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Masters Beyond Borders

Masters Beyond Borders (MBB) is an exclusive single semester study abroad opportunity for students on the International Business MSc programme. If you're accepted onto the scheme, you'll graduate with the degree title MSc International Business (Study Abroad).

Where can I go?

Successful applications will study at one of our highly-rated partner business schools, located across the world. You'll complete your semester abroad after completing your MSc programme (i.e. in Semester 1 of the 2024/25 academic year).

Visit this page on the  Global Opportunities SharePoint Site to see which of our partners are open to MBB students.

Please note that the 'Apply to Study Abroad' section of this site is only relevant for undergraduates.

Where do I start?

Make sure you've completed all of the steps below before applying for MBB.

Step 1: Watch our MBB Information Session

Watch a recording of the Masters Beyond Borders information session we delivered on 8th November 2023:

Step 2: Research potential destinations

It's important that you fully research your options before applying. The Host University Catalogue on the Global Opportunities SharePoint Site contains a factsheet for every partner institution, as well as immigration and visa information, and feedback from former students. Students will usually provide their contact details in their forms, so it's easy to get in touch with them.

Step 3: Research associated costs

As part of your MBB application, you will be asked to complete a budgeting plan for the most expensive destination on your list of preferences. We recommend visiting the following resources to help you compare the costs of your different options:

• Use Numbeo to compare the cost of living in different cities worldwide.
• Read the 'Study Abroad financial considerations' page on our For Students site. Please note that the 'Tuition fees and student finance' section is only relevant for undergraduates. During your semester abroad you will not pay any tuition fees to your host institution and will pay only a reduced fee of £3000 to the University of Leeds. Recipients of the MBB Scholarship will pay a further reduced tuition fee of £1500.
• The Host University Catalogue on the Global Opportunities SharePoint Site also contains details of living and leisure costs for each partner.

As your MBB semester abroad is part of your degree, you will automatically be covered by the University of Leeds travel insurance policy at no cost. However, for some countries and universities you must purchase a local health insurance policy on top of your University of Leeds insurance, plus any top-up cover you may choose to buy. This page gives you an idea of insurance costs in countries that the Global Opportunities Team know to operate compulsory insurance policies.

Finally, in order to study abroad legally you will need to apply for and obtain the relevant student visa or residence permit for your host country. However, if you hold an EU passport and wish to study in the EU, or if you hold a passport for the country you will study abroad in, you may be exempt from this requirement.

The majority of countries expect you to show evidence of your financial support at the point of applying for the student visa, which can be anytime between May and September. However, for some partners you will be asked to provide evidence of financial support at the point of formal application to the host university between January and March. If you are selected to study abroad at any of these destinations you should be aware that you cannot usually use your student loan as evidence of funds as you cannot usually apply to Student Finance early enough to receive your loan statement in time for the host institution’s application period. This does not mean that you can't use your student loan to pay for your semester abroad; it just means that you can't use it as evidence that you can afford your semester abroad.

More information about applying for your visa can be found here . (Please note that this page is only relevant for UK nationals. If you are an international student you should do your own research to determine what evidence you need to provide when you apply for your student visa.)

You can contact the LUBS Study Abroad Team by email at [email protected] . Our online open hours are Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm (except for bank holidays and closure days).

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Your contents. Covered.

By partnering with Endsleigh , the No.1 student insurance provider, we’ve arranged contents insurance for all our students staying with us in our residence at no cost to you.

It is important all students confirm their cover to ensure you understand what is and isn’t covered. 

You can do this by downloading the MyEndsleigh app and registering. Once you do this you will be entered into a prize draw to win £50 a week for a WHOLE YEAR!*

Visit MyEndsleigh to:

• View what is and what is not covered
• Get claims support
• Personalise cover
• Access rewards
• Access wellbeing support

*Terms and conditions apply

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Health and Safety

Fieldwork Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are a University of Leeds requirement for all fieldwork taking place off campus, including on NHS premises. The risk assessment forms and further guidance on planning for fieldwork in a variety of settings can be found on the  University's Health & Safety website  along with further information about risk assessments:

• Off Campus Safety
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Further information  for Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) staff and students.

NB: PGRs based in the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) must use the FSS forms.

