2025
PREPARATION SESSIONS:
Location: Seminar Room, 650 - 2001 McGill College
NB: Attendance in these sessions is an important guarantor of the safe and good functioning of the programme and are thus mandatory. In case of a serious scheduling conflict or emergency, please notify Dr. Julie Major. Failure to do so may constitute grounds for dismissal from the programme.
- Program philosophy; Safety and Health, Monday Sept. 16th, 18h00
- Cultural sensitivity and research ethics, Wed. Oct. 23th, 18h00
- Internship Night, Tuesday Nov. 12th, 18h00
- Code of conduct and house rules, Wed. Dec. 4th, 18h00
All form that are sent to ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca should be saved as PDF under the student's "LAST NAME, NAME, form type". ex: "Fatoush, Rosemary, insurance proof"
|
Topic |
Due date |
|---|---|
|
Identify and submit applications for funding (see note below) |
Various deadlines. Find more information on our Funding page. |
| Final payment (How to is available in "program fees/How do I pay my fees") | October 1, 2024 |
|
Provide a short Spanish CV (no more than 2 pages), a copy of your passport biodata page, and your signed |
Sunday Sept 29th, 2024 |
|
Read and sign p.7 of the 2025 PFSS Program Overview and Preparation Acknowledgement document, save as PDF and send to ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca. **This document will be available here once ready** |
October 21st, 2024 |
|
Fill out the Emergency contact, Passport & Dietary Restrictions form (Online) |
October 21st, 2024 |
Sign the Program Acceptance Form (filling the top before signing at the bottom)  2025 Acceptance Form |
October 21st, 2024 |
|
PFSS medical and Vaccination form (Online) should be filled, printed, and presented to your physician with a printed version of the |
October 21st, 2024 (book an appointment asap) |
|
Proof of adequate travel insurance (fill the Insurance form online and send the required proof by email as a pdf document saved under "last name, first name-insurance proof" @ ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca). See specific information about travel insurance in the notes below. |
October 21st, 2024 |
| October 21st, 2024 | |
|
Fill up the McGill Student Travel Registry and register for Global Affairs Canada (see notes below) |
October 21st, 2024 |
| Register and complete the McGill Pre-Departure Orientation via MyCourse. Registration is done through McGill Abroad. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS ONLY OPENED 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 @ ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca. | October 21st, 2024 |
| STRI registration – You can find information in your preparation package and will receive more information about registration in due course from Ms. Lady Mancilla |
FUNDING
There are a number of funding opportunities available to you that will help lower the costs associated with the MPFSS. These are gathered under https://www.mcgill.ca/pfss/funding. Note that there are various deadlines at play here so the earlier you get started, the better your chances.
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 contact the Wellness Hub here.
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 “Physician form” and submit the scanned copy saved in pdf under "last name, first name-Physician" to ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca
PROOF OF TRAVEL INSURANCE
Personal travel medical insurance with a minimum $1,000,000 CAD coverage is required to participate in the McGill Panama Field Study Semester (MPFSS). Make sure that your insurance also covers Medevac.
Things to make sure that your travel health insurance includes:
- Emergency Health coverage
- Medical evacuation coverage (Medevac); must cover a medical escort to accompany you during evacuation even from remote places (ex. they would pick you up in the jungle if needed and bring you back home)
- Travel insurance and trip cancellation and interruption
Canadian Students
If you are a Canadian McGill 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 SSMU/MCSS meets the above requirements. For details, visit "I have a plan". Note that you have to notify them before leaving on exchange/Field Study. They will then provide you with a confirmation letter that you can forward to ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca. This process is sometimes rather long, you therefore want to start early.
If you are not covered by the McGill plan, please provide proof that you are fully covered through another insurance plan. It will be particularly important to make sure that you are covered for $1,000,000 and that the insurance covers Medevac.
International Students
McGill has a compulsory International Health Insurance plan (IHI) for all international students. This fee is automatically charged to international students. To request the extended health insurance while participating in the PFSS, you need to fill the Study Away webform prior to your travel (see "IHI Travel Coverage Updates" section).
CONFIRM FLIGHT INFORMATION
Flight prices have risen notably over the last year and don't show any sign of coming back down. Booking your flight earlier will help keep this cost down.
Everyone should have arrived in Panama and be settled in no later than the 3rd of January (classes begin the morning of the 4th) Since many of you will be arriving around the same time we will coordinate transport from the airport to the house in Bella Vista Neighborhood. To help this process (and thus ensure your ride from the airport), please fill out the flight information form online.
Please note that immigration officials may ask you to show a return or onward ticket upon entry in the country. If you are unsure of your return date, you may want to book a ticket that is changeable.
McGill Travel Registry
It is very important to fill the McGill Travel Registry before the PFSS. 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
Host Contact Name: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Luis Clement ave, 401 Tupper Building, Ancon, Panama City, Republic of Panama
Phone number: +507-212-8000
Email address: Adriana Bilgray (BilgrayA [at] si.edu)
Academic supervisor name: Julie Major
Program Administrator: Myriam Theriault
Itinerary application reviewer: Myriam Theriault
Accompanying prof/staff member: Julie Major
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.
Global Affairs Canada
Register with Global Affairs Canada
The Government of Canada 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.
