Support while living abroad

Before undertaking your placement, we advise that you consider what it will be like to live in the host country on a day-to-day basis.  Make sure you research local laws and customs.  You can find useful information about this on the FCO webpages.

You may also wish to speak with the University's EDI team prior to departure: diversity@st-andrews.ac.uk 

Below are some resources which may be useful for you.

UK Government Diversity Guidance

You should familiarise yourself with the customs and restrictions of your host country prior to travel.  We also advice that you check the government guidance regularly while you are abroad:

• Advice for women travelling abroad
• Travel and mental health
• Disability and travel abroad
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender foreign travel advice
• For guidance on wearing of religion or belief items, please refer to the ‘Local laws’ section of the FCO country guidance pages

Student harassment and bullying policy

We advise that students familiarise themselves with the University’s Student harassment and bullying policy prior to departure. The purpose of the policy is to encourage a culture where harassment and bullying will not be tolerated and to outline the steps that can be taken to deal with any issues of harassment and bullying and prevent their recurrence.

Harassment is unwanted conduct related to a personal characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual – as defined in the Equality Act (2010).

Air travel and your right to fly (disability)

Under the Equality Act 2010, transport operators have a duty to proactively consider how they are going to effectively reduce the barriers for disabled people.  Under European law-Air passengers Rights, users can receive air travel assistance from and within Europe.  

ILGA Benchmarking Tool (LGBT+)

The ILGA Benchmarking Tool provides information about sexual orientation laws and inclusion in countries across the world.

There is also a European version of the tool which ranks countries in Europe on their LGBTI equality laws, policies and practices.

Stonewall Global Briefings (LGBT+)

The Global Workplace Briefings shine a spotlight on the situation for LGBT people in different countries.  Each briefing advises employers on how they can create inclusive and equal workplaces for LGBT employees around the world, outlines the legal, socio-cultural and workplace situation for LGBT people in the specified country, and showcases progressive workplace practices from Stonewall’s global membership programme.

Pride Field Network

The Pride Field Network provides guidance for LBTQ+ staff or students who are researching abroad.

Report + Support