Student insurance
We’ve paused comparing student contents insurance, but we’ll be offering it again soon
Do I need student contents insurance?
Student accommodation can often be targeted by thieves, because a lot of students have expensive items such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.
It’s never fun to be the victim of theft or other misfortunes, but student insurance will at least minimise the cost and inconvenience if your possessions are stolen, lost or damaged.
Get your insurance in place for the start of your residency, that way you’ll be covered from day one.
What’s covered?
It’s basically contents insurance, but it’s specially designed to cover the sort of stuff students own, like your gadgets, books, clothes and bicycle.
The policy will pay out if the unexpected happens and your possessions are lost in events like a fire, theft, flood or storm.
You build the policy you need – so you’ll need to add high-value items like gadgets, bicycles and musical instruments to your policy.
Things like accidental damage, cover away from home, and insurance for losing your keys are all optional extras – add them if you need them.
What’s not covered?
You’ll need to look at policy docs to see exactly what’s excluded, but usually you won’t be covered for:
- Theft with no sign of forced entry
- Break-ins where you didn’t have approved locks on your door
- If you’re away and leave your belongings behind - some insurers offer holiday cover or cover if you’ve locked your room, but not all
- Items over a certain value that you haven’t specified
Student insurance cover options
Here’s what you can choose to include in your policy:
Gadgets
Cover for your gadgets anywhere in the UK and worldwide for up to 90 days. Gadgets can be covered for loss, theft, accidental damage and liquid damage, as well as cover for your digital downloads.
Contents
Cover for your possessions anywhere in the UK and for up to 90 days worldwide. You can choose to cover just your everyday items, your valuables worth more than £500, or both.
Musical instruments
Cover your instruments and accessories for theft and damage. You’ll also be covered to hire a replacement while yours is being repaired or replaced.
Bicycles
Cover for theft or damage to your bicycle and its accessories.
Room key cover
In halls of residence or a student house you probably have a lock on the door to your own room. This’ll cover you for losing your keys. It’ll help pay for a locksmith to get you back in and replacement locks.
Tuition fees, coursework and rent protection
If you have to leave your course due to accident or illness, this will cover the money you’d lose in course fees and rent. Plus help to cover the cost of resits. It can help to cover the cost of reproducing lost or damaged coursework too.
How to compare student insurance
There's only a few things we need to know to get you a quote:
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Your details
The usual things like your name, DOB and email address
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Uni details
What university you attend and whether you’re in halls, private accommodation or elsewhere
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Cover options
Choose what you want to include to build your own policy. Look out for cover outside of the house for things like laptops, or your bike
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Security details
Check what locks are on your bedroom door and whether they meet insurer’s requirements
How can I get my student insurance cheaper?
Four suggestions for lowering the cost…
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Don't go over the top
Only pay for cover options that you need
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Take care
Look after your stuff and keep valuables out of sight
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Pay annually
Paying monthly’s more expensive, because interest is charged
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Double check
Don’t double up on cover – check whether you’re covered on your parents’ home insurance
Frequently asked questions
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Getting buildings insurance is down to your landlord or university - whoever owns the building. It’s not your responsibility.
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Some university accommodation contracts include insurance but not all, so check before you move in.
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Make an inventory of the individual items you have in your room and add up their value. Don’t forget things like clothes, shoes and course books.
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This covers the cost of a new replacement item and not the current value of the item which has been lost, damaged or stolen.
Alternatively, you can take out a policy that covers the actual value of the item. These policies are likely to be cheaper, but a pay-out might not cover the cost of a replacement.
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No. Student insurance is designed for students living away from their family home in halls of residence, or rented accommodation, while they’re studying.
But you might want to check if any of your belongings are covered under your parent’s contents insurance – particularly high-ticket items like laptops.
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Not always, so make sure you read the terms and conditions of your policy carefully.
Whether you live in halls of residence or a shared house might also affect your policy, so double check the small print.