Student Insurance

Student Possession Insurance

Why do we need student insurance

Imagine you are a first year university student taking up a room in halls of residence. The insurance on the building will not cover you sufficiently for loss of your possessions, many of which may be precious to your, or even essential.

These days students head off to college equipped with expensive items such as laptops, PDA's and mobile phones, iPods, iPads and more, not to mention televisions and hi-fi systems that are a part of modern life and essential comforts for students. You need student insurance to cover all of these items, and your clothes and other belongings, too, because you never know how vulnerable you are until you are a victim.

Even if you are moving into a shared accommodation – perhaps a private landlord let – you still need to make sure you have adequate student insurance, for there are many vultures out there preying specifically on student areas where there are rich pickings to be had, particularly in the area of technological items. Losing your iPod is one thing, but losing your laptop may also mean losing your work, and a lot of hard effort that went with it.

Your own personal insurance against such should, of course, be to back everything up, but this does not negate the fact that you need student insurance for every walk of life.

For information on the subject of student insurance the best place to start is with your local student advisory service; the student union can help you in this respect and the student advisors will be able to point you in the direction of special student insurance deals that are aimed at those studying. Whether you are a first year student or entering your final term do not let up on insurance, as there is no reclaiming what you lose.

If you bank with a particular institution you may be able to find a sensible offer from them for adequate student insurance, and when you see your local branch to transfer your account to your new location it is worth asking them about any deals they can offer. Sometimes these packages come as part of a bigger deal but do not be swayed by jargon and make sure you understand exactly what you are buying and what it covers you for.

Student insurance, like many such things, is subject to the perils of small print, and we strongly recommend that you not only read it but you have a professional tell you what it means. Again, your student advisory service will be of great help here, and you will be able to draw on their experience to get the best deal. There is nothing worse than taking out a costly insurance deal only to have your prized possession stolen and then to find it is that one thing that is not covered.

Make sure, too, that your student insurance deal covers you for loss and theft at your home address, on the campus itself and in between. If you live off site there will be much travelling between, and a laptop is easily snatched on the way from the bus stop to the lecture theatre and, in some cases, may not thus be covered.

One area of student insurance that is very specific and quite essential is that referring to a car. Not all students are wealthy enough to have cars, but those that do need to understand an insurance policy must specify that you are a student, and as such will likely be more expensive than a standard deal. Any insurance policy that is found not to be completely accurate may well become null and void.

Student insurance is one of those areas that is complex and needs professional advice, and you should use all the resources at your disposal to make sure you get the best deal. The student advisory service is free – do not pass up the chance to seek their help.