Health & Safety Alerts

Vaccine Policy

IES Abroad is no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all IES Abroad programs (Standard, Customized & Faculty Led, and IES Internships), however we still strongly encourage students to be vaccinated. 

If circumstances should change again, we will not hesitate to adapt our policies as appropriate. There may be specific programs, including health studies programs, that could require students be vaccinated. Those exceptions will be communicated to impacted students. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 as we have throughout the pandemic, and we will continue to consult the recommendations of the public health sources in the United States and abroad. The health and safety of our students is our highest priority. 

As required for all IES Abroad programs, we will continue to request information about students’ medical and vaccination history. If they are vaccinated, they will be able to share your COVID-19 vaccination information with IES Abroad through this process. Should they test positive for COVID-19 while abroad, they will be asked to follow the local and/or CDC guidelines. 

If any further policy modifications are necessary, we will communicate them by email.

Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the following  IES Abroad programs in Shanghai through Fall 2024.  

• Shanghai - Economy, Business & Society
• Shanghai - Engineering
• Shanghai Summer – Engineering
• Shanghai Summer - Intensive Language
• Shanghai Summer – Engineering Internship
• Shanghai Summer – Internship Program

We are monitoring the situation and will communicate any updates in the future via email. 

Spring 2023 Refund Policy

For the Spring 2023 term, any student who withdraws from their IES Abroad program on or before the program's official published arrival date will receive a full refund of the program fees then paid to IES Abroad to date, including the Confirmation Deposit.

Review the full refund policy here.

Mask Policy

IES Abroad will no longer be requiring masks across all of our Centers but will instead follow local regulations within the host country for masking requirements. You should be prepared to wear a mask if local regulations require masking or upon a Center or instructor's request.

If you are not vaccinated and have been approved for an exemption by IES Abroad through our Vaccine Committee, you will be required to wear a mask in classrooms and the Center. Please be aware that this policy will be updated if conditions or local regulations change.

New After-Hours Emergency Phone Numbers

We have updated our after-hours emergency phone numbers to improve the quality of our service to our students and parents experiencing an emergency. For all questions during business hours, please continue to call 800.995.2300 or your Program Advisor's direct line.

• Prior to Departure: Call 312.681.7911 to reach an IES Abroad representative after hours for emergency situations only. Please note that questions about deadlines should wait until the next business day.
• Emergencies While Abroad: Once you are abroad, you or your parents should call 978.291.4231 to reach an IES Abroad staff member for a health and safety emergency that needs immediate attention while our offices are closed.