Plan your trip

View our travel risk map  for details about specific risks related to your destination and the precautions you should take.

Our travel assistance provider, International SOS, can give you essential country-specific information free of charge. You can also request a membership card, which will let you log into the International SOS website and get more detailed information, such as cultural advice and insights and health and safety risks. Feel free to call International SOS assistance center at +41 22 785 64 64 for more information  (free and available 24/7).

If you are traveling to a “high-risk” country according to our travel risk map,  you can ask us to perform a personalized assessment of your trip and help you take the necessary precautions.

If you make your travel reservation through the EPFL travel agency, you will automatically be entered into our travel assistance program.

The EPFL travel agency will be happy to answer any questions you have and help you plan your trip.

We suggest you request a membership card in order to enjoy the full range of services provided by International SOS. For more information about the services available under our travel assistance program, visit our International SOS webpage. 

Pleas be aware that all bookings for flights organised and/or paid for by EPFL must be made exclusively through the central travel agency. It is also the recommended purchasing channel for booking accommodation, rental cars and obtaining travel documents.

In case of you are not booking your trip through EPFL travel agency, you have to enter your trip information into the MyTrips system manually. So EPFL and our travel assistance provider, International SOS, will be able to find and help you in the event of an emergency.

For instructions on how to enter this information, see Using our travel assistance program.

Trips made by individual students for the following purposes are eligible for our travel assistance program:

• Exchange programs
• Master’s projects conducted outside Switzerland
• Mandatory internships conducted outside Switzerland

You will have to enter your trip information into the MyTrips system manually if you want EPFL and our travel assistance provider, International SOS, to be able to find and help you in the event of an emergency.

For instructions on how to enter this information, see Using our travel assistance program.

Trips made by groups of students for the following purposes are eligible for our travel assistance program:

• Class trips for third-year Bachelor’s students
• Trips abroad that are part of an EPFL course
• EPFL summer-school programs held outside Switzerland
• Trips abroad that are part of a cross-disciplinary project sponsored by the MAKE committee

The trip coordinator will have to enter the trip information into the MyTrips system manually, so that EPFL and our travel assistance provider, International SOS, can find and help the students in the event of an emergency.

For instructions on how to enter this information, see Using our travel assistance program.

Check to make sure your ID documents – such as your passport, ID card and/or work permit – are up to date and have not expired. You will need to cover any costs incurred for renewing these documents.

Visit CIBTvisas to see whether you need a visa or other official authorization to enter your country of destination, and if so, get one.

Bear in mind that obtaining such documents may take a while. We suggest you start the process as soon as your trip is confirmed.

• EPFL employees – The associated costs are considered business expenses and can be included with your other travel expenses.
• EPFL students – You will need to cover the associated costs.

• Find out what diseases travelers are subject to in your country of destination.
• Get the necessary vaccinations.

For the latest traveler’s health information, call our travel assistance provider, International SOS, at +41 22 785 64 64 (free of charge).

If you need a vaccination or would like to speak to a healthcare professional, you can contact the traveler’s health department at the Policlinique Médicale Universitaire (PMU), Rue du Bugnon 44, Lausanne, by calling +41 21 314 49 39 or by visiting the PMU website.

We suggest you schedule an appointment as soon as your trip is confirmed. You will need to cover the associated costs.

Don’t forget to bring your vaccination records with you.

• EPFL employees – You are covered for accidents in Switzerland and abroad through our policy with SUVA.

• EPFL students, along with EPFL employees not covered by SUVA – You should contact your insurance company to find out whether you are covered for travel accidents.

EPFL employees and students – Before your trip, you should contact your health insurance company to find out whether you are covered for medical expenses incurred abroad.