International SOS
Our travel assistance program is provided in association with International SOS, a reputable company known for its expertise in helping organizations manage the risks associated with business and educational travel.
Through our partnership, EPFL staff and students can get expert advice for planning their trips as well as 24-hour medical and safety assistance while they are traveling.
For more information, contact International SOS through the EPFL member section of its website or through its smartphone app.
Services available under the travel assistance program
The services provided by International SOS are free for EPFL staff and students when used for business or educational travel. The following services are available through the member section of the International SOS website as well as through the hotline and smartphone app:
- Trip planning assistance – Get important information about your destination, including health and safety risks, cultural norms and what to do if you need to exchange currency or see a doctor, for example.
- Support while you’re traveling – International SOS can help you if your passport or other important documents are lost or stolen, warn you about a potential health or safety risk at your destination, and put you in touch with the right people if you need any other kind of assistance.
- Emergency services – International SOS can coordinate emergency services such as an evacuation or repatriation, a hospital visit or emergency transportation along with accommodations for you and your family.
Some services coordinated by International SOS – including doctor’s visits, hospital stays and repatriation – will be at your expense. These include the following:
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EPFL employees – You are covered for accidents in Switzerland and abroad through our policy with SUVA.
- EPFL students, along with EPFL employees not covered by SUVA – You should contact your insurance company to find out whether you are covered for travel accidents.
EPFL students and staff members – You should contact your health insurance company to find out whether you are covered for medical expenses incurred abroad.
Before you leave
- Get your International SOS membership card
- Fill out our online form to receive your International SOS membership card and enjoy the full range of services it provides.
- Install the app
- Download the International SOS app to view the latest health and safety news about your destination and get useful tips for planning your trip.
- Read through the website and app
- We suggest you contact the experts at International SOS and browse through the International SOS app before your trip. If you did not book your trip through the EPFL travel agency, you will have to enter your trip information into the MyTrips system manually if you want EPFL and International SOS to be able to find and help you in the event of an emergency.
These services are free of charge.
Where to look for information
- Log into the Member section of the International SOS website for detailed information (including cultural advice and insights and health and safety risks) on over 200 countries and 300 cities.
- Download the International SOS app or sign up for email alerts to receive instant updates on important developments at your destination.
- Call the International SOS Geneva hotline (available 24/7) at +41 22 785 64 64
- Visit the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) website for the latest travel recommendations issued by the Swiss government.
Contacts
Phone
Main Assistance Center
International SOS
Geneva: +41 22 785 64 64
Website
Frequently asked questions
- EPFL employees who travel abroad for EPFL-related purposes can sign up for the program. Guest lecturers and visiting professors who do not have an EPFL employment contract are generally not eligible for the travel assistance program. PhD students are considered EPFL employees.
- EPFL students can sign up for the program if they’re traveling for one of the following reasons: a class trip, exchange program, mandatory internship or Master’s project.
- PhD students are considered EPFL employees and should check the “EPFL employee” box when they register.
The program does not cover personal travel.
No. The services provided by International SOS (such as the information and advice available through its website, smartphone app and hotline) are free of charge to EPFL staff and students.
However, the services coordinated by International SOS – including doctor’s visits, hospital stays and repatriation – will be at your expense. We strongly suggest that you contact your insurance company to find out what travel coverage you already have.
No. It consists only of assistance for travelers at every step of their trip: from researching destinations and making reservations to handling emergencies while abroad. These services are designed to give you important information about the health and safety risks you may face in your country of destination, which you can learn about through the International SOS website and smartphone app. You can also contact International SOS if you have a health problem while traveling, or in the event of political unrest or a natural disaster. Their experts will advise you and, if necessary, make emergency arrangements.
Yes. Medical costs in some countries (like the US and Japan) can be substantially higher than in Switzerland, and some insurance companies therefore don’t cover 100% of the costs incurred in these countries.
Using our travel assistance program
Our travel assistance program is designed to help you stay healthy and safe while you’re on an EPFL business or educational trip.
Travel risk map
Consult our risk map in order to obtain information on your destination.
Download the International SOS app
The International SOS app for smartphones lets you plan your trip easily, receive customized travel alerts and contact an assistance center at any time of day or night.