¡Hola, qué gusto verte!
Welcome to the Get ready to go! page for the 2026 McGill Panama Field Study Semester. The content on this page is necessary to prepare you for your departure in January, so read it carefully.
You should also review the 2026 Panama Student Handbook here to prepare yourself for the program.
Mandatory Pre-departure Sessions
Attendance is mandatory for all pre-departure sessions. Unless otherwise noted, all sessions will take place in Room 650 - 2001 McGill College Ave.
In case of a serious scheduling conflict or emergency, notify Dr. Julie Major. Failure to do so may constitute grounds for dismissal from the program.
| Session Title | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Welcome Retreat Prep meeting |
Monday, September 22 18h00-20:00 |
|
Retreat in the Eastern Townships NOTE: This session takes place off of McGill grounds in the Eastern Townships. Transportation will be planned accordingly |
October 4-5 (TBC) |
|
Safety and Health NOTE: Dr. Brian Ward will lead the session. The Field Studies & Internship Office will also review the paperwork you need to complete related to this subject. |
Wednesday, October 22 18h00 - 20h00 |
| ENVR 451 Presentation |
Tuesday, November 11 18h00 - 20h00 |
| Cultural sensitivity and research ethics |
Monday, December 01 18h00-20h00 |
Mandatory Tasks
Complete all the mandatory tasks below by their respective deadlines.
|
TASKS AND STEPS TO COMPLETE THEM |
DEADLINE |
|---|---|
|
PASSPORT VERIFICATION Verify that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the end of the program and order a new one if that is not the case. VISA VERIFICATION If you are not a Canadian citizen, confirm whether Panama requires residents of your country to apply for a visa. If so, proceed with a visa application. BOOKING PHYSICIAN APPOINTMENT Do this ASAP if you have not already done so (see the forms required below in the MEDICAL TASKS section). You can also contact the Wellness Hub here to schedule an appointment with a physician there. FUNDING APPLICATIONS Identify and submit applications for funding (Various deadlines. Find more information on our Funding page). |
As soon as possible |
|
MPFSS STRI APPLICATION FORM Upload all of the following documents to the MPFSS STRI application form. This will be used to create your STRI ID.
|
Sept 28, 2025 |
|
INFORMATION AND PHOTO CONSENT FORM Be sure to save your passport information page with the naming convention: YourLastName, YourFirstName - Passport. |
Sept 28, 2025 |
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STRI VISITOR REGISTRATION Follow the instructions linked here to register your visit to STRI. |
Oct 31, 2025 |
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MEDICAL TASKS (1) Complete the Medical Form and Immunization Form online. (2) Either print or email these forms to present them to your physician. (3) Have the physician fill and sign the (4) Upload the Physician Form to the Field Study Semester Documents Upload Form with the naming convention: YourLastName, YourFirstName - Physician Form. |
Nov 2, 2025 |
|
INSURANCE INFORMATION (1) Read the Insurance Requirements subsection under the Helpful information to complete the above tasks -> Insurance Requirements subheading. (2) Complete the Insurance Form. This information will be used by our team only in case of an accident. |
Nov 2, 2025 |
|
FLIGHT BOOKING AND TRAVEL REGISTRIES (1) Book your flight. (2) Register your travel dates in the McGill Student Travel Registry (see the McGill Travel Registry subsection below) and with Global Affairs Canada (or with your own Consulate or Embassy) as soon as we have confirmed the start and end date of the program. (3) Complete the Flight Information and Travel Registry Form. |
Nov 2, 2025 |
|
MCGILL ABROAD'S PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION (1) Register to and complete this via myCourses. REGISTRATION IS ONLY OPEN AT THE START OF EACH MONTH, SO REGISTER EARLY. (2) Download your certificate as soon as you complete the course as it will not be available after the end of the month. (3) Upload the certificate to the Field Study Semesters Documents Upload Form with the naming convention: YourLastName, YourFirstName - Pre-Departure Certificate. |
Nov 15, 2025 |
|
FINAL PAYMENT - $7,163.35 |
Nov 15, 2025 |
|
COURSE REGISTRATION Register for Montreal-based McGill courses in Winter 2026 in addition to the courses you register for within the field study program. This task is a precaution in case the program must be cancelled due to safety concerns (e.g., public health crises such as COVID-19). We will instruct you when to drop the Montreal courses. |
Before departure |
Helpful information to complete the above tasks
The information below will provide further context and guidance to complete the mandatory tasks listed above.
Insurance Requirements
Confirm that your insurance covers you appropriately for the semester, that it can be extended if you decide to stay abroad after the end of the semester, and that it includes:
Personal travel medical insurance with a minimum $1,000,000.00 CAD coverage is required to participate in the program. This can be difficult to get in Europe. It might therefore be a good idea to exceptionally get the McGill insurance this year.
Medevac coverage refers to emergency air ambulance services that transport clients from the site of a medical emergency to the nearest hospital equipped to provide the necessary treatment.
Emergency health coverage.
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 McGill insurance is very specific about the conditions in which scuba diving would be covered. Insurances are not all the same, so you may need to call different insurers to ensure that you are covered according to your own specific needs.
McGill Student Insurance - Canadian students
Canadian students are covered under their respective student society’s Health and Dental Plan: Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) or Macdonald Campus Students' Society (MCSS). These plans include travel insurance for academic study abroad programs. Be sure to review the travel section of your plan carefully. You can find links to each plan here.
Check SSMU's travel coverage information here. Scroll down and select the Exchanges & internships option.
Check MCSS's travel coverage information here. Scroll down and select the Exchanges & internships option.
McGill Student Insurance - International students
International students are covered under the McGill International Health Insurance Plan through International Student Services. However, note that the dental insurance plan is paid to their respective student society: SSMU or MCSS. Since the field study programs are university-sanctioned activities, students are covered if they complete a request for extended International Health Insurance.
Flight & accommodation information
Booking your flight early will help keep the cost lower.
Immigration officials may also 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.
Everyone should arrive in Panama and be settled in no later than January 4, 2026 (classes begin the morning of the 5th). Since students often arrive around the same date, we will coordinate transport from the airport to the house in Bella Vista Neighborhood, hence the reason we require you to complete the Flight information form.
The hostel is reserved solely for our group and paid for by the program starting the night of Saturday, January 3. If you arrive earlier, make sure you book your accommodation, either at the Hostal Villa Grande or elsewhere. You must pay for those accommodations yourself.
McGill Travel Registry
It is mandatory to fill the McGill Travel Registry before the program starts. To access and complete the form, you must download the app on your personal Android or iOS device. You can complete the form in more than one sitting, saving your changes and coming back to it later. To finalize and submit it, you must accept the terms of the Travel Guidelines. Until you accept the terms and submit the form, it will remain incomplete and you will receive monthly email reminders.
Information you will need to complete the travel registry:
Passport and travel visa information
Travel insurance coverage and policy details
Vaccinations/immunizations
E-ticket and itinerary
Travel start date: January 5, 2026
Travel end date: April 21, 2026
Destination: Panama City, Panama
Host institution name: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Luis Clement ave, 401 Tupper Building, Ancon, Panama City, Republic of Panama
Host institution phone number: +507-212-8000
Host institution email address: Adriana Bilgray (BilgrayA [at] si.edu)
Term: Winter 2026
McGill professor name & email address: Julie Major - julie.major [at] mcgill.ca
McGill application reviewer name & email address: Myriam Theriault - ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca
McGill Health Services
McGill University is committed to ensuring an environment free from abuse, exploitation, harassment, and all forms of misconduct. Do not hesitate to reach out to the Director of your program if you have any issues.
