Mobile Phones Abroad

The use of mobile phones and electronic devices is ubiquitous in today’s society. It would be nearly impossible for most students, staff, or faculty to travel without them. However, there are certain requirements and recommendations, instituted by Drexel.

Drexel Requirements

Program leaders are required to have an international mobile phone in case of emergency. The phone must be kept charged and turned on at all times. If a program will be traveling to a location where standard cellular service is not consistently available, the program leader must travel with a working satellite phone. Program leaders must provide the number of the phone either prior to the start of the program, or upon arrival to the destination country, to the appropriate Drexel office (via the Terra Dotta student travel portal), as listed below:

1. Education Abroad Office: If the program is a credit-bearing group travel program, the program leader must include an international mobile number on the program proposal form.
2. Global Safety and Operations: If the student travel is not for credit, the trip leader must provide an international mobile number to Global Safety Operations on the program proposal form. If the travel is student led, all students must provide an international mobile number to Global Safety and Operations.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

If you are taking a personal mobile phone, be sure to determine if it will work overseas by consulting with your service provider. Some providers require you activate an "international plan". These plans usually cost around $10 per day but could be significantly more. Reasonable costs (e.g. $10 per day) for mobile service can be built into program budgets for trip leaders. If an international plan is not possible, you may consider either an “e-sim” data plan. Both of these can be convenient and reliable options. If you have questions, please reach out to your Drexel Global contact.