International Travel Policy and Registration

Travel Policy for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is committed to offering and encouraging a wide variety of international education opportunities to its undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The university is also concerned about the safety and security of its students as they travel abroad and has established general policies to address these concerns.

The International Risk Management Committee requires that all undergraduate and graduate students traveling abroad on University of Tennessee, Knoxville funds of any kind or those who wish to receive UT Knoxville academic credit to complete the on-line International Travel Registration process. International travel registration is critical to the university’s risk management program, and will allow the university to communicate with students in the event of an emergency. All students traveling on a faculty/staff member’s travel authorization request must also complete the on-line international travel registration process.

Students participating on study abroad programs through the Center for International Education are automatically registered and do not need to register again.

In order to begin the International Travel Registration process, please click here: International Travel Registration

If students do not complete the registration process, they will not receive travel authorization and they will not be reimbursed for expenses or receive academic credit if applicable.

In addition, students are advised to register upon arrival in their country(ies) of destination with the United States Embassy. This process can now be done on-line at: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ In the event that issues affecting the safety of US citizens unexpectedly arise, the US Embassy needs up-to-date contact information for visitors in order to disseminate safety information, evacuation orders or other updated travel warnings.

Travel to Destinations with Travel Warnings or Travel Health Warnings

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville does not recommend travel to destinations with an active US Department of State Travel Warning or a Travel Health Warning issued by the Centers for Disease Control.

Please note that University of Tennessee, Knoxville funds and academic credit cannot be used/awarded for travel to any destination where this is an active US Department of State Travel Warning or a Travel Health Warning issued by the Centers for Disease Control. For exceptions please see the travel warning policies below:

Under no circumstances will the International Risk Management Committee allow students to travel on university funds to countries where the U.S. Department of State Travel Warning recommends that U.S. citizens depart from the country or defer all non-essential travel to it. Academic credit cannot be awarded for work completed in these countries.

UT Knoxville Faculty-Led Programs located in countries with Travel Warnings or Travel Health Warnings

If the U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Warning or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issue a Travel Health Warning for a country in which UT Knoxville operates faculty-led study abroad programs before the departure date of the programs, the programs will be immediately suspended. The faculty leaders of the impacted program(s) may petition the International Risk Management Committee for a program suspension waiver. Waivers apply to one program only (unless specified by the committee). A waiver for one program in a country does not automatically apply to another program in that same country. The decision of the International Risk Management committee may be appealed to the Provost. For information about the program suspension waiver process, please contact Noah Rost (rost@utk.edu) in the Programs Abroad Office.

If the U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Warning or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issue a Travel Health Warning for a country in which UT Knoxville operates faculty-led study abroad programs while the program(s) is in session but where circumstances pose no immediate threat to student health or safety, the program will be reviewed by the International Risk Management Committee which will decide if the program is to continue. In the case of an immediate threat to student health, safety, or welfare, the International Risk Management Committee in consultation with the Provost has the discretion to suspend the program and begin evacuation immediately.

Non-UT Knoxville Programs located in countries with Travel Warnings or Travel Health Warnings

If the U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Warning or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issue a Travel Health Warning for a country in which a UT Knoxville student wishes to study on a non-UT Knoxville program, the student is required to complete a petition for a policy waiver before UT Knoxville funds may be used or academic credit received. The petition will be reviewed by the International Risk Management Committee, and the student will be notified of the decision. If the International Risk Management Committee denies the petition request, the student may not use any UT Knoxville funds (including the TELS scholarship and existing financial aid package) for his/her study abroad program or receive academic credit.

In addition, the Center for International Education will not provide any support to students who still wish to participate in program(s) located in countries with Travel Warnings and will not be able to maintain the student’s enrollment at UT Knoxville during the study abroad term. Petition denials may be appealed to the Provost. If the International Risk Management Committee approves the petition, then the student may participate in the program and will receive access to all regular study abroad services offered by UT Knoxville. The university is not responsible for the decision of the student to travel to locations under Travel or Travel Health Warnings. For information about the petition process, please contact Heather Grigsby (hgrigsby@utk.edu) in the Programs Abroad Office.

UT Knoxville Students conducting independent travel in countries with Travel Warnings or Travel Health Warnings

If the U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Warning or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issue a Travel Health Warning for a country in which a UT Knoxville student wishes to conduct independent travel, the student may not use UT Knoxville funds or receive academic credit. This policy applies to all UT Knoxville students (undergraduate and graduate) who are receiving funds from UT Knoxville to pay for a portion or all of their expenses for independent travel (independent study, research, conference attendance etc…) Students may complete a petition for a policy waiver. The International Risk Management Committee will review the petition. If the committee grants an exception to the policy, then students must complete the normal international travel registration process. The university is not responsible for the decision of the student to travel to locations under Travel or Travel Health Warnings. If the committee does not approve the petition, then students may not use UT Knoxville funds or receive academic credit for work completed in the country(ies). Petition denials may be appealed to the Provost. For information about the petition process, please contact Heather Grigsby (hgrigsby@utk.edu) in the Programs Abroad Office.

Photo Gallery