Welcome to the Get ready to go! page for the 2025 McGill Barbados Field Study Semester. This website is designed to help you get ready for our departure in September. Please read through all the information carefully.
You will find here the 
2025 MBFSS Handbook with tons of information about how to pack and what to expect in Barbados. This 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 fall in Barbados!
Preparing for the MBFSS Program
Please respect all the deadlines. There will be no exceptions made. Documents can be dropped off in person, emailed as PDF forms or sent via regular mail to the Internships and Field Studies office. PDF sent by email should be saved under this format: Last name, first name - document type (ex: Tremblay, Sophie - physician form)
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Action to be taken |
Due dates |
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Information session to prepare for departure |
April 22nd 11:30 and April 29th, 13:30 in Stewart Bio W7/17. |
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Deposit due ($1,500)* |
May 9th |
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Make sure that your passport is valid for the duration of your travels. Some airlines might require that your passport be valid for 6 months upon your return as transport companies are sometimes more stringent than the country's entry rules. Information about the visa application process will be sent to you. |
May 9th |
| May 10th | |
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Fill out the Emergency Contact, Passport & Dietary Restriction Form. |
June 1st |
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Register and complete the McGill Pre-Departure Orientation via myCourses. Registration is done through McGill 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. Please send us the certificate for completion of the course. |
July 15th |
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Final payment due (Reminder of the fees: $13,052.34* |
July 15th |
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Fill out the Medical and Vaccine Form online, Print and Sign, and bring it with you when you meet with your Physician. After review, your physician will need to fill and sign the |
July 15th |
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Fill out the Flight information form |
July 15th |
| Fill out the Photo Video Consent Form Photo Video Consent Formand send it by email to FSIO (ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca) |
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Fill out the Insurance information Form (more information on insurance required below) - make sure to start this process early as it usually takes more time than expected to get a confirmation from your insurer (particularly with the McGill insurance!). |
July 15th |
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Course registration in Minerva |
When courses are opened (we will let you know) |
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Fill up the McGill Student Travel Registry and register for Global Affairs Canada or with the Consulate or Embassy of your home country |
July 15th |
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Pre-Departure meeting (Online) |
Tuesday August 12th, 10am |
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Pay your McGill tuition |
Before official due date |
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Arrive in Barbados for the start of the MBFSS; you must be present on site in the evening of September 7th (classes start on September 8th). |
Starting September 8th |
| Download "Guard Me" to your phone | Before Departure |
*Fees must be paid through Minerva the same way you usually pay your student fees. Once the payment has been completed, it is important to send an email to Student.accounts [at] mcgill.ca. In your email, please include your student ID, payment amount, payment date, and mention that it has to be applied to the MBFSS. Please cc ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca when you send your email.
MCGILL HEALTH SERVICES
Telehealth services available to McGill Students
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.
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 McGill Panama Field Study Semester (MPFSS). This can be difficult to get in Europe. It might therefore be a good idea to exceptionally get the McGill insurance this year.
- Medevac coverage refers to emergency air ambulance services that transport clients from the site of a medical emergency to the nearest hospital equipped to provide the necessary treatment.
- 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 McGill 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
McGill Student Insurance
As a McGill student, you are eligible to use your student health coverage (unless you have opted out of the plan). Both Canadian and international students are covered under their respective student society’s Supplemental Health and Dental Plan (SSMU or MCSS). You can find links to each plan here. These plans include travel insurance for academic study abroad programs. Be sure to review the travel section of your plan carefully.
Important: All plans require that you notify them of your travel to Panama. You’ll need to submit your official acceptance letter to the MPFSS program. Since processing can take a few weeks, we recommend starting this step as early as possible.
You may also want to print your Travel Health Passport or insurance card for future reference.
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.
McGill Travel registry form and Global Affairs Canada
You will need to fill out the McGill Travel Registry Form. Personal information, emergency contact, travel documents, insurance information and immunizations must be provided.
To access and complete the form, you must download the app on your personal Android or iOS 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
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.
If you need to update your vaccinations, you may want to visit a Travel Clinic, or your pharmacist, in Montreal
McGill University is committed to ensuring an environment free from abuse, exploitation, harassment, and all forms of misconduct. Do not hesitate to reach out to the Director of your program if you have any issues.