Times can be tough when you\u2019re young and studying for that all-important degree. Attending a university abroad is becoming an increasingly common attractive opportunity for combining academic advancement with cultural exchange, particularly for language students. Nowadays campuses all over China are taking on a particularly international flavour as students from all over the world flock to learn how to speak Chinese.
Studying anywhere isn\u2019t cheap however, especially as it\u2019s difficult to earn much income when you are occupied full-time with classes, particularly in an unfamiliar country. Add to this the additional costs of studying overseas, the price adds up once plane tickets, lodgings, visas and other fees foreign students face are taken into consideration. After having gone to the considerable expense and effort to get yourself overseas to study, the last thing you would want would be to be out of action for any length of time because of illness or accident left you unable to spend your hard-earned time in China doing what you originally came here for.
You can avoid the potential frustration, discomfort and expense of this not completely unlikely situation by calling us to talk about what health insurance options are available for students. We have access to a wide range of packages from various insurers which include short and long term coverage periods which need not cause you to take out another student loan just to cover a trip to the doctor. An unexpected health issue can strike at anytime, don\u2019t think because you\u2019ll only be away for one semester than you will be ok \u2013 as the old saying goes it\u2019s better to be safe than sorry.
Generally speaking, if you\u2019re studying in China you\u2019re most likely young and therefore find life off-campus to be just as much as a reason for your choice of country to study in as life on it. All of China\u2019s big cities have vibrant neighbourhoods around their universities \u2013 places of learning in Chinese cities are quite often, but not always, concentrated in particular districts of a city. It\u2019s not uncommon for streets or areas to be named in such a manner to reflect this. The upshot of this is that there will be all manner of exciting things going on in the area where you live specifically aimed at students.
This can be very convenient \u2013 but sometimes too convenient. Small restaurants offer cheap foods, but beware hygiene standards may leave something to be desired. Food poisoning is not uncommon amongst students, especially those who have just arrived and may still be adjusting to a change in diet. And it\u2019s not only cheap foods which can poison you. Alcohol plays a prominent role in many students\u2019 social lives and China unfortunately has a reputation for being a place where counterfeit alcoholic beverages are sold. Whilst it\u2019s impossible to be certain of how widespread this problem really is, bars catering to students, where cheap drinks are the main allure, are a higher risk \u2013 so be careful what you choose to cheer your new classmates with.
Life on campus itself may also feature health hazards to be aware of. Some Chinese universities offer fairly basic dormitory facilities. Whilst foreign students tend to have access to better accommodation, the standard may still fall short of what you are used to back home. Living in close quarters with a relatively large number of fellow students means coughs and colds are quickly spread around.
Your living quarters may also be cold and drafty, or your bed uncomfortable, leaving you tired during the day. Combine these factors with a night on the town drinking fake booze, or eating undercooked food on the street outside the university gates, and you have quite a combination of things would affect your health and require a trip to the doctor at least.
Campus life for many students may also feature sports \u2013 both organized games for the university team, or informal pick-up games on basketball courts. It\u2019s good exercise of course but sometimes facilities around universities may be a little lacking \u2013 potholed basketball courts to trip over or poorly-kept grass surfaces to catch your ankle in are a common hazard.
It makes sense to think about the environment you will find yourself in once you make your move to study aboard and be aware of the different kinds of risks you may face above which you may not have anticipated otherwise. Students are generally young and period of overseas study may be their first taste of living abroad, this lack of experience may lead them to be less able to avoid situations which affect their health and not so adept at dealing with problems after they emerge.
The best approach of course is to prepare well by dealing with anything which might distract you from your studies. Affordable health insurance coverage is an easy step towards a successful study overseas \u2013 don\u2019t let yourself waste the money and time you put into going to a foreign university by worrying about how you\u2019d cope if you were ill or had an accident.
We know the lay of the land in China and many of us have even studied here ourselves. Let us give you the benefit of our experience, and give you a great health insurance quote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"