Student Travel

Travel Definitions

Domestic Travel: Travel inside the continental U.S.
International Travel: Travel outside the continental U.S.
Columbia Travel: Travel that is organized and overseen by Columbia University, may be partially funded or arranged by Columbia, may earn academic credit at Columbia, may be coordinated by a Columbia recognized student group, or may be an extension of a faculty or researcher’s professional work.
Examples of Columbia Travel
Columbia course activities and programs that are supervised by, and fully or partially supported by, Columbia (for example, Columbia in Paris at Reid Hall)
- Columbia-managed study-abroad programs
- Travel that fulfills Columbia grants or contracts
- Travel for Columbia athletics
- Non-student travel sponsored by Columbia for alumni
- Faculty, researchers, and officers traveling internationally on University business
- International study through another university or outside organization (such as the CIEE Advanced Liberal Arts Program in Barcelona)
- Approved exchange programs between Columbia and another university
- Co-ops, practica, or internships organized by Columbia and CUMC departments (for example, the IFAP Global Health Program)
- International travel by graduate or professional students to do independent research for their dissertations
- Civic engagement or service trips such as those coordinated with recognized Columbia chapters of larger groups, e.g., CU Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, Engineers without Borders, Global Brigades at Columbia or Habitat for Humanity
- Pre-professional and competition groups representing or competing on behalf of Columbia
- Columbia-funded travel such as travel supported by scholarships, travel grants, or by a Columbia-recognized student organization
Non-Columbia Travel: Travel other than official Columbia travel.
Examples of Non-Columbia Travel
Independent student travel, or group travel through a non-Columbia student organization
- Personal travel, such as spring break or vacations
- Travel with clubs or clusters that do not use CBS funds (tbd)

Register for Official Columbia Travel

Step 1: Create a Profile on the ISOS Global Assistance Program page

Need help? Read instructions.

Step 2: Create a New Trip in your profile

Option One: Enter your itinerary manually
Required items:

Trip Name/Reservation ID, Flight or Accommodation

Option One: Forward your booking email to mytrips@travelsecurity.com
Required items:

You must use the same email address that serves as your MyTrips username.
The email must be in English.
If your confirmation email contains a PDF document, it should be included when forwarding the email.

Step 3: Determine your travel risk warning based on ISOS Risk Warnings

If your travel is Medium risk, complete the ISOS Itinerary Review and Pre-Travel Security Brief
If your travel is High risk, complete the ISOS Itinerary Review and Pre-Travel Security Brief and email OSA to obtain Dean’s Office approval.
If your travel is Extreme risk, complete the ISOS Itinerary Review and Pre-Travel Security Brief, obtain OSA to obtain Dean’s Office approval and Provost/EVP CUMC Approval

Step 4: Maintain health insurance while traveling

Step 5: (optional but recommended) Register your trip with the US Department of State

This program is for U.S. Citizens and nationals only.

Step 6: (optional but recommended) Create an ISOS Emergency Record

Confidentially upload your medical records that can be accessed by ISOS clinical staff in the event of an emergency.

Step 7: (optional but recommended) Download the ISOS Assistance App

Register for Unofficial Columbia Travel

Step 1: Submit required CBS Travel Forms (required for all travel)

Register your trip via our Cluster/Club Leadership Travel Form here
Have all trip attendees complete the online Columbia University travel waiver here

Step 2: Maintain health insurance while traveling (required for all travel)

Read more information on Columbia's insurance for students

Step 3: (optional but recommended) Register your trip with the US Department of State

This program is for U.S. Citizens and nationals only.

Step 4: (optional but recommended for international travel) Create an ISOS Emergency Record

Confidentially upload your medical records that can be accessed by ISOS clinical staff in the event of an emergency.

Step 5: (optional but recommended for international travel) Download the ISOS Assistance App