The University's  Insurance website  includes a list of countries for which prior authorisation is required from the insurers before travel insurance can be confirmed.

Contact the Wellbeing, Safety and Health team ( [email protected] ) for further advice on any queries/questions.

Travel Abroad

The University holds a Worldwide Business Travel insurance policy to provide automatic cover for any member of staff, postgraduate, undergraduate student, or any person under a contract to the University, travelling outside the UK on behalf of the University and representing the University during their business (including student study abroad, fieldwork, work placements etc).

The University's Worldwide Business Travel insurance policy number must be added to all Fieldwork (Risk) Assessments for travel outside the UK; additionally, the Foreign Commonwealth Office website must be used to inform the Fieldwork (Risk) Assessment and identify risk control measures. Where FCO travel warnings are in place further advice must be sought from the School Health and Safety Coordinator or the Faculty Health and Safety Manager as there are additional requirements that will apply.

Please note, for journeys to some countries, prior authorisation is required from the insurers before travel insurance can be confirmed.

Please see the University  insurance webpages  for further information.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (formerly CRB checks)

Students entering programmes and courses which involve regular access to children and/or vulnerable adults will be legally required to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) which is administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority. The Independent Safeguarding Authority has recently been established as a single agency to monitor all individuals who want to work or volunteer with vulnerable people. Registration with the scheme costs about £64.00 as a one-off payment which covers both the cost of registration and a DBS check.

An individual is a 'child' if they are under the age of 18.  However, if a 16- or 17-year-old has left full time education and is in employment, they would not be a child for the purposes of carrying out criminal record checks through DBS if the activity concerned took place at their place of work (this includes work experience placements which should be considered as unpaid work).

Further information on DBS checks is available on the  Home Office website .

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Healthcare and your immigration status

Find out what your healthcare entitlements are. Whether you’re an EU student resident in the UK or an international student, check what healthcare services you can access for free and what you’ll need to pay for.

Treatment that’s free for everyone

Accident and emergency services (but not follow-up treatment, or admission as an in-patient to hospital).

Family planning services.

Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

Services for treating a physical or mental condition caused by violence.

Services that are provided as part of the NHS 111 telephone advice line .

More information on the NHS website .

EU and international students resident in the UK

The UK healthcare provision is residence-based. If you’re a European or international student who’s obtained indefinite leave to remain, you can access all primary and secondary care for free in the UK.

This means all initial doctor consultations and any emergency services provided after being admitted as an inpatient, or at a follow-up outpatient appointment.

International students – visa for less than 6 months

All international students, including eu students:.

You’ll be able to access some medical services for free . 

You’ll need to pay for all medications bought in the UK.

Buy health insurance before you travel to cover you for using medical services while you're in the UK. If clinicians consider your treatment to be non-urgent, you’ll be asked to pay for any cost of treatment in advance. In an urgent situation where treatment is considered urgent, you will be given all the necessary treatment and you’ll be billed the costs.

If you’re a student from the EU, you can still use a valid EHIC to access healthcare if you get ill or have a medical emergency during your temporary stay.

Norwegian citizens residing in Norway can access medically necessary healthcare when visiting the UK, using a valid Norwegian passport.

International students – visa for more than 6 months

If you’re staying in the UK for longer than 6 months, you’re required to pay an  Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)  as part of your visa application (and any other application for any dependants coming to the UK with you). The Immigration Health Surcharge fee will entitle you (and your dependants) to free health services under the NHS. 

If you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and you’re a student from the EU or Switzerland with a valid EHIC card, you can apply for a refund (‘reimbursement’) of your IHS  provided you don’t do any paid work whilst in the UK.

This does not include dental care or non-necessary treatment.

You may need to buy health insurance to cover any treatment which is not covered by the NHS, or for private, non-emergency medical treatment.

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Fees and scholarships

Leeds International Summer School (LISS) is an all-inclusive programme. Find out what is included in the programme fee and read about the scholarships we offer.

• Full four-week programme: £3,725
• Two-week programme (either block one or block two): £2,065

The programme fee includes: 

• tuition 
• accommodation 
• breakfast and lunch, Monday to Friday 
• module field trips 
• weekend excursions 
• social activities
• The Edge  sports centre premium membership

We also offer a free transport service to the University from Manchester Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport during the LISS arrival period. We’ll send full details of how to book the transport service to LISS offer holders in May.

