"Studying abroad is a great opportunity to experience a different culture, learn a new language, or explore the world. But, being away from home for longer periods of time comes with increased risk. Having the right student travel insurance policy could give you peace of mind that if anything happened, you're covered."
What does student travel insurance cover?
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Emergency medical treatment, if you need to receive emergency medical treatment while you're abroad.
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Course fees if you're studying abroad. These fees may be covered by student travel insurance if you need to cancel or interrupt your studies for an unforeseen event. For example, illness.
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Repatriation, if you have to return home to the UK due to illness or injury.
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Travel disruption, if you can't travel due to bad weather, mechanical problems, or strikes.
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Baggage and personal items, if your personal belongings are accidentally damaged, lost, or stolen.
What's not covered by student travel insurance?
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Manual and volunteer work. Student travel insurance usually excludes working while you're abroad. For this, volunteer travel insurance might be a more suitable option.
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Travelling against FCDO advice, if the FCDO advises against travelling to a certain country, but you go anyway.
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Alcohol and drugs, if illness, injury or death occurs due to the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Skiing or extreme sports. If you want to do high-risk activities as part of your travel, like rock climbing, you'll need specialist cover like activity travel insurance.
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Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions, if you need to receive treatment for an undeclared pre-existing medical condition.
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Malicious or illegal behaviour, if something happens as a result of malicious or illegal behaviour you do, such as breaking the law.
Choosing the right student travel insurance policy
Backpackers travel insurance
Gap year travel insurance
Volunteer travel insurance
Group travel insurance
What policy add-ons can I get?
There are a few policy add-ons you can consider including on your policy for an additional cost.
Let's take a look at them:
Winter Sports insurance
If you plan to ski or snowboard, you'll need to think about a winter sports add-on. Standard student travel insurance doesn't provide this cover. But, a winter sports add-on can. For example, it can cover things like losing your ski pass, or needing mountain rescue.
Gadget insurance
If you're taking expensive tech with you, you might want to add gadget cover to your standard student travel insurance policy. This way, you'll be able to have the peace of mind your electronics are covered against loss, theft or accidental damage.
Adventure insurance
If you're planning to do certain types of high-risk activities while you're away, like rock-climbing or scuba diving, you might not be covered by standard travel insurance. If so, it could be a good idea to consider adventure travel insurance.
Cruise insurance
Student travel insurance doesn't usually cover cruises. So, if you're setting sail on a cruise you might need to add cruise cover to your travel insurance policy.
Top tip: read the policy terms and conditions carefully before buying, so that you'll know what policy add-ons you need.
Does student travel insurance cover studying abroad?
Yes. Whether you're going abroad for a year or just a term, student travel insurance can cover you financially while studying abroad.
Student travel insurance might be a requirement of your university or college for studying abroad. And, in certain countries, like Cuba, it's compulsory to be medically covered as part of your visa with travel insurance.
It's generally not legally required when studying abroad. But, a student travel insurance policy can give peace of mind before and during your trip.
Will my university cover me for doing part of my course abroad?
It's possible that your university could cover you for studying abroad through their own travel insurance policy.
But this can vary from university to university. In some instances, you might find that the coverage level offered by your university's travel insurance policy isn't enough to cover you completely.
Here's a few things to consider:
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Check if your university provides cover. Speak with your university to find out if you'll be covered by their travel insurance policy.
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Read the policy details. If you're covered, read the policy's terms and conditions carefully. There might be certain exclusions that affect you, such as cover for emergency medical treatment, or your tech equipment.
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Think about your needs. Depending on what your university offers, you might find that you need a higher level of cover. For example, if you plan to travel after your studies, or you want to participate in adventurous activities.
If you find that your university's travel insurance isn't suitable, you could consider taking out a personal policy. This can ensure that you have the level of cover needed for your personal circumstances and travel plans. Sorted!
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