Insurance for students
In some situations, you will still be covered by workers' compensation insurance against accidents, illness, and injury. For personal injury insurance, travel insurance, and any other insurances, you will need to obtain private insurance.
Below you will find an overview of scenarios where you as a student will be covered if you get injured in various study-related situations.
In Educational Situations
Under § 13-10 of the National Insurance Act, students at OsloMet can be covered by workers' compensation insurance under certain conditions. Coverage under the National Insurance Act requires membership in the National Insurance Scheme. An occupational injury is a personal injury, illness, or death caused by an accident at work. The injury must be caused by a sudden, unexpected, and unforeseen external event. An accident at work also includes a temporary external event that causes stress or strain that is unusual compared to what is normal in the relevant work.
For an injury to be covered, it must have occurred:
- In an educational situation
- At the educational institution
- During educational hours
The educational institution is where the instruction actually takes place. Work in a reading room is equated with teaching. Coverage under the National Insurance Act also applies to excursions and similar activities outside the regular educational institution if they occur under the university's auspices. It is the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (nav.no) that determines if an injury is approved under the National Insurance Act.
Travel
As a student, you are generally not covered when traveling to and from the university, or to and from the practical training institution. This may be covered by private travel insurance. However, travel between campus and the practical training institution may still be covered under the National Insurance Act.
Supervised professional training
When you have supervised professional training at an enterprise, you are generally considered an employee and are covered by the Occupational Injury Insurance Act. You may then be entitled to benefits under both this act and the National Insurance Act. Students undergoing supervised professional training are considered employees if they perform tasks similar to other employees at the employer. Three conditions must be met:
- You must have performed work.
- The work must have been performed for an employer.
- It must have taken place during working hours.
Stays Abroad
If you are going on exchange, have supervised professional training, or a project abroad, you must at a minimum be covered by the National Insurance Scheme and have your own travel insurance. For more information on insurance related to stays abroad
Incoming International Students (Not Residents in Norway)
Nordic students are insured through the national insurance scheme if the student is registered in the Norwegian population register. If the student is not a member, the National Insurance Act entitles them to cover medical expenses.
Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, if they have membership in a social security scheme in their home country while studying in Norway, have the right to cover costs for immediate and necessary treatment according to Norwegian regulations. It is important that the student has a health insurance card from their home country.
Students from countries outside the EU/EEA are not automatically members of the national insurance scheme. This means that they do not have workers' compensation coverage.
For more information, it is recommended to contact NAV (nav.no) to get more information on regulations for foreign students.
Private Insurance
To have comprehensive insurance comparable to that of employees, you should have private insurance covering personal injury, travel, and possibly other needs. Private insurance costs must be covered by the student.
We also recommend that you take a look at the guidance provided by the Universities Norway regarding insurance and liability issues related to students. (pdf - only in Norwegian).