The costs of flights, travel insurance and visas are not included in the programme fee.

Early application discount

Submit your LISS application by 1 April 2024  to receive an early discount.

If you’re attending for the four-week programme the discount is worth £150. If you’re attending for the two-week programme, the discount is worth £75. 

Group discount

We offer a group discount to institutions that wish to send a group of 10 students or more to LISS. Please  email Leeds International Summer School at [email protected]  for more details.

Scholarships

Merit scholarships.

If you have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 or above (or equivalent) and you apply by the 1 April 2024 early application deadline, you can apply for one of over 20 merit scholarships to help pay for your fees.

The scholarship is worth £500 if you're attending the full four-week programme and £250 if you're attending either block one or block two.

To apply, you should upload your answers to the following questions as a supporting document during the online application:

• Have you ever worked as part of a team (e.g. at University or high school, or as part of paid employment or voluntary work)? What was your role in the team and what did the team achieve as a result of your contribution?
• Tell us about any extra-curricular activities that you take part in (e.g. clubs, societies, projects or volunteer work)
• What skills/knowledge do you think you will develop during your time at LISS?
• How do you think that LISS will help you to achieve your long-term goals?

Your scholarship application should be between 500 and 1,000 words in total. 

Please note you can apply for both the merit scholarship and LISS Champion scholarship, but you can’t receive both.

Champion scholarships

We are looking for four LISS Champions to raise the profile of Leeds International Summer School.

As a Champion, you’ll share your experience of attending the summer school via different platforms including social media, blog posts and presenting at events before, during and after the programme. The scholarship is worth £1,000 which will be used to help pay your LISS fees.  

To apply, you should have an offer of a place on LISS for the full four-week programme. You should email a video to Leeds International Summer School at [email protected] that is no longer than two minutes, telling us why we should choose you to be a LISS Champion.

You should explain why you would be a good Champion for the University of Leeds, any relevant experience you have and how the opportunity will help you achieve your academic, personal and/or professional goals. The application deadline is 1 April 2024. 

When to pay your LISS fees

When you've received your LISS acceptance letter,  you'll need to pay £300 of the programme fee as a deposit to accept your offer of a place. 

You must pay the remaining balance in full by 8 May 2024. The deposit and remaining balance are non-refundable 14 days after payment.

Payments are usually non-refundable after 14 days. However, we offer a flexible refund policy if the ongoing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic mean we can’t host you in Leeds.

If you can’t travel to attend LISS for any reason relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll issue you with a full refund of your programme fee (including deposit). For example, if you can’t attend LISS due to travel restrictions put in place by your government. 

The University’s liability will not extend beyond this refund. We won’t be liable for any associated costs of attending LISS you have been unable to recover, eg travel costs. Please make sure you have appropriate travel insurance.  

Related links

Key Travel is the world’s largest travel management company specialising in humanitarian, faith and academic travel

As a travel management company, we make travel simple, cost-effective, safe and sustainable for people who travel to do good. Having developed the first ever missionary air contract , we subsequently pioneered the development of charity, humanitarian and academic specialist fares, offering customers more flexible conditions and savings versus published fares.

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• Operations in 9 countries across UK, North America, Europe and Africa
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Interim Travel Guidance

This interim travel guidance, published in September 2022, is designed to help staff and students across the University make informed choices when travelling for business or academic purposes, whilst a wider review of business travel policies is developed.

Please remember that all travel (air, rail and accommodation) must be booked through the University booking provider Key Travel (UoL login required) who are well placed to support all travel requirements with sustainable options. For any issues, or in the case of exceptional circumstances, please contact [email protected] .

A risk assessment needs to be completed for all travel activities, with further help and support available from your local Health and Safety team.

Reduce your emissions with virtual meetings

Check if you can use technology to replace travel by connecting virtually.

Virtual meetings not only eliminate travel-related carbon emissions, but they also create a more accessible environment with more people from all over the world being able to attend and collaborate with us.

Take the time to consider if a meeting could be replaced with a phone call, email, or virtual meeting. For virtual meetings, some good options include the following technology which is supported by the University IT service:

• Microsoft Teams

Phone calls are the least emitting. If you want to reduce your footprint during virtual meetings you can switch your cameras off.

