WHAT DO I DO IN AN EMERGENCY ABROAD?
The vast majority of students who go to the UK to study law have a fantastic learning experience, but as with any travel experiences, emergency situations can arise. Should that happen during your legal studies, it is important that you are aware that you have plenty of support and resources available to you.
IS THE UK A SAFE COUNTRY?
The UK is generally considered a safe country that is little affected by natural disasters and political unrest. There is little reason why you should not feel safe as a Canadian student in the UK.
While the UK is known to be a relatively safe place to live, accidents incidents and terrorism can still occur. In the event of a major incident, it is important that you remain calm and listen to advice provided by the authorities. If you or others should become involved in an incident, please reach out to the authorities at quickly as possible, then your family and university, to notify all parties involved.
INSURANCE
As an international law student in the UK, you will likely wish to consider valid insurance throughout your period of study. Normal travel insurance will not cover the entire period, so a separate student insurance policy for students abroad may be desirable. Please note that while many health case costs will be covered by the NHS through the surcharge paid during your visa application, additional coverage may be desired.
ASSISTANCE FROM BRITISH UNIVERSITIES IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
All of Canada Law from Abroad’s university partners are accredited by the national authorities in the UK, often in addition to international accreditation. We work with universities that are recognized and approved educational institutions that have signed contingency plans to ensure a safe experience in case of crisis management.
Not all emergency situations will be critical, but you can always find help with the International Office at your university. They too have contingency plans in place in case of incident or accident and are ready to help when needed.
Finally, Student Services – or the Universities’ welfare office – in addition to the Student Union are additional resources to provide assistance to students in need. There you will find help with many different types of problems, including housing, finances, homesickness, and many more. Do not be afraid to reach out in there is anything you may need help with!
BURGLARY & ROBBERY
If your belongings are stolen, this should be reported to the police immediately. If your card or phone is stolen, you’ll want to ensure that these are blocked as soon as possible.
LOST OR STOLEN PASSPORT
If your passport is lost or stolen, this must be reported to the police so you can obtain a police report. This will then be used when contacting your insurance company and the Canadian Embassy in London so that you can obtain a new passport.
IN CASE OF ILLNESS
If you fall ill during your studies, you can contact your General Practitioner (doctor), who will be assigned to you when you register with your university. The GP is used in the same way as in Canada, so you’ll likely need to book an appointment through your university health services. If you fall ill on the weekend and don’t have access to your GP, you recommend you call the NHS helpline (open 24/7), as they can provide more information on what is needed or where to go for assistance.
🔺 Make sure that you have familiarized yourself in advance with what the health services from the NHS cover through the International Health Surcharge that you pay as part of your student visa.
CONTACT WITH THE MEDIA
Be careful with sensitive and unverified information on social media. It is important that no one confirms that a serious accident, death, disaster or similar has taken place to the media before the information is official.
IMPORTANT EMERGENCY NUMBERS WHILE STUDYING IN THE UK
UK national emergency number: 999 (112 can also be used)
NHS helpline: 111
Canadian Citizens in Need of Emergency Assistance: https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-assistance
The Canadian Consulate in London: +44 (0) 207 004 6000
The Canadian Consulate in Belfast: + 44 (0) 3305001222
The Canadian Consulate in Edinburgh: +44 (0) 3305-001224
The Canadian Consulate in Wales: +44 (0)330 500 1223
Insurance company: Check the telephone number of your insurance company!
Your bank in Canada: Phone number for card blocking
🔺 Make sure you have important phone numbers stored on your phone.