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There’s nothing more exciting or more scary than prepping to leave for university, especially if you are going abroad! It can also get a bit overwhelming – especially if it’s your first time at uni.

Here are some of our top tips for facilitating a smooth transition into your uni life:

Budget! It helps if you plan your budget before you move. Check online so you can get an idea of the price for flights, accommodation, fees, daily spending and so on, so you can manage your money accordingly.

Research your accommodation options and get it sorted before you reach your destination. There’s nothing worse than turning up but having nowhere to live! A good first point of contact is your university itself, who will most likely provide or at least recommend accommodation. Decide beforehand if you would prefer to live in residence halls with other students, or rent a private place.

Build support networks! Being away from home can be tough, and culture shock is a very real thing! A good way of overcoming homesickness is by keeping in contact with both family and friends from your home country, and new ones you meet while studying abroad. It really provides a network for strong support.

Join clubs and societies. Not only does this help you find people you have common ground with, but it is a good way to expand on your existing skills and knowledge.

Immerse yourself in the culture! Being at university provides an excellent opportunity for you to broaden  your horizons and enjoy a culture that may be completely different from your own!

Familiarise yourself with public transportation. Figure out out how far away you’re going to be living from campus; whether you can walk or bike there, or  whether it’s worth investing in a student bus pass to save some cash.

Purchase Student Travel Insurance. Seriously. It may or may not be compulsory to have travel insurance where you are going, but if it’s not, we strongly recommend that you get it. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will bring peace of mind to both you and your family because you’ll know that you and your personal possessions are protected should something happen.

As you plan your time away, it’s easy to get caught up in all the adventures you’re going to have, the new things you’ll learn and of course the new classmates you’ll meet, but when going anywhere abroad, it’s just as important to be prepared for plans to go wrong.

Sacos Insurance Group offers Travel Insurance protection for students going on overseas training. For more information on the Student Travel Insurance, call us on (+248) 429 5000, send an email to info@sacos.sc or visit us at any of our branches on Mahé and Praslin.

When studying overseas, any number of unforeseen events can seriously disrupt your studies. You can fall sick, get into an accident or lose a close family back home. The emotional impact of these incidents are considerable, especially in the middle of your studies. The financial burden however add another element of stress that, as a student, you should not have to deal with.

On average, university students face significant expenses. There are not only limited to rising tuition fees, but also for accommodation, bills and other service charges, books, food etc. Every now and then, unplanned expenses may materialise which are beyond the regular budget of a student.

Unforeseen expenses

Medical expenses are hard to budget for, as treatments may differ, with no standard or fixed prices. The cost for hospitalisation is exceptionally high as in-patients are charged for room occupancy and other service charges, in addition to the treatment they receive. Depending on the illness or injury, students may be required to follow regular out-patient treatment.

Legal representation is likely one of the least cause of concern for students, but an important one, nevertheless. Parents should be under no illusion as to what their children can be up to when they are far from home. While many find this new independence liberating, some may find themselves on the wrong side of the law by taking things a little too far. It goes without saying that good legal representations can be costly.

Lost baggage or passport

Life is complicated enough without the absurdity of lost baggage, but here we are. Student allowances are generally just enough to cover daily and continuous needs. To replace an entire wardrobe because of airport mishaps should not strip away from what is budgeted for food and other basic necessities. Students also have deposits to pay for accommodation and services installment, such as internet when they first move in.

Emergency return home

Sadly, on rare occasions, some students will receive a dreadful call from home with terrible news – a close family member has passed away. Students have no choice but to return home to pay final respects and bid farewell to their loved ones. Unfortunately, this is one of those events that you are least likely to budget or have the finances for. The cost of airfares are usually higher for last minute booking and the greater the distance, the higher the fare.

All this to say, a Student Travel Insurance policy is a must for an overseas student. By budgeting a nominal amount per month as part of regular expenses, all those unforeseen ones can be easily taken care of. Parents have an obligation to ensure that their children are insured whilst on overseas studies. In fact, many countries oblige foreign students to purchase their insurance before they enter the country of destination.

For more information on the Student Travel Insurance, call us on (+248) 429 5000, visit our website https://www.sacos.sc/here-for-you/student-travel-insurance/ where you can download our brochure/request a quote, send an email to info@sacos.sc or visit us at any of our branches on Mahé and Praslin.

Did you know that it is compulsory to buy travel insurance for students who are travelling to the USA or any other Schengen visa universities? Even if your child is studying in a country where travel insurance is not mandatory, you want them to have the maximum security available, and that’s where Sacos insurance Group comes in!

At Sacos, we understand the need to prepare for the unexpected: this ranges from anything between hospitalisation, emergency evacuation to even the little details such as loss of your passport.

The truth is, the benefit of having travel insurance is so widely understated that a lot of people simply do not understand its benefits. Let’s break it down for you.

Here are a few benefits you must know about student travel insurance:

In spite of the great service given by our health care providers in Seychelles, we nevertheless have certain limitations when it comes to intensive and specialised treatment. Many patients have had to travel abroad to receive more complex treatment.

Continue reading “Learn more about our improved Health Insurance Policy” →

A boat trip is a wonderful way to unwind and relax, but even with utmost precautions, accidents can still happen and someone can still manage to fall overboard. What should you under these circumstances?

You’re probably thinking something like: “jump in after them, duh!”

Surprisingly, the National Parks Services of the United States strongly advices against this! According to the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the three stages of rescuing someone who has fallen into the water are:

Reacting: Yell, “Man overboard!” so that everyone on board the boat is aware of the situation, and stop the boat as soon as you realise someone has fallen off the boat. At least one person on board should maintain visual contact with the victim. Turn the boat 180 degrees while having the person focused on the swimmer call out the victim’s proximity to the boat. Throw in as many flotation devices as possible to help increase the visibility of the swimmer’s position, as well as provide them with safety gear.

You should not jump in after a person who’s fallen overboard, as this puts another person at risk. It may be inevitable sometimes, if the victim is a child or appears to be injured, and someone needs to jump in to help. They should be wearing a life jacket, and the  US Sailing recommends that a rescue swimmer be tethered to the boat.

Returning to the victim: As the boat returns to the victim, it should approach from downwind or down current from the swimmer. This should help with manoeuvrability and will help prevent the boat from drifting too close to the victim. Keep the boat at a slow, controllable speed. Once you are close enough to the victim, throw a flotation device, such as a life ring or throw cushion, with about 50 feet of line attached to it. Keep in mind that overthrowing is better than not having the device within reach, as the swimmer can still grab the line.

Recovery: Once the victim has a hold of the line or flotation device, shift the boat out of gear and start pulling him in by attaching the boarding device, such as a hook-style or rope ladder if possible. Grab the victim under the arms as soon as possible and hoist them unto the boat. Get the victim dry and warm and call for help immediately if they need medical assistance.