If you are hosting a conference, consider hosting one virtually instead.

You could also consider a hybrid conference, with some individuals being physically in attendance but providing the option to attend virtually and have the sessions recorded.

If you have any questions, you can contact IT services or Estates and Facilities to help you set up video conferencing services as well as any AV or IT equipment on campus.

Before booking travel

If you are required to travel, take the time to ask yourself the following questions before you book your trip:

• Think about how often you need to make a physical trip.
• Think about how many people need to go when you do go.
• Could this trip be replaced with a virtual meeting/conference?
• Could this trip be achieved by rail? (including within Europe)
• Could we avoid multiple separate trips to the same destination by combining them into a single, longer trip?
• If you have to travel can you explore the CO 2   effectiveness of different routes?

Choosing different modes of transport can have a significant impact on emissions, as illustrated in the following table which shows options for an illustrative journey from Leeds University (Parkinson Building) to London UCL Campus:

Mode of transport

Please consider the following alternatives to air travel when making your trip. Wherever possible we would encourage you to not travel by plane. Please ensure that you speak to your line manager about safety considerations as well as family responsibilities related to longer journeys before you travel.

For domestic journeys rail should be your first choice, booked through the University’s contracted travel supplier, Key Travel .

For European journeys, high speed rail should be considered for all Eurostar destinations. Sleeper trains are also an option. The website 'The Man in Seat Sixty-One' illustrates all international rail options and Key Travel can handle your booking requirements.

Even if your destination is not on the rail network, consider travelling by rail and using a hire car for the final leg of the journey. If possible, electric vehicles are a great way to reduce your emissions as well as save money on fuel.

Coach travel is also an option for domestic and European journeys and are much lower emitters in comparison to air travel.

If you have explored all of these options and you must travel via airplane, please consider the following:

Flying economy -  Flying economy means you take up less space in the plane, and means lower emissions per passenger.

Direct flights -  Take off and landing account for a higher proportion of emissions.

Offsetting emissions

Where there is no other option but to travel, consider an offsetting scheme to offset the carbon emissions of your journey. Offsetting should only be used as a last alternative, as the trip is still generating significant carbon emissions regardless of offsetting.

If flying is necessary, carbon offsets should be purchased. The University is currently a member of the Carbon Coalition , where offsets are verified by a board of experts, practitioners and scientists from the education sector to provide quality assurance. The most recently reported cost per tonne for this is £31.68. We recommend that this figure is used to estimate the cost to offset a tonne of CO 2 , although it's worth being aware that this cost is expected to rise over the coming years.

Please see the University of Leeds guidance on how to calculate your carbon offsetting costs for your journey.

At your destination

Use accommodation that has a reputation for being sustainable.

Research the accommodation you want to stay at beforehand, and see what their policies are on recycling, use of alternative forms of energy, and if they are owned by local or foreign groups. Have a look into how they contribute to their local communities.

There are several accredited certification systems that accommodations can obtain if they are operating sustainably (for example: Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Green Seal, Earthcheck, Travelife Accommodation Sustainability, Green Key International, EU Ecolabel). Check to see if the accommodations have any labels that indicate they are sustainable, and you can use this to help choose where you stay. You can also inquire about this at local tourism offices.

When you book accommodation with the University travel booking provider, Key Travel , the emissions from the stay will be offset.

Whilst at your destination, consider walking and cycling to get around. If you do need to travel further afield, try to take public transport. Please remember to only use these methods of transport if it is safe to do so in the location that you are in.

If you want to learn more about sustainable business travel, please contact [email protected] .

Sustainable Travel In Practice

Benefits of virtual conferences: the africap ifeed workshops.

The digital transformation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has opened up opportunities to facilitate collaboration with groups around in the world. Helen Costerman of the School of Earth and Environment details her positive experience with the virtual AFRICA iFEED workshops in June, 2021:

“In June 2021, we held four virtual workshops focused on one of our key outputs, the integrated Future Estimator for Emissions and Diets (iFEED). Colleagues joined us over Zoom from Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, the UK and Zambia for 3-hour sessions facilitated by the Head of Interdisciplinary Research at Leeds. Holding this event on Zoom allowed us to consult on our project activities with a broad range of stakeholders who we would otherwise not have reached. It also allowed participation by colleagues with caring responsibilities or who are not able to travel. The chat function was also helpful for those who do not have the confidence to speak in front of large groups. While there was the occasional interruption due to bandwidth issues, holding the event online made it more accessible and equitable overall.”

