What to do prior to your departure and in case of emergencies

The declaration of international activity is a process made available to you by HEC Montréal. It will ensure peace of mind while travelling and keep you informed in real time. You must declare your international activity 4 to 6 weeks before leaving Canada.

Here are some examples:

• Study abroad program;
• Seminar organized by HEC Montréal;
• Campus Abroad;
• Field study as part of a research project;
• Activities and trips organized by student committees or associations;
• University competitions;
• And much more.

This mandatory declaration is part of the administrative process for your departure abroad.

When you declare your international activity on the web platform provided for this purpose, you will have access not only to important information about your destination, but also to resources that will help you prepare your trip properly.

Create an account

1. Go to my portal /international SOS.
2. Create an account with your HEC Montréal username (courriel@hec.ca).
3. Create a secure password.
4. Your profile is already pre-filled. Simply add your country of residence and a mobile number.
5. Enter the code sent to you by SMS.
6. Read and agree to the terms and conditions.

Declare an international activity on the International SOS platform 

1. Login with your username email@hec.ca and password.
2. Go to the “my trips” tab and click on “Declaration of international activity”.
3. Enter the details of your international activity as precisely as possible.
4. Finalize the declaration of international activity.
5. Turn on notifications to receive alerts about your international activity.
6. If you are using the app, turn on the location to receive real-time information.

International SOS is not a substitute for travel health insurance.

You should clearly understand when to contact International SOS and when to contact your insurer.

Contact your travel insurance company for any medical emergencies that require consultation and care, in order to get your expenses approved, and to find out about the procedures to be followed.

For all other situations where you might require advice or assistance (medical advice before consultation, natural disasters, evacuations, loss of documents, customs restrictions, etc.), contact an International SOS assistance centre.

If you already have travel health insurance, or if you need to purchase additional insurance, you must ask your insurer certain questions without fail, in order to obtain an overall picture of the coverage and exclusions, if applicable.

Here are some examples:

• What does travel insurance cover exactly? Medical care, trip cancellation, interruption, accidental death or dismemberment, baggage, etc.
• What is the validity period of the insurance? If you have to extend the length of your stay upon reaching your destination, can your policy be extended?
• Are there exclusions that pertain to at-risk areas (official advisories from the Government of Canada) or activities deemed dangerous?
• Are there any restrictions on medical coverage for pre-existing health conditions?
• How much is the medical insurance coverage worth?
• Is there any accessible document that explains insurance coverage in detail in the event of illness, and the required procedures for making a claim?

You have declared your international activity and have put the pre-departure advice and travel guides to good use. Once your trip begins, International SOS will provide you with support in all kinds of contexts and situations.

For instance:

• Baggage loss or theft
• Safety and transportation (taxis, buses, areas to avoid, etc.)
• Riots and problematic political situations
• Natural disasters
• Health-related advice – access to doctors and nurses who can provide information and redirect you to suitable health centres nearby
• Legal advice

Procedure

Regardless of the situation, if you need advice or have questions related to your safety, health, or travel, contact one of our assistance centres through the chat feature on the mobile app, or by calling 1-800-743-2356.

International SOS provides 24/7 assistance, free of charge.

Reminder

For optimal use of International SOS services, you should have declared your international activity and register your itinerary beforehand. This declaration is mandatory for all members of the student community. The services do not cover personal travel.
 

International SOS is an external third-party platform with which HEC Montréal has entered into an agreement to provide you with assistance in the event of an emergency or incident during a professional academic activity outside of Canada.

When you create an account on the International SOS platform, you have to provide your name and institutional address. When declaring your stay, you will need to provide your personal contact details and certain additional information related to your trip, including the type of activity, destination, and flight itinerary. This information is collected by International SOS on behalf of HEC Montréal, in accordance with the School's Policy on the Protection of Personal Information (Politique sur la protection des renseignements personnels) and is required for protecting the health and safety of members of the HEC Montréal community during activities abroad.

You are free to not use the mobile application, or disable its geolocation feature, so as not to receive real-time alerts.

Find out more:

Privacy at International SOS

Politique sur la protection des renseignements personnels – HEC Montréal [only in French]