"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 types of travel insurance might be useful for students?
Single-trip travel insurance
Long stay travel insurance
Annual travel insurance
Backpackers travel insurance
Do I need student travel insurance to study abroad?
This depends on where you’re going, and what university you’re studying at.
You’ll need travel insurance to get a visa for certain regions like the Schengen area. But for others, travel insurance is entirely optional.
Some unis might insist you have study abroad insurance in place before you fly out to start your course. Others might not. Some might even have their own travel insurance in place to cover their overseas students, so check if this is the case for you.
Even if you don’t need student travel insurance, it can still be worth thinking about. Things like cancelled flights, lost baggage and unexpected medical bills can quickly ruin a trip abroad.
Travel insurance can take some of the sting out of these situations, so you can get on and enjoy your time away.
What does student travel insurance cover?
It normally includes
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Emergency medical treatment cover, if you need to receive emergency medical treatment while you're abroad.
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Repatriation cover, if you have to return home to the UK due to illness or injury.
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Travel disruption cover, if you can't travel due to bad weather, mechanical problems, or strikes.
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Baggage cover, if your personal belongings are accidentally damaged, lost, or stolen.
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Travel cancellation cover, if you need to cancel or cut short your holiday for an unforeseen reason.
It doesn't normally cover
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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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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.
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Changing your mind and deciding you no longer want to go on your trip. You won't be able to claim for compensation in this case.
How much is student travel insurance?
Insurance policy type | Price |
---|---|
£3.131
|
|
Annual multi-trip travel insurance | £9.852 |
Backpackers travel insurance | £38.093 |
1Lowest price for a 19-year-old with no medical conditions travelling to Spain for 3 nights. Prices correct November 2024. (Confused.com data)
2Lowest price for a 19-year-old with no medical conditions travelling to Europe. Prices correct November 2024 (Confused.com data)
3Lowest price for a 19-year-old with no medical conditions travelling to Europe for 3 months. Prices correct November 2024 (Confused.com data)
Student travel insurance could set you back just £3.131.
But exactly what you’ll pay for your insurance insurance depends on several things like:
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Your age
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Where you’re travelling
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How long for
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Your excess
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Any extras you take out
Get a quote now to see our best deals on student travel insurance.
What travel insurance do I need for a gap year?
Exploring the wide world before buckling down for uni? Or taking a few years out to decompress after all those exams?
Whenever you’re heading out on a gap year, getting the right cover can give you (and those back home) peace of mind you’re covered if things don’t go to plan.
Here are some types of travel insurance to consider before heading out:
Interrailing travel insurance
Taking the train around Europe? Or interrailing further afield? Then getting the right cover is essential. Learn more about the insurance you’ll need to stay safe onboard with our handy guide.
Gap year travel insurance
A.K.A backpacker travel insurance, this type of cover can be good for those heading out for long stints across multiple countries. We compare policies for Europe, Australia & New Zealand, or the whole world.
Volunteering travel insurance
Planning to help out a good cause on your travels? Whether you’re volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in India or building a school in Brazil, insurance can help you out if something goes wrong.
What our travel insurance expert says?
What extras can I add on to my student travel insurance?
Policy add-ons let you customise your insurance to make sure it covers everything you need it to.
Here’re some handy add-ons that students could find useful.
Gadget insurance
Taking your tech with you? Student travel insurance usually covers electricals anyway, but gadget insurance gives them an extra level of protection. You might get higher claim limits and be able to claim for a wider range of mishaps.
Winter Sports insurance
Skiing in Austria? Or snowboarding in Canada? Then winter sports cover could be worth thinking about. Standard student travel insurance won’t cover high-risk activities like snow sports. But this handy add-on means you can claim for a wide range of snow-sport-specific scenarios.
Adventure insurance
Just like with skiing, student travel insurance won’t usually cover risky activities like rock climbing or bungee jumping. Adventure travel insurance bulks up your cover to insure you for a host of high adrenaline activities. Just make sure to tell your insurer exactly what you’ll be doing.
Top tip: read the policy terms and conditions carefully before buying, so that you'll know what policy add-ons you need.
Travel insurance guides
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