UiO does not have a special insurance scheme for students because state educational institutions are not permitted to take out insurance on behalf of their students. The state is a so-called 'self-insurer'.
If students want the same insurance cover as the university's employees, they have to take out their own travel and personal risk insurance. In some cases students may still be covered by their parents' insurance.
Insurance pursuant to the National Insurance Act
Students at UiO are usually automatically covered by occupational injury cover pursuant to the National Insurance Act, cf. section 13-10. This means students have the same rights as employees with regard to occupational injury cover, as long as the act's requirements are satisfied.
An occupational injury is defined as a personal injury, illness or death caused by a work accident, cf. the National Insurance Act, section 13-3. The injury must have been caused by a sudden, unexpected and unforeseen event.
In order for an injury to be covered, it must have occurred when the student was:
- in a teaching situation,
- on the institution's premises,
- during teaching hours.
The 'institution's premises' means the location where the tuition is actually provided. Working in a study hall is considered equivalent to receiving tuition.
The cover pursuant to the National Insurance Act is also valid for excursions, field work, etc. off the university's premises, assuming the activities are taking place under the auspices of the university. This insurance also covers injuries suffered due to an accident that occurs when students are travelling between the institution's premises and a place where they are going to do work experience as part of fulfilling their work experience requirements.
The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) will decide whether or not an injury is covered by the National Insurance Act. Students must apply for benefits from NAV themselves. Click this link to read more about occupational injury cover and the application process (nav.no).
If you have lived abroad for an extended period, you will cease to be a member of the National Insurance scheme. Click this link to read more about membership of the National Insurance Scheme.
Students on work experience
The Occupational Injury Insurance Act does not automatically apply to students. However, if a student is on work experience, benefits may in certain circumstances be payable pursuant to the Occupational Injury Insurance Act in addition to the benefits pursuant to the National Insurance Act.
When students are on work experience they can be considered employees pursuant to section 2 of the Occupational Injury Insurance Act if the person "performs work or carries out any task in the service of the emp