Ah, the mid 1990s. Girl power was full of spice, Blur faced Oasis in the battle of Britpop, Donald Trump was just another ludicrously rich American, and your phone was tethered to the wall. Plus student contents insurance, along with loans, became available for students.
If you were at college or uni then, student life would be almost unrecognisable today. A library is now the music collection on your smartphone, and you can carry all your books in a lightweight Kindle. With an over-reliance on expensive electronics, the need for student insurance is more necessary than ever.
Does your home insurance cover a student house?
Worried about your student son or daughter dropping that expensive new phone or laptop? Insuring such valuables probably isn't high on their list of priorities – what with their budget extending no further than pasta and beans – but they could be in luck.
Some home insurance policies include cover for contents temporarily in halls of residence or other student accommodation. For instance, our Platinum home insurance covers the student's contents up to the value of £5,000, providing their permanent address is still your home.
If your policy doesn't include the personal possessions of students at college, check with your insurer to see if you can add extra cover for contents away from home.
How does student life affect home insurance?
Here are just some of the digital necessities modern students can't live without – making student contents insurance a must.
- Phones
The cost of a smartphone is hefty, so having iPhone insurance or cover for an Android device could be a lifesaver. They can easily be dropped, stolen or lost, and as we now use the phone to do more than make calls, it's vital to stay connected. How can you check your Instagram likes without one? - Laptops
Considering laptop insurance? Used for everything from storing photos and music to lecture notes, a student's laptop is their life. Plus young people especially will most likely stream TV shows on their laptop or tablet. So add it to your policy if the value exceeds a certain amount.
If you tally up the possessions of a student based on the tech they're using, carrying in their bags or wearing, you may be shocked how much they come to.
So if one of yours is flying the nest soon, or you yourself are embarking on student life, have a look at our levels of cover and get a quote. Knowing your valuables are protected will let you get on with partying and studying.
Author: The AA. Updated 6 June 2025.