Prepare to go
Once you've been accepted to participate in an internship, it's time to get ready to go!
Below you'll also find some tips to help you make the most of your experience while ensuring you keep safe and healthy during your internship.
Work your way through the Pre-departure Essentials Checklist to help you prepare.
Health and safety
Students must exercise due diligence in planning and undertaking approved UQ travel, including ensuring that they are aware and abide by any COVID-related requirements during transit to or from their host country and abide by all local government guidelines or restrictions while overseas.
Medical advice
If you have a medical or other condition that you may require assistance for while on your experience, please review the Health, Wellbeing, Disability and Inclusion Checklist to assist you in your preparations.
Visiting a doctor before you leave for your experience is strongly encouraged. The doctor will be able to provide information about required vaccinations and health advice for your destination.
If you are on any medication, be sure to take an adequate supply, as an equivalent medication may not be available at your destination. You will require a letter describing the contents of your medication from a doctor in order to carry this through customs. You should also confirm that the medication is permitted in your host country.
If you have a pre-existing or new medical condition, mental health condition or disability that may require assistance or special conditions to be in place while on your experience, we recommend that you speak with your treating practitioner regarding any considerations that may be important prior to or during your experience. This includes medication requirements and access, options for remote support and documentation requirements for accommodations with your host. Being proactive to arrange accessibility requirements is important to ensure these are in place prior to your arrival.
You are also encouraged to familiarise yourself with your travel insurance policy and where and how to access health support abroad.
Student Advisers at Student Support and Wellbeing Services and doctors at UQ Health Care can meet with you ahead of your experience to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health condition and your experience. To make an appointment, please follow the links below.
If you require support for any medical conditions, mental health conditions or disabilities while overseas, there are a number of resources available to you including UQ support mentioned above, International SOS and support available through your host university/organisation.
If you have any questions or need any assistance the Internship Team can assist.
Smart Traveller
We recommend that you register your travel plans on Smartraveller so that you can be contacted in the event of an emergency. The site also has comprehensive travel tips, up-to-date country information, and travel warnings for dangerous countries.
Download the Smartraveller app before you go overseas.
Registration & passports
- If you are an Australian citizen you can register your trip online.
- If your passport is lost or stolen you must report it to the nearest Australian consulate and report the loss online.
- Get a copy of the police report or report number.
- To get a replacement, you must complete an application and have proof of your Australian Citizenship.
- Citizens of other countries should research the process of reporting a lost/stolen passport and obtaining a replacement for their home country.
Visa and finance
We recommend that you carry photocopies of all important documents and give copies to your family or friends.
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months longer than the duration of your trip. Scan a copy of your passport before you leave and save it somewhere secure and easily accessible.
Make a note of the address and telephone number of the Australian embassy or consulate nearest to your host university in case of emergencies.
Student visa and other entry requirements
Check with the host university, a travel agent, or the country’s consulate/embassy here in Australia to find out your visa requirements and costs. You will need to research visa requirements for other countries you plan to travel through while you are overseas. You will need to also research other entry requirements for your host country and any other countries you plan to travel through while you are overseas.
We are unable to provide detailed advice on visas. Contact the consulate/embassy of your host country if you have any specific questions about visas.
If you require evidence of support from UQ, you can request a UQ Global Experience Confirmation Letter for your visa application.
Banking
Notify all financial institutions in Australia about your travel plans if you plan to use your Australian account/cards while overseas. Be aware of any fees associated with international withdrawals/purchases.
Centrelink
If you receive assistance from Centrelink, you may be able to continue receiving these payments while you are overseas as a UQ exchange student.
You can request a Centrelink letter from Global Experiences after you have been officially accepted by your host university. Contact Centrelink for more details concerning your eligibility and payments. Rent Assistance is not generally paid while you are on exchange.
OS-Help Loan & other funding
Please note: if you have received an offer for an OS-HELP Loan or Short-term global experience funding, you cannot be paid until you have submitted your travel details within the online application system.
International SOS
International SOS/MyTrips
International SOS offers UQ travellers 24/7 pre-departure medical, safety and security information and advice. International SOS also provides routine and emergency assistance when UQ’s people are travelling. In addition, International SOS will help UQ locate and confirm the safety of its travellers in times of crisis both domestically and internationally. There is no additional cost to UQ travellers to access International SOS.
In order to be covered by UQ’s Corporate Travel and Health insurance and access International SOS, you must complete the following steps:
- Complete the Travel Details Form on your Internships Workflow (StudentHub)
- Create an account/register with ISOS
- Create your profile
- Create a new trip and enter your travel details
Please refer to the MyTrips user guide for detailed instructions on how to enter your details.
