[Summer Study Tour] Fees, packing list, pre-departure prep and insurance tips

Summer holidays are the peak time for many parents to arrange study tours or summer school programmes for their children. Compared with ordinary travel, study tours combine language learning, cultural experiences and overseas living experiences. They can not only help children improve their language skills, but also serve as preliminary preparation for future overseas studies.

However, study tours involve a number of considerations, including costs, destination selection, age restrictions, activity arrangements, packing and insurance cover. As the summer holidays are about to begