US Residents can protect their student trips with travel insurance benefits
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Every year, more than 10% of Canadian undergraduate students study, intern, or volunteer abroad for academic credit — many of them headed to the United States or the UK. Roughly the same amount take a gap year between high school and university. Whether you’re earning credits overseas, teaching English, or backpacking through a new country, travel doesn’t always go according to plan. Lost luggage, sudden illness, or an accident on a weekend trip can quickly turn your adventure into a stressful situation. With a World Nomads Travel Insurance plan, students may explore with confidence knowing they’re protected for those “just in case” moments.
Many students discover that their health insurance back home doesn’t extend overseas or even out of province — which means they have no coverage when they travel. Travel insurance coverage for students may help cover unexpected medical costs if you get sick or injured abroad, from food poisoning to emergency medical evacuation. It may also offer coverage for trip interruptions, lost belongings, or travel delays — so you can focus on your studies (or your next adventure), not surprise expenses.
Standard & Explorer Plans – 365 days
Note: You must be covered by GHIP for the full duration of your trip. If travelling outside your home province for more than 183 days (212 for Ontario and Newfoundland residents), you must get written evidence of extension from your GHIP.
Nomads tip: World Nomads Travel Insurance can also cover your travels within Canada! Your Government Health Plan is limited once you leave your province. Your travel insurance plan can protect your domestic travels outside of your home province too.
Keep copies of important documents.
Store photos of your passport, student ID, and travel insurance in secure cloud storage in case your bag or wallet goes missing.
Know the local emergency numbers.
911 doesn’t work everywhere. Save the local police, ambulance, and embassy contacts before you go.
Stay alert in shared spaces.
Student housing and hostels can attract petty theft — use locks and keep valuables out of sight.
Respect local laws and customs.
Even minor infractions can have serious consequences abroad. Learn basic local etiquette and avoid political demonstrations.
Practice safe nightlife habits.
Go out with friends you trust, keep an eye on your drink, and plan how you’ll get home safely — especially in unfamiliar cities.
Not sure where you should go for your study abroad or gap year? Some of our best memories came from the time we spent overseas. While the research may seem daunting, trust us – it’s worth it! Here are some sites to get your started:
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions about your coverage, just ask us.Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for student travel insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
Student travel insurance coverage is designed to help protect students while studying, interning, volunteering, or travelling abroad. A World Nomads plan may provide coverage for overseas medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage and more— helping you travel with confidence while focusing on your studies or adventures.
Canadian GHIPs don’t cover you outside the country, which can make medical care abroad expensive. World Nomads travel insurance plans for students may help cover costs for hospitalization, prescriptions, and emergency evacuation as a result of a medical emergency — plus offer support if your trip is interrupted or your belongings are lost. You must still have a GHIP though, or your travel insurance coverage will be limited.
Yes. Whether you’re taking a semester off to explore or joining a structured gap year program, World Nomads offers flexible coverage for independent travellers. Plans may include benefits for medical emergencies, trip disruptions, and adventure activities, depending on your policy.
World Nomads is known for covering more than 250 adventure activities — from hiking and scuba diving to volunteering and skiing. Check your plan details to confirm which activities may be covered before you go.
World Nomads may provide coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, or delays caused by covered events like illness, injury, or missed connections caused by inclement weather — giving you some financial protection if your plans change unexpectedly.
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
We’ve got your back.
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
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Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.