Choosing to embark on a study abroad adventure in 2024 offers an excellent opportunity to explore the world whilst maintaining academic progress. However, it’s essential to stay mindful of potential risks associated with studying in a foreign country. According to reports, the global number of students engaged in overseas studies reached 5 million in 2021 and is projected to increase to 8 million by 2025. Universities bear a responsibility for the well-being of their students, both domestic and international. This legal duty mandates that universities undertake reasonable measures to safeguard the health, safety and overall welfare of their students. It is imperative for universities to ensure that individuals embarking on journeys have thoroughly assessed potential risks and necessary precautions are implemented.
Go Overseas has curated a list highlighting some of the top study abroad destinations for 2024. In identifying these destinations, Go Overseas considered a range of factors, including the area’s historical significance, cost of living and average salaries, available activities and the diversity of programmes offered in that location. In this article, we will explore each destination, examining their respective risk profiles. All the information provided is sourced from our SPHERE Travel Risk Management Platform and App.
Risk ratings consist of five levels:
Low – Safe with few security risks.
Negligible – Generally safe, but some predictable security risks.
Medium – Not completely safe, but typically presents predictable security risks.
High – Can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks.
Extreme – Extremely dangerous and presents unpredictable security risks.
Risks are assessed on the following categories: Conflict, crime, health and medical, kidnap and ransom, natural and environmental, personal safety, political overview, terrorism and unrest.
Japan
Negligible – Japan generally consists or negligible and low risks throughout its risk summary. However, Japan’s natural and environmental risk rating sits at medium.
Australia
Negligible – Much like Japan, Australia generally consists of negligible or low risks throughout its risk summary. However, the country’s natural and environmental risk rating sits at medium.
Spain
Low – Throughout Spain’s risk summary, the risk ratings only consist of low and negligible risks.
Ireland
Negligible – Throughout Ireland’s risk summary, the risk ratings only consist of low and negligible risks.
England
Low – Throughout England’s risk summary, the risk ratings only consist of low and negligible risks.
New Zealand
Negligible – Throughout New Zealand’s risk summary, the risk ratings only consist of low and negligible risks.
South Korea
Low – South Korea generally consists of negligible and low risks throughout its risk summary. However, South Korea’s conflict and natural and environmental risk ratings both sit at medium.
Sweden
Low – Throughout Sweden’s risk summary, the risk ratings only consist of low and negligible risks.
Thailand
Medium – Throughout Thailand’s risk summary, the risk ratings mainly consist of medium risks, with only health and medical at a low risk rating.
SPHERE Travel Risk Management Platform
Our SPHERE Travel Risk Management Platform and App creates a secure and informed experience, effortlessly fulfils duty-of-care compliance and provides peace of mind for all travellers, 24/7. With this premium technology, you can safeguard the well-being of your students, faculty and staff during their global endeavours.
The SPHERE mobile application sends notifications directly to the user’s phone. It also allows the user to initiate emergency mode, identify the nearest hospital, report their location, prepare for upcoming travels and show access latest travel information.
Alongside the app, our round-the-clock Global Response Centre (GRC) provides support, advice and response anytime, anywhere in the world. In the case of an incident, our experienced emergency responders will rapidly assist, managing and supporting your travellers following the agreed incident response protocols.
What our Clients Say
“For those travelling to high and extreme risk destinations the consultancy that Securewest has given us has been invaluable. We’ve had staff go to Afghanistan, on to the Syrian border, and parts of Pakistan and the Philippines that we would just have never gone to before, so it has effectively enabled travel.” – Leading UK University
“Securewest are a great partner helping to manage travel risk in our Higher Education Institute. They offer expert guidance on risk assessments and our higher risk travel as well as providing our travel support and response services.” – Head of Health and Safety, Higher Education Institute
Free Demo
At Securewest International, we understand the importance of informed decision making. To book a completely free, no-obligation demonstration from our team, contact sales@securewest.com. Throughout this free demo, we will give you a comprehensive overview and tour of the platform, show you how we can tailor it to your institutional needs and give you the opportunity to ask us any questions.
Stay safe.
Article by Amy Court Spooner