When planning your next conference or workshop, it is worth considering if the event could be virtual or hybrid to increase the range of stakeholders that are able to attend, to improve accessibility and attendance, and to help reduce emissions related to travel.

Vietnam to Leeds: The Trans-Mongolian Express

In 2013, Lindsay Stringer, who was a Professor in Environment and Development at the University of Leeds as well as the Director of the Sustainability Research Institute and Steven Orchard, who was a PhD student at the institute, travelled to Hanoi, Vietnam to present Steven’s PhD findings to researchers and policy makers, as well as to explore possible collaborations with the Hanoi National University of Education.

Lindsay and Steven made the decision to return from Vietnam via the trans-Mongolian railway in an effort to save around ½ tonne of CO 2 compared to the return flight. Stop offs along their route included Beijing, Irkuk, Moscow, Minsk, Cologne and Brussels. With the help of the International Office and Alumni and Development, they were able to link up with Leeds Alumni along the way wherever possible.

In a blog post where she wrote about her reflections from their journey, Lindsay wrote that she hoped that they journey would stimulate debate and encourage other researchers to think about what they do when they travel for research, and that a lot can be gained by staying a few extra days in the destination in terms of building research links and contacts. She also noted that traveling using non-standard forms can really help to increase networking opportunities as well.

Lindsay concluded in her post: “With the world’s grand research challenges being problems that we face as a planet (food security, energy security, climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation etc), research for travel is a necessary part of academic life if we are to contribute to the development of solutions. Giving more thought to how we travel, when and why, and what we do when we’re there, seems like a sensible and important way forward, particularly if research travel can be combined with implementing other aspects University Strategy”.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our work on business travel is linked to the following SDGs:

• Goal 4: Quality education
• Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 13: Climate action

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs .

Motor Insurance

A policy is held to provide comprehensive cover for commercial vehicles and private cars owned by the University or hired in the name of the University whilst being used in connection with University activities. Please note that the excess on the policy following damage to a University vehicle or hire vehicle is now £1,000 which is payable by the department.

Drivers must have a clean, valid licence and in the case of minibuses, must have category D1 on their licence.

Please note vehicles hired abroad must be insured with the hire company as the University policy does not provide cover for vehicles hired overseas unless the hire begins in the UK.

Please notify us of any additions or deletions of vehicles to the University’s fleet. For vehicles hired for University business for a period of 14 days or more please complete this form .

Vehicles used for University related activities which are the property of members of staff or students will not be insured by the University. Staff and students must ensure that their own motor policy includes occasional business use .

A copy of the current Motor Insurance Certificate can be downloaded here

Student Travel

The Leeds circuit for practice experience is very wide and at times it will be necessary to travel across Leeds by public transport or by car. Most placements involve a bit of travelling, and it can take students up to 1 hour to get to their destination. This is taken into account when placements are allocated.

Driving and Car Parking Driving and parking within the main Leeds area can be problematic. Please check your placement area and profile on the PARE  website prior to starting your placement to ensure you have the relevant travel information. *Please note that not all placement areas have car parking facilities: Online PARE

For car parking information for the Leeds Teaching Hospital sites (LGI, St James's, Chapel Allerton, Seacroft, and Wharfedale) please visit the Trust website  http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/patient-and-visitor-information/finding-your-way-around/ . *Please be aware that parking is not always available.

Car Insurance Please check your car insurance covers you when travelling to your placements and that this includes business insurance.

Shuttle Bus If a student is working across the sites and need to use the Shuttle Bus then all ward Educational Leads (EL) have been informed to issue students with a Trust ID Badge. The forms are available in each clinical area, if they are unavailable please ask the EL to contact the Practice Learning Facilitators.

Other Placements For information on car parking provision within other Trusts please visit the Trust's local site or contact your placement area prior to going out on placement.

Travel Expenses For general travel expenses information, please refer to the general  NHS Student Bursary  website.

