Â鶹AV

Get ready to go!

Salama!

Welcome to the Get ready to go! page for the 2024 Â鶹AV East Africa Field Study Semester. This website is designed to help you get ready for our departure in January.ÌýPlease read through all the information carefully.

You will find here theÌýPDF icon 2025 AFSS Student Handbook.ÌýThis is the main document to prepare for your departure. Please read it carefully as this is where you will find information, guidelines, lists...

If you have any questions about preparations, please do not hesitate to ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca (subject: AFSS%20question) (contact us).

It is time to start getting excited about spending this winter in East Africa!

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Students will be expected to attend mandatory pre-departure sessions through the fall. We are holding our meetings in the evening to make sure that all students can attend. If youÌýhave a class during this time, please talk to your professor to explain your situation and see how you could make up for the missed information.Ìý

Pre-departure session

dates, location

General information session Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 6 to 8 pm in room 650 of 2001 Â鶹AV College
Health session Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 6 to 8 pm in room 650 of 2001 Â鶹AV College (this meeting might not take the full 2 hours). Come prepared with all the health questions you may have.

Group Dynamics and Wellbeing session with Virginie Yeba

Monday, November 4th, 6 to 8 pm in room 650 of 2001 Â鶹AV College
Positionality training with Antoine-Samuel Mauffette Alavo Thursday, November 14th, 2024,Ìý 6 to 8 pm in room 650 of 2001 Â鶹AV College

Wrap-up session

Monday, December 2, 2024,Ìý6 to 8 pm in room 650 of 2001 Â鶹AV College

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Preparing for the MEAFSS Program

Please respect all the deadlines and save the documents you send our way as PDFs under "Last name, First name, Document name (i.e. Insurance, Acceptance form).

Action to be taken

Due dates

Verify that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the end of the MEAFSS and order a new one if that is not the case Now
Book an appointment with your physician (see the forms required below) Now
Book your flight - as early as possible once we confirm the start and end date of the program. Once you have your flight, please fill outÌý. Book your flight as soon as we have the exact travelling dates. Update the Flight information form as soon as you have reserved your flightÌý

Send us a color PDFÌýof your passport's full bio-data page via email

November 10
Fill out the . November 10
Register and complete the Â鶹AV Pre-Departure OrientationÌývia MyCourse. Registration is done through Â鶹AV Abroad. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS ONLY OPEN AT THE START OF EACH MONTH. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE REGISTER EARLY. Download your certificate as soon as you complete the class as it will not be available after the end of the month.ÌýPlease send us the certificate for completion of the course. November 10
Fill out the and , print them and bring them with you when you meet with your practitioner. Make sure to also print theÌýPDF icon 2025 Physician FormÌý that will need to be filled and signed by your practitioner during your meeting.

November 10

Sign and returnÌýPDF icon Program Acceptance November 10

Please and send us your proof of insurance by email (PFD saved as last name, first name, "Insurance"). See extra information for insurance below.

November 10

Fill up theÌýÂ鶹AV Student Travel RegistryÌýand register for Global Affairs Canada (or with your own country).Ìý More information below.

November 10

We will provide you with more information when comes time to apply for your visas. Bring a printed copy of each visa with your passport to be stamped on arrival in each country. The Visa websites are a bit glitchy, and payment can be tricky. It is important to start this process early enough to have time to react if there are any issues but starting too early could also be a problem (3 months earlier is usually considered a bit too early).Ìý

Start around December 1st, when you receive an email from us.Ìý

Register for courses that will be offered in Montreal for winter 2025. This should be done just in case we have to cancel the program at the last minute. You will be asked to modify your course selection in late December.Ìý

When courses are opened (we will let you know)

Payment required

Due dates

$1,000 deposit

As soon as you are admitted into the program

First installment ($10,000)

October 15st

Last installment (remaining balance)

