Travel
Travel clinic appointments
Congratulations on your upcoming journey! Traveling can be an incredible benefit to your education. To stay healthy while abroad, you may need immunizations or medical advice. The Cowell Student Health Center offers nurse travel consultations for students studying abroad or traveling for personal reasons.
Your travel visit appointment includes:
- A review of required and recommended vaccines and medications for prevention (e.g., traveler’s diarrhea, malaria, etc.)
- Advice on safe food and beverage precautions, general health and safety, and mosquito prevention
- A detailed, country-specific health report based on your itinerary
To schedule a travel visit, call (831) 459-2500 as soon as possible. Immunization series may take several weeks to complete — please plan ahead.
Travel health clearances
for UCEAP, UCSC Global Seminars, UCSC Global Internships, and UCSC Partner Programs:
If you’re traveling through UCEAP, UCSC Partner Programs, UCSC Global Internships, or UCSC Global Seminars, you must obtain a health clearance certificate. You may choose to use the Cowell Student Health Center or your private physician.
Note: Some countries require the health clearance to be completed by the Cowell Student Health Center. Please check with your travel advisor for requirements based on your destination.
Fees
- UC SHIP covers the cost of travel visits and vaccines
- All students are charged a $40 fee for processing travel clearance forms
- Students without UC SHIP should confirm coverage with their primary care provider. Non-SHIP students may be charged for services.
Steps to get your health clearance certificate:
Step 1: Complete and submit the Travel Health History Clearance Form
When you submit the Health History Form, it will be reviewed by a healthcare professional. Please note that this submission is a request for review only and does not set up an appointment time.
- Log into your Health e-Messenger account
- First-time users must acknowledge the Student Health Center Notice of Privacy Practices.
- Select Appointments → Schedule an Appointment
- Select Travel (not for international students coming to UCSC OR UC Davis Summer Abroad) then click Continue
- Select “Travel Health History Clearance Form then click Continue
- Complete the form and click Continue. Be open and candid about your health. Incomplete or inaccurate information may prevent you from being cleared for travel.
The Cowell Student Health Center staff will review your submission within 14 days. You’ll receive a message with next steps or a request for additional details.
Step 2: Get your clearance certificate paperwork
Once cleared, UCSC Health Information Management will send your electronic certificate through Health e-Messenger.
Step 3: Submit your health clearance certificate
You must submit your completed form no later than 60 days before your departure.
- UCEAP:
- Open your UCEAP Portal and follow instructions in the Pre-Departure Requirements section.
- UCSC Global Seminars, Partner Programs, or Internships:
- Download your certificate from Health e-Messenger and upload it to the Student Health Clearance Pre-Departure module in the Global Learning Portal.
Seeing a private provider?
If you plan to get your health clearance through your own doctor or specialist, download and print these forms:
All Programs:
UC Education Abroad Program:
Note: If you’re seeing a specialist for ongoing medical or psychological conditions, they must approve and sign the clearance certificate and provide clear contact information.
Traveling through other UC programs (e.g., UC Davis Summer Abroad)
Students participating in other UC-sponsored programs also need a health clearance certificate. UCSC students can get this through the Cowell Student Health Center.
To begin:
Bring the necessary paperwork from your program to Health Information Management/Medical Records at the Student Health Center in person. This process may take up to two weeks, so please plan ahead.
Where do I find the online travel course required for my program?
More information on country-specific guidelines
For UCEAP, UCSC Global Seminars, UCSC Global Internships, and UCSC Partner Programs:
- U.S. Department of State – Passport, visa, and travel info
- CDC Travelers’ Health
- TripPrep – Travel health guidance