Important to know: King’s College London is not an insurance provider in its own right, nor can we help you with obtaining appropriate health insurance.
Please treat this information as guidance only, and make sure you are appropriately covered for the full duration of your work experience with any additional cover you may need.
Opportunities part of your formal programme
If your opportunity is a formally structured part of your programme, for example, a study abroad year or industry placement you may be entitled to be covered by King’s travel insurance for the specific duration of your opportunity.
All students need to complete a travel insurance application for every overseas trip at least 4 weeks before departure.
If you are travelling on an arrangement that has been facilitated by the Global Mobility Office, then Global Mobility will apply for your insurance on your behalf.
How can I submit an application?
Please submit your application by completing the Student Travel Application on our internal webpages, selecting the 'insurance office' option when prompted to do so.
Important to know: The application will go through an approval process before the travel is confirmed; completing your application is not final and does not guarantee your study/work abroad will be confirmed.
For further information and details about travel insurance please visit KCL Insurance.
Opportunities part of a King’s-organised extra-curricular activity
If your opportunity is centrally managed by King’s, for example as part of a structured King’s Internships programme, you may be entitled to be covered by King’s travel insurance for the specific duration of your opportunity.
Email Internships for further details.
Opportunities which you may self-source independently of King’s
No, King’s does not automatically offer travel or health insurance for students when working abroad. It is your responsibility to obtain the relevant health insurance while working abroad.
In some cases, you may be covered by the NHS (National Health Service) and are able to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare when working in an EU country or Switzerland via a GHIC (Global Health Insurance card) or EHIC (if you plan to work in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
Working in the European Union (EU) and Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
If you are a UK citizen
As a UK citizen, you should have already been provided with both your NHS number and National Insurance number. Both together will allow you to apply for a GHIC (Global Health Insurance card) or EHIC card (if you plan to work in Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) via the NHS online portal.
This will cover you for three months while working abroad. If your opportunity is longer than that you will be required to take out additional health insurance that provides cover beyond this period.
If you are an international student
We strongly advise you to first check if you are already covered under a health insurance plan or scheme in your home country.
As an international student in the UK on a Student Visa, you are eligible for health insurance under the NHS (National Health Service) and can apply for a Global Health Insurance card (GHIC), as above.
International students should e-mail nhsbsa.ghicapplicationsohs@nhsbsa.nhs.uk and state that:
- they are enrolled as a student at King’s College London
- wish to apply for a GHIC,
- that they do have an NHS number
- that they do not have a National Insurance number and are seeking assistance with obtaining the GHIC in this case
The NHS will then assist you with the process.
This will cover you for three months while working abroad. If your opportunity is longer than that you will be required to take out additional health insurance that provides cover beyond this period.
Working outside of the European Union (EU) and Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein.
The above information relates to the application for a GHIC card or EHIC card which will only cover you when working in the European Union (EU) and Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
If you are not working in one of these countries, we strongly advise you to check with your employer if you are covered under their insurance plan or are required to take out additional health insurance.