MyTrips is a tool provided to UQ by International SOS that allows travellers to record their trip details. By recording your trip details, you will be registered with and covered by UQ’s Corporate Travel Insurance for the country in which your global experience is taking place. By recording your trip you will receive travel alerts before and during travel. It also enables International SOS and UQ to contact you during an incident or emergency while you are travelling.
Insurance
If you are participating in a UQ approved Global Experience you can be covered by UQ's Corporate Travel Insurance.
Please refer to the UQ Insurance Services travel insurance webpage, in particular the Travel Insurance for Students brochure, to understand when you are and are not covered by UQ travel insurance. Students are strongly encouraged to arrange personal travel insurance when UQ coverage does not apply.
UQ Corporate Travel Insurance Coverage Details
UQ’s In-person global internship participants are covered by UQ’s Corporate Travel Insurance:
- Only in the city of their experience
- For direct travel to/from the host country for the duration of the program
If you plan to travel outside of your host country, we recommended that you purchase additional travel and health insurance before you leave. You can take out additional coverage with UQ’s insurer Chubb Travel Insurance Ltd or another insurance company. It is up to you to organise any additional coverage.
Refer to the student travel brochure for a summary of the insurance policy. This document can also be found in the link below. Be aware that Internship students are classified under 'other types of UQ authorised travel'.
Find out more about UQ's insurance policy
Field Trips
If you are participating in a field trip as part of your in-person global internship, you must enter your itinerary into your International SOS account. Failure to inform UQ of this travel may result in not being covered by UQ’s insurance.
Certificate of Currency
When applying to the host university or for your visa, you may be required to show proof of insurance (called a Certificate or Currency). To obtain a Certificate of Currency from the UQ Insurance Office you must:
- Apply to UQ and be approved by the Global Experiences Team. This includes having your credit approved by your UQ Faculty (if required).
- Request a UQ Global Experience Confirmation Letter (found in your workflow) from the Global Experiences Team.
- Submit your UQ Global Experience Confirmation Letter to the UQ Insurance Office and request a Certificate of Currency.
Please note: it can take at least 2 weeks for the UQ Insurance Office to process your Certificate of Currency.
If you have any questions about requesting a Certificate of Currency insurance@uq.edu.au
Mandatory host health insurance
Some universities will require you to purchase an insurance package in addition to the UQ insurance, to meet visa or enrolment requirements. You should contact your host university directly if you have any questions.
Some partner universities allow you to apply for a waiver from purchasing their insurance package if you submit a:
- Certificate of Currency (login required),
- summary of the travel policy, and
- document provided by the host university’s insurer outlining the requirements that must be met in order to receive the waiver. This document must be submitted to insurance@uq.edu.au and signed by UQ’s insurance company.
Emergency situations
In the event of an emergency overseas follow the instructions of the local authorities in the first instance.
Contact International SOS on +61 2 9372 2468 (reverse charge available) or via email to sydney@internationalsos.com. Provide UQ’s Membership Number: 12AYCA778031.
Virtual Internships
Cyber Security. Please read and ensure you understand the Cyber Security management whilst working from the home document attached here: UQ_WIL_WE_StudentCyberSecurityAndDataUse.pdf.
Working from Home. Please also take into consideration the working from home criteria attached here: Virtual_Internships_Guidelines-and-Confirmation-for-Working-from-Home_v1.pdf
UQ Insurance. Students who are due to graduate at the end of semester 2, 2021 or who are not currently enrolled are eligible to apply for a virtual internship opportunity but may not be eligible for UQ Insurance whilst undertaking this opportunity.
Domestic Internships
Domestic Internships 2022 – COVID notice
UQ will make every effort to offer internship opportunities as advertised. However, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, including changes to Government health restrictions that may be implemented during the coming months, could result in changes to the availability or mode of internships (i.e. face to face internships may transition to virtual experiences). We continue to strive to ensure a range of internships and other employability opportunities remain accessible to students as far as is safe and practicable. For further information and ongoing updates refer to https://about.uq.edu.au/coronavirus/students.
Before you travel you must complete an online Travel Declaration (as part of your UQ Domestic and Virtual Internship Application Workflow). A Travel Declaration must be completed for activities that require:
- travel more than 50km from your usual place of residence; and
- an overnight stay (minimum of one night)
The Declaration outlines your responsibilities while engaging in this travel and provides information on the UQ processes in place to ensure your safety and support while engaging in your internship. By completing the Travel Declaration you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted these responsibilities.
UQ continues to provide all students with appropriate and relevant insurances during their internships (i.e. professional liability and WorkCover). However, UQ does not have travel insurance coverage for any claims relating to COVID-19 for domestic travel booked after 4pm (AEDT) on 2 March 2020.
Key Dates
Program date: falls between 1 Nov 2025 to 22 Feb 2026
UQ registration date: 1 Nov 2025
Program application date: subject to the host organisation