Guidelines for Travel for Research

Explore this page

General Guidance on Travel for Research

UCC Researchers, referred to on this page, applies to postgraduate research students, research staff and academic staff in relation to research activities.
In line with UCC Guidelines on Covid-19 Travel and Events and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS): A safe return to on-site further and higher education and research in 2021/22, Department of the Taoiseach - Public Health Updates essential travel for research is currently permitted, see Latest Updates for Research Continuity.
Prior approval is required before travel for research can be undertaken.
- All travel relating to research must be approved as set out by the guidance on the Research Continuity Approval & Reporting Process webpage, before undertaking travel.
Gov.ie Covid Tracker App: All UCC Researchers are encouraged to use the gov.ie Covid Tracker app, available at https://covidtracker.gov.ie/, when travelling for research related activities.
UCC Covid-Tracker & Day Pass App: It is highly advisable and encouraged that researchers should use the UCC Covid Tracker and Day Pass App. It is particularly advised and encouraged that visiting researchers from abroad should be supported to access this App, as it facilitates direct support from the UCC Student Health Department.
UCC Researchers should avail and use the EU Digital Covid Certificate
Postgraduate Research Students should consult with their supervisor/PI and consult and comply with before embarking on any essential travel for research-related activities. Details regarding Travel to Ireland/Returning to Ireland for research students are found on the UCC Guidelines on Covid-19 Travel and Events webpage
- See guidance for Researchers & Postgraduate Researchers
UCC Researchers are advised to regularly check the up-to-date national information/advice regarding travel,which is available here. The HSE has produced guidelines on work related travel here. For international travel, researchers should check updated information regarding Department of the Taoiseach-International Travel and advice available from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Covid-19 Response Plan Documentation -Travel for Research

UCC Researchers, should consult and comply with the Research Business Continuity Supports webpage, regarding studies that may require travel such as Fieldwork (Guidelines for Fieldwork) and human-focused studies (Guidelines for Human-Focused Research).

Preparing a COVID-19 Response Plan for Travel (domestic/international) for other research related activities (other than Fieldwork or human-based studies.

This plan must comply with and reference the following national/institutional guidelines:

National policies and procedures outlined on this page.
UCC’s Health and Safety Policy and other UCC Covid-19 protocols and guidelines detailed on this page such as Latest Updates for Research Continuity; Research Continuity Approval & Reporting Processes and UCC Guidelines on Covid-19 Travel and Events.
Detail and refer to the guidance on this page for Domestic or International Travel as appropriate.

The Covid-19 Response Plan for Travel, should include the following:

detail the nature, purpose of the travel/why it’s being undertaken
the name of researcher who is undertaking the travel
name of PI/supervisor
times, dates, location of travel
the local recording mechanism to facilitate contact tracing if needed
Covid-19 safety measures
processes to follow should the researcher display Covid-19 symptoms while travelling
For international travel details should be provided on the Covid-19 requirements relating to the country they are travelling to/from as detailed on this webpage.

In addition, a full Risk Assessment must be conducted for travel for UCC research related activities for both Covid-19 public health pandemic risks and for standard risks. Template to be found here.

A Letter of Assurance should also be prepared, and submitted by the Head of Unit, along with the Covid-19 Response Plan and Risk Assessment, if further approval by the Head of College is required for international travel, as per Research Continuity Approval & Reporting Processes. A Letter of Assurance can be drafted by adapting some of the Letter of Assurance Templates on the Templates and Resources for Research Continuity.

Domestic Travel

UCC Researchers are required to comply with the national Work Safely Protocol and current national guidance on Domestic Travel which may be updated regularly. The latest Governmental updates on travel and travel restrictions across Ireland are available here .
UCC Researchers undertaking domestic travel for research activities must comply with these guidelines and seek prior approval by the relevant Head of Unit, as set out in the guidance on the Research Continuity Approval & Reporting Process webpage.
Currently, for work related activities you should travel on your own and avoid public transport wherever possible. Carpooling is not advised during the COVID-19 outbreak – see HSE Work-Related Travel Guidelines and national Work Safely Protocol.

International Travel

Researchers undertaking international travel for research should consult and comply with the UCC Guidelines on Covid-19 Travel and Events and current governmental guidance on International Travel which may be updated regularly. For the latest up-to-date information on international travel, consult with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), including the DFA General Covid-19 Travel Advisory in Operation and Covid-19 travel advice from the Dept. of the Taoiseach.
Researchers undertaking international travel must be aware of any restriction/requirements in place in the jurisdiction they are travelling to, as well as national requirements in place in relation to the country they are travelling from on returning to Ireland - see DFA General Covid-19 Travel Advisory in Operation and Covid-19 travel advice from the Dept. of the Taoiseach
Prior approval for visiting researchers from abroad or UCC researchers wishing to undertake essential international travel for research is with the Head of School/RICU Director, unless otherwise directed by the Head of College.
- UCC Researchers undertaking international travel for research activities must comply with these guidelines and seek approval as set out in the guidance available on the Research Continuity Approval & Reporting Process webpage.
- It is recommended that Heads of School/RICU Directors should notify and consult with the Head of College to determine the approval process for requests involving travel to/from these countries
- Particular attention should be paid to travel to/from Ireland involving countries outside the EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland – see the DFA General Covid-19 Travel Advisory in Operation and Passengers arriving into Ireland from outside EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or a Designated State
- Where additional approval is required from the Head of College, the Head of Unit must submit, along with the Covid-19 Response Plan documentation a Letter of Assurance from Head of Unit to the Head of College-International Travel (see template letter at Templates and Resources for Research Continuity).

UCC Researchers travelling abroad should avail and use the EU Digital Covid Certificate - the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) is proof (in digital or paper format) that you have either been vaccinated against COVID-19 or received a negative COVID-19 test result or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months.
Travel insurance coverage is not straightforward and the state of flux in relation to international travel means that insurance coverage valid at the date of booking might not be the same at the scheduled date of travel – for further advice on travel insurance for research you should consult with the UCC Office of Corporate and Legal Affairs.
Visiting Researchers from abroad (and UCC Researchers returning from abroad) must comply with national measures/guidelines in place - Department of Foreign Affairs, see Guidance for Access to Research Facilities & Buildings for further information relating to international visiting researchers.