Insurance cover for students
health insurance for incoming international students
EU citizens
All the citizens of the EU countries (opens in a new tab) and Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland should have the European Health Insurance Card (opens in a new tab) when they arrive in Finland. This card gives access to medically necessary public health care during a temporary stay in Finland. In addition to this card the student always needs a travel insurance.
Non-EU citizens
Students from non-EU/EEA countries must have a health insurance and a travel insurance.
A health insurance is a requirement for obtaining a residence permit for studies. The health insurance must be obtained prior to applying for a residence permit and it must be valid upon entry to Finland.
Students applying for an extension to their residence permit must also have appropriate health insurance. The insurance must be valid throughout the entire stay in Finland.
The insurance deductible may not be more that 300 €. If you study in Finland less that two years, your insurance must cover medical expenses up to 120,000 €. If you study in Finland for at least two years, your insurance cover must be up to 40,000 € for medical expenses.
You can choose where to buy your insurance. Here are a few international insurance companies recommended by the Finnish Immigration Service:
- AON Students Insurance (opens in a new tab)
- Assurances Courtages et Services, ACS (opens in a new tab)
- International Student Insurance (opens in a new tab)
- Student Insurance Program (SIP) (opens in a new tab)
When you apply for the residence permit, the Finnish Immigration Service (opens in a new tab) will assess each insurance policy and its terms and conditions individually.
NOTE: The right to use Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS/YTHS) does not exclude a student from having to take out the health insurance.
university’s accident policy
Students completing a degree at the University of Eastern Finland are covered under the university’s accident insurance policy, which is compliant with the Act on Studies-related Accidents. The insurance covers accidents that have occurred in conditions typical of studying during a person’s participation in practical teaching that can be paralleled with work or in an unpaid internship which is compliant with the curriculum or the basics of the degree, either within the institution or at an external host organisation.
The statutory accident insurance policy does not cover accidents occurring during lectures, breaks or on the regular way to or from the university. As regards internships, the insurance policy only covers unpaid internships. If the student receives salary during the internship, the student will be covered under the accident insurance policy of the employer. Non-Finnish students are covered under the insurance policy in Finland irrespective of their nationality, provided that they have enrolled as degree-seeking students at a Finnish educational institution.
The insurance policy is in force everywhere in the world. The accident insurance policy is also in force during a degree-related practical training abroad, provided that the training abroad is included in the student’s curriculum at the University of Eastern Finland. However, it is important to notice that the insurance policy is an accident insurance policy which is only in force as regards practical work. When travelling abroad, it is always recommended to take out a travel insurance policy which complements the insurance coverage also as regards travel illness, discontinuation, cancellation, and transportation back home.
The third party liability insurance policy of the University of Eastern Finland covers university students and exchange students as regards work in which they can be paralleled with university staff (i.e. they work under the supervision and instruction of the university’s hired staff). The university’s third party liability insurance is not in force when the student’s internship takes place outside the university. Furthermore, university’s own students who have gone on exchange are not covered under the third party liability insurance.
Further information on matters relating to accidents of students:
- Joensuu Campus: Kari Reinikainen
- Kuopio Campus: Riitta Meuronen
