as personal possessions insurance.

• That you understand that you are responsible for responding to contact initiated by your Placement Academic Supervisor (or equivalent)

• In the event of an emergency situation and the potential need for repatriation, that you understand that you need to respond to the University when they contact you to confirm your status and agree the next course of action

• That you should sign-up to the free travel alerts messages available free-of-charge from WorldAware

• That you have a record of the local Embassy contact details for your home country in the destination country