Salama!
Welcome to the Get ready to go! page for the 2026 黑料社 East Africa Field Study Semester. This website is designed to help you get ready for our departure in January.听Please read through all the information carefully.
You will find here the听
2026 Student HandbookThis 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 you听have 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.听
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Pre-departure session |
dates, location |
|---|---|
| General information session | Thursday, Oct 2 2025, 6 to 8 pm Local 650 of 2001 黑料社 College With Carole Muriuki |
| Group Dynamics and Wellbeing session | Wednesday, Oct 8 2025, 6 to 8pm Local 650 of 2001 黑料社 College With Kiki Yelle and Melissa Cobbler |
|
Health session |
TBD |
| Positionality training听 | TBD |
|
Wrap-up session |
TBD |
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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 |
|---|---|
| NOW: 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.听 Book an appointment with your physician asap if you haven't already done so (see the forms required below) and Identify and submit applications for funding (Various deadlines. Find more听information on our Funding page). |
Now |
| At the start of next month:听Register and complete the 黑料社 Pre-Departure Orientation听via MyCourse. Registration is done through 黑料社 Abroad.听PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS ONLY OPENED AT THE START OF EACH MONTH. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE REGISTER EARLY.听Download your certificate as soon as you complete the course as it will not be available after the end of the month. Please download the certificate on the form听 | First week of each month |
| 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 out听. Find more information about "Buying your Flights" below. | Book your flight as soon as you will have the exact travel dates. Update the Flight information form as soon as you have reserved your flight and at the latest by November 9. |
| Upload your here. | Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
| Fill out the form. | Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
| Submit the 黑料社 Pre-Departure Orientation Diploma. Please save under "last name, first name-Pre-Departure Orientation Diploma" and听. | Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
| Read the "Medical Form" information below. The听and 听should be filled, printed, and presented to your physician iwth a printed version of the 2026 Physician Form听 to fill out. Please save the Physician Form under听"last name, first name-Physician" and听听. |
Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
| Sign the听听and please save if under "last name, first name-Acceptance" and听. | Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
Fill out the  Photo Video Consent Form.听Please save if under "last name, first name-Photo consent" and and . |
Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
| Read the information on acceptable insurance below under "Insurance Requirements". Please fill the听听online. This information will be used by our team only in case of accident. | Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
|
Fill up the听黑料社 Student Travel Registry听and register for (or with your own Consulate or Embassy).听 |
Sunday Nov 2nd, 2025 |
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We will provide you with more information when the time comes to apply for your visas. In your bags, please remember to bring a printed copy of each visa with your passport to be stamped for your听arrival in each country. The Visa websites can be 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 visa are only good for 3 months, and you therefore cannot apply too early. |
Start around December 1st, when you receive an email from us.听 |
| Important:听Please register for the courses scheduled to be offered in Montreal for Winter 2026. You will have the opportunity to adjust your course selection to the East Africa offerings in late December. We ask that you register for the Montreal courses as a precaution, in case the East Africa program must be cancelled at the last minute due to safety concerns (e.g., public health issues such as COVID-19). |
Before Departure |
|
Payment required |
Due dates |
|---|---|
| $1,500 deposit |
As soon as you are admitted into the program |
|
October 15st |
|
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November 15 |
|
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Pay your 黑料社 tuition |
Ideally before flying out so that it is done by the Mcgill due date |
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BUYING YOUR FLIGHTS
We will let you know as soon as we have set specific dates for the MEAFSS. Once you have exact dates, shop around to find the best deal for your flight. The program starts in Nairobi, Kenya, and ends in Zanzibar, Tanzania.听Please note that immigration officials upon entry in the country and you could be refused entry if you do not have it. If you are unsure of your return date, you may want to book a ticket that is changeable. Many students choose to stay in Zanzibar, or to travel a bit in East Africa, after the program.听
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MEDICAL FORM
This form has to be filled out with your own physician, or with a medical doctor from the Student Wellness Hub. Book your appointment NOW. You will find information to听contact the Wellness Hub here.听
The Medical form should first be filled online and be printed and brought with you when you visit your physician. Please make sure that your physician fills the 鈥淧hysician form鈥� and submit the scanned copy saved in pdf under "last name, first name-Physician"听
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INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Please make sure that your insurance is covering you appropriately for the semester, and that it can be extended if you decide to stay abroad after the end of the semester.听
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 黑料社 East Africa Field Study Semester (MEAFSS).听
- Medevac coverage - transport that will bring you to the nearest hospital that offers the treatment you may need.听
- Emergency health coverage.
- Make sure that your insurance can be extended in case you decide to stay abroad longer.听
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 黑料社 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
Insurance for Canadian Students - 黑料社 degree students
If you are a Canadian 黑料社 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 黑料社 Student Groups meets the above requirements. For details, visit听听Print your Travel Health Passport, available in the download centre, for future reference. Note that you must 听and advise them of your travel to East Africa.听Provide 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.
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Insurance for International Students - 黑料社 degree students
黑料社 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, contact听International Student Services.听Note that it can take a few weeks for them to reply to your request. Please start this process early.
MCGILL TRAVEL REGISTRY
It is very important to fill out the 黑料社 Travel Registry before the MEAFSS. Personal information, emergency contact, travel documents, insurance information and immunizations must be provided when you complete their form.听
To access and complete the form, you听must download the app on your personal听听or听听device.
Make sure to have the following information in hand:
- Passport, and travel visa information
- Travel insurance coverage and policy details
- Vaccinations/immunizations
- E-ticket and itinerary
Destination: Make an entry for each country. The itinerary will be provided to you during the fall.
Host Institution Name: IFSO Office, 黑料社
Phone number: 514-398-1063
Email address: ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca
Term: Winter 2026
黑料社 professor name: Jon Unruh - jon.unruh [at] mcgill.ca
黑料社 application reviewer: Myriam Theriault @ ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca
You can complete the form in more than one sitting, saving your changes and coming 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.
MCGILL HEALTH SERVICES
Telehealth services available to 黑料社 Students (find more information about Dialogue, Maple, GuardMe).
You may want to download GuardMe Student Support Program to your phone. This is a 24/7 mental health support and confidential counselling resource offered to 黑料社 students. You can also save their phone number in case it is needed (001-416-380-6578 outside of CAD/USA)
