Fieldwork and travel risk assessment
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The School of Social and Political Science supports our students, at all levels, to undertake research and avail themselves of learning opportunities that may involve travel beyond the City of Edinburgh. We also wish to ensure, as much as possible, that students do so safely and in such a way that minimises potential risks.
All students embarking on research or study activity outside of the university campus must, therefore, compete a Travel Risk Assessment. An approved TRA is also necessary to be covered by the University’s travel insurance. You may not undertake any travel for research or study purposes until your travel risk assessment has been approved by the School of Social and Political Science. You can only apply for insurance cover after your travel risk assessment has been approved.
Any student deciding to travel without approval does so entirely at their own risk and will not be covered by the University’s travel insurance.
Risk Tolerance
The School of Social and Political Science distinguishes between three levels of risk: low, medium and high.
| FCDO Guidance | Potential Risks | Requirement | |
| Low Risk | This would be to any country that the FCDO mark as Green, in totality. This includes all transit countries as well. No plausible context specific risks or safeguarding issues above baseline expectations. | Low risk travel would suggest minimal risk of harm with reference to violence, including sexual violence, civil unrest and armed conflict, communicable disease or other physical or biological hazards. It would be expected that infrastructure for travellers is of high standard and there would be ready access to emergency support and medical care. | You would be required to complete the TRA form and submit to the Student Development Office for approval. The SDO will liaise with you to ensure the form is completed correctly before it is approved. Please allow at least 6 weeks for this process. |
| Medium Risk | This would be to any country that has parts of the country that are Amber or border locations that are Red. This includes all transit countries as well. Please note that you are not permitted to travel within 100km of an Amber of Red Zone and your travel locations must be clearly evidenced on your Travel Risk Assessment (TRA form). Some context specific risks and safeguarding issues above baseline expectations may be permitted if they are mitigated through local institutional support and sponsorship arrangements which can be evidenced. | Medium risk would suggest some enhanced risk, that may be effectively mitigated by sensible precautions, in reference to violence, including sexual violence, civil unrest and armed conflict, communicable disease or other physical or biological hazards. It could be that infrastructure for travellers is lacking or limited and that access to emergency support and medical care may be more difficult. | You would be required to submit the standard TRA for to the SDO for approval. It is likely that you will then be asked to complete a second more detailed form once the FCDO and AIG (insurance) guidance has been reviewed. If there are local institutional support and sponsorship arrangements mitigating risks and safeguarding issues, they should evidenced by sharing with the SDO letters detailing these arrangements. The appropriate Director will also review this form and the Head of School, Head of Subject Area and Supervisors input may also be sought. Please allow at least 6 weeks for this process to be completed. |
| High Risk | Travel to countries marked by the FCDO as Completely Amber or Red is not permitted. This includes all transit countries as well. Context specific risks and safeguarding issues cannot be plausibly mitigated. | High risk would suggest a greatly enhanced risk, that is unlikely to be wholly mitigated even with sensible precautions, in reference to violence, including sexual violence, civil unrest and armed conflict, communicable disease or other physical or biological hazards. Infrastructure for travellers is wholly lacking or severely limited and that access to emergency support and medical care may be very difficult or non-existent. | Please check before submitting as your Travel Risk assessment will be refused.
Please note that High Risk travel related to proposed research activities or otherwise will NOT be approved for students on taught programmes (undergraduate and postgraduate) in SPS. |
SPS maintains a low risk tolerance in relation to travel undertaken by students on taught programmes conducting independent research projects, particularly where travel involves international destinations.
Consequently, travel associated with independent student research will only be approved where risks have been thoroughly assessed, and measures are described to mitigate potential risks so as to ensure that level of risk is considered acceptable and travel can be approved on that basis.
To create a record of any planned travel and attain approval by the School, students have to fill in a risk assessment form minimum 6 weeks prior to planned travel to allow for further information to be obtained, conversations with academic staff supporting i.e Supervisors to be had, and for the processing of travel risk assessment document.
Travel away from the University campus for fieldwork purposes requires submission of the Travel Plan and Risk Assessment (RA1) form Student Development Office (studentdevelopment.sps@ed.ac.uk) at least two weeks prior to the date of travel. This must be sent from your University email address and must be approved before you depart. You do not need to also complete Fieldwork Assessment Form FA1.
We recommend you use the University's free travel insurance where applicable.