November 15

Pay your Â鶹AV tuition

Ideally before flying out so that it is done by the Mcgill due date

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Â鶹AV Health Services

Telehealth services available to Â鶹AV Students

Health Appointments

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Buying your flight

We will let you know as soon as we will have set specific dates for the MEAFSS. Once you have exact dates, shop around to find the best deal for your flight. Make sure to buy a flight that is changeable as many students decide to stay in East Africa at the end of the program. The program starts in Nairobi, Kenya, and ends in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

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Insurances requirements

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Make sure that your travel health insurance includes:

  • Personal travel medical insurance with a minimum $1,000,000.00 CAD coverage is required to participate in the Â鶹AV East Africa Field Study Semester (MEAFSS). This can be difficult to get in Europe. It might therefore be a good idea to exceptionally get the Â鶹AV insurance this year.
  • Medevac coverage - an emergency air ambulance service that flies clients from their home communities to the nearest hospital that offers the treatment they need. We will check that this is included in your insurance, so please make sure to have it.
  • Emergency health coverage.
  • You should make sure to read the exclusions of your insurance attentively. Pre-existing medical conditions might not be covered as well as specific activities including some sports. For example, the Â鶹AV insurance is very specific about the conditions in which scuba diving would be covered. Insurances are not all the same, and you might need to shop around and call different insurers to make sure that you are covered according to your own specific needs

Insurances for Canadian Students - Â鶹AV degree students

If you are a Canadian Â鶹AV student, you can use your student health coverage (unless you have opted out of this plan). This plan covers students' travel insurance for academic study abroad programs. The insurance provided by ASEQ meets the above requirements. For details, visitÌýÌýPrint your Travel Health Passport, available in the download centre, for future reference. Please note that you must /ASEQ to advise them of your travel to East Africa.ÌýProvide them with your official acceptance letter to the MEAFSS. Note that it can take a few weeks for them to reply to your request, therefore you should start this process early.

Please provide us with a photocopy of your proof of insurance.ÌýEven if you are covered through Â鶹AV, we must still receive a copy of the official letter confirming your coverage.

Insurances for International Students - Â鶹AV degree students

Â鶹AV has a compulsory group sickness and accident plan for all international students. This fee is automatically charged to international students. To request extended health insurance while participating in the MEAFSS, contactÌýInternational Student Services.ÌýNote that it can take a few weeks for them to reply to your request. Please start this process early.

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    Trip interruption and cancellation insurance


    You may be able to get trip interruption/cancellation insurance through our travel agent, but it is a case-by-case situation, depending on where you are from. Talk about possible insurance with your agent when you buy your ticket.Ìý

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    Â鶹AV Travel RegistryÌý

    It is very important to fill out the Â鶹AV Travel Registry before the MEAFSS. Personal information, emergency contact, travel documents, insurance information and immunizations must be provided when you complete their form. The website also asks for very specific information listing the cities visited, host institution, host to contact, and phone number... You should provide them with the list of cities visited once you receive the final list of destinations. The host institution, host contact and phone number should be the IFSO office: Â鶹AV Internship and Field Study Office, Myriam Theriault, Field Studies & Internship Office, Â鶹AV, 646-B, 2001 Â鶹AV College, Montreal, Qc. H3A 1G1. 514-398-1063.

    To access and complete the form, youÌýmust download the app on your personalÌýÌýorÌýÌýdevice.

    Make sure to have the following information in hand:

    1. Passport, and travel visa information
    2. Travel insurance coverage and policy details
    3. Vaccinations/immunizations
    4. E-ticket and itinerary

    You can complete the form in more than one sitting, saving your changes and come back to it later.

    To finalize and submit the form, you will be asked to accept the terms of the Travel Guidelines.

    Until you accept the terms and submit the form, the status of your form will remain incomplete and you will receive monthly email reminders asking you to complete it.

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    Global Affairs Canada

    Register with Global Affairs Canada

    The offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home.

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