Other Information In the section below we have collated several contacts to help you find your way around. If you find any more we would be interested in hearing from you so we can add them to the site.

Having Difficulties? If you do not know where to go, or think the journey is going to be impossible, do some research, or when you contact the placement area 2 weeks before you are due to start the placement ask them for advice on how to get to the placement.

If you are travelling by car, refer to the  multi-map  or  AA Route Planner  to work out exactly where you have to get to.  If you are travelling by public transport, use the  Metro  or  First Leeds  websites and find out the best public transport routes to take.  Then do a trial run & find out exactly how long it takes.

If you are worried about safety, please look at the information in the  Student Safety section on this website.

If you are running into difficulties then staff in the  Practice Placement Unit  will be able to advise you, and if you really can't make it, talk to your Programme Leader who may be able to help.

• Introduction to credit card travel insurance and standalone travel insurance
• What are credit card travel protections?
• What is travel insurance?
• Credit card travel protection vs. standalone travel insurance
• Frequently asked questions

Credit Card Travel Insurance vs Travel Insurance: A Comparative Guide

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Travel insurance and some credit cards can protect you from financial loss while traveling.
• Travel insurance offers more comprehensive coverage that includes emergency medical expenses.
• Credit card travel protection has more gaps but comes at no additional cost for cardholders.

Anything can happen while traveling. Flight delays, lost luggage, or even unexpected injury or illness can interrupt your vacation. When these things occur, travel insurance or the travel protections included with your premium credit card may be able to help, providing medical coverage, offsetting your financial losses, or even reimbursing you fully.

But do you need both travel insurance and credit card travel protections? Here are details on both and tips for deciding what the best travel insurance is for you.

Introduction to credit card travel insurance and stand-alone travel insurance

Many credit cards offer travel protections that can help you in certain unexpected travel situations. But they aren't exactly the same as a separate travel insurance policy.

Here's how the two differ at a high level:

• Travel insurance:  Travel insurance is coverage that you purchase for a single trip or multiple trips in a year. It typically covers the costs associated with trip cancellation, trip delays, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen events that may occur while traveling.
• Credit card travel protections:  These are benefits automatically included with certain consumer credit cards. They often provide coverage for delays, lost baggage, rental car collisions, and other events during travel. Credit cards sometimes advertise these protections as a type of travel insurance, though they're not a separate insurance policy.

Generally speaking, designated travel insurance is more exhaustive than the protections offered by a credit card. Still, it's worth it to compare both options, particularly if you're taking an expensive trip. 

"It is always wise to check your credit card protection against a travel insurance plan," says Carol Mueller, a vice president at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection . "Credit card protection may not include the full, bundled, comprehensive coverage a travel insurance plan would."

What is credit card travel insurance ?

Many premium credit cards offer travel protections to cardholders, but the exact coverages depend on the credit card. Typically, only trips booked with that card qualify for coverage.

"Credit card travel insurance has one big advantage that interests travelers: it's usually free or included in the card's annual fee," says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Travel Insurance , a travel insurance provider. "Credit cards' travel benefits can be useful for smaller things, like travel delays or lost bags, but only travel insurance provides reliable protection in real emergencies, like expensive medical emergencies such as hospital visits and evacuations."

In some cases, however, a credit card may cover catastrophic accidents. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, offers up to $1,000,000 worth of coverage for an accident that causes loss of life, speech, hearing, or use of a hand, among other life-altering injuries.

Additionally, credit card coverage limits tend to be much lower. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers up to $20,000 per trip in cancellation coverage, while a basic travel insurance plan from Travel Guard offers five times as much coverage.

Pros and cons of credit card travel protection

What is stand-alone travel insurance .

Travel insurance protects you from financial losses related to travel. "There are three main areas of coverage: protecting yourself, protecting your personal items, and protecting your investment," says Christina Tunnah, general manager of Americas and global marketing at World Nomads Travel Insurance , a travel insurance and safety services provider.

Travel insurance works much like any other insurance policy. When a covered event occurs, like your trip is canceled or you're hurt while traveling, you file a claim with your insurer. If accepted, the company reimburses you for the costs up to your coverage limits.

"Most people have no idea that their health insurance does not cover them abroad," says Shane Mahoney, founder of Lugos Travel, a travel advisory. "So, a broken arm from a slip and fall or a heart attack can be financially devastating."

