Pre-departure planning

International Student Identity Card

Your regular student ID may not be honored in some countries.  The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) gives students a single, uniform document recognized worldwide as proof of student status.  ISIC cards are $22.00 and available for purchase from many travel agencies to any student in a degree-seeking program during the current academic school year.  When you purchase an ISIC, bring a clear photo of your face (the size of your driver’s license photo) and proof of your current student enrollment (such as a printout of your class schedule).

Card benefits vary widely from country to country, but may include student discounts on airfare, transportation, and accommodations, and reduced admission to museums, theaters, cultural events, and other attractions. If you purchase an ISIC you will be given an ISIC Handbook that lists exactly which nations recognize the card, types of discounts, and the addresses and phone numbers of student travel offices around the world.  Besides the student discounts, the ISIC provides free travel insurance (good for before and after your program dates), an emergency help line, and a communications system (phone card).  If you should need to use the insurance benefits, you will need to have a copy of your card and proof of purchase for any claim.

Please note that OSA has received varying reports on the usefulness of the ISIC.  In some cases, the card was not honored as expected.  The phonecard can only be used at public phones.  Usually the greatest benefit to having the card is getting the reduced airfare.