Welcome to the Get ready to go! page for the 2025 涩里番 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听
2025 MBFSS Handbook听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!
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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听 |
April 22nd 11:30听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.听 Information about the visa application process will be sent to you. |
May 9th |
| Submit all visa paperwork | May 10th |
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Fill out the . |
June 1st |
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Register and complete the 涩里番 Pre-Departure Orientation via MyCourse. Registration is done through 涩里番 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.听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 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 |
July 15th |
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Fill out the (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 涩里番 insurance!). Please send your proof of insurance (contract) to ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca. |
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 涩里番 Student Travel Registry and register for Global Affairs Canada (see below) |
July 15th |
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Pre-Departure meeting (Online) |
Monday August 12th, 10am |
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Pay your 涩里番 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 |
*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.听
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MCGILL HEALTH SERVICES
Telehealth services available to 涩里番 Students
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Insurances requirements
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 涩里番 Barbados Field Study Semester (MBFSS). This can be difficult to get in Europe. It might therefore be a good idea to exceptionally get the 涩里番 insurance this year.
- Medevac coverage - an emergency air ambulance service that flies clients from their home communities to the nearest hospital that offers the treatment they need. We will check that this is included in your insurance, so please make sure to have it.
- 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 涩里番 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.
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Insurances for Canadian Students - 涩里番 degree students
If you are a Canadian 涩里番 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 ASEQ meets the above requirements. For details, visit听听Print your Travel Health Passport, available in the download centre, for future reference. Please note that you听must听/ASEQ to advise them of your travel to Barbados.听Provide them with your official acceptance letter to the MBFSS. Note that it can take a few weeks for them to reply to your request, therefore you should start this process early.
Please provide us with a photocopy of your proof of insurance.听Even if you are covered through 涩里番, we must still receive a copy of the official letter confirming your coverage.
Insurances for International Students - 涩里番 degree students
涩里番 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 MBFSS, 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.
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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.听
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涩里番 Travel registry form and Global Affairs Canada
You will need to fill out the 涩里番听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 or 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.
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Register with Global Affairs Canada
The 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.
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- Register your travel by clicking
- Read the Barbados Travel report by clicking
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If you need to update your vaccinations, you may want to visit a Travel Clinic, or your pharmacist, in Montreal
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