Travel insurance customers typically have 90 days to file their claim. But once the event occurs, there's no waiting period, meaning travelers should file as soon as possible.

A major factor when filing a successful claim is proof of financial loss. You can use something as simple as a medical clinic receipt or a doctor's medical statement. Once the claim has been reviewed and approved, your insurer will reimburse you via check. Some modern travel insurance companies offer immediate payment via a debit card mailed to travelers before their trip.

Travel insurance providers go beyond your standard credit card or airline coverage. You can buy policies that cover sports equipment, medical, and other coverages. You can also buy Cancel for Any Reason insurance, which covers trip cancellations regardless of the reason. The best CFAR insurance can cover 100% of your costs, but many only cover a percentage. 

Buyers can also price out annual travel insurance plans , which cover all of your trips within a 12-month period. Meghan Walch, director of the InsureMyTrip website, estimates a 4% and 10% travel insurance cost based on your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. If you're buying an annual policy, this figure will change.

Pros and cons of stand-alone travel insurance

Credit card travel protection vs. stand-alone travel insurance.

Deciding between stand-alone travel insurance and credit card travel protection can be difficult. That said, it's worth mentioning that these choices aren't mutually exclusive. Even if you have a credit card that provides travel protection, you can still opt for additional coverage with a stand-alone travel insurance policy.

Cost considerations

The obvious difference between credit card insurance and a stand-alone policy is the cost. While credit card insurance is usually included in the cost of the card, traditional travel insurance is an additional expense, usually between 5% to 6% of the trip's worth, though rates can range from 4% to 12%.

However, travel insurance may pay for itself, covering emergency medical expenses and evacuation."Most people have no idea that their health insurance does not cover them abroad," says Shane Mahoney, founder of travel advisory company Lugos Travel. "So, a broken arm from a slip and fall or a heart attack can be financially devastating."

On the other hand, credit card travel protections don't come at any additional costs. However, many of the best travel credit cards come with annual fees. Additionally, a credit card's travel protection only applies to trips you book with that credit card. If you don't pay off the credit card immediately, you'll pay interest on your trip. 

If you don't already have a credit card with travel insurance included, you'll also have to determine if the coverage is worth applying for a new credit card.

Comparing coverage and benefits

In most instances, traditional travel insurance policies will have more comprehensive coverage than credit card travel insurance. They'll cover more reasons for trip cancellation, and some may cover cancellations for no reason. They'll also cover medical emergencies, while credit card travel protections don't.

"Some travel insurance policies also provide epidemic coverage endorsements, which provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine, or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness," says Durazo.

Separate travel insurance policies also tend to offer more robust cancellation coverage. Credit card protections often cap reimbursement at just $10,000 a trip, while travel insurance usually goes up to $100,000. Most credit cards will only cover trips purchased with the card or reward points.

Situations best suited for each

Both travel insurance and credit card protections can prove helpful if your trip is canceled or you experience some other loss while traveling, but the right choice will depend on the specifics of your exact trip and budget. "Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs and concerns," Walch says. 

For example, travelers with more health concerns may opt for stand-alone travel insurance. Longer, more expensive, and international trips may also warrant greater coverage that credit card travel insurance can't provide. Additionally, it may be a good idea to insure trips to high-risk areas, either politically unstable regions or areas with inclement weather.

On the other hand, Walch says, "For a short trip to a family member's house in the US, the travel insurance offered through the credit card may suffice."

Credit card travel insurance comparison frequently asked questions

Credit card travel insurance may offer basic coverage for international trips, but it often lacks comprehensive medical coverage.

Yes, you can use both for the same trip. Stand-alone policies can supplement areas where credit card insurance is limited, such as medical coverage.

Most credit card travel insurance does not cover pre-existing medical conditions. Many stand-alone policies don't cover pre-existing conditions, but you may find some coverage with certain stipulations.

Credit card travel insurance is usually automatically activated when you pay for a trip using that card. However, it's important to read the card's policy for specific activation requirements.

While credit card travel insurance can be more cost-effective since it's a benefit of the card, it may not provide as comprehensive coverage as a stand-alone policy. In the long run, you may end up losing money if you solely rely on credit card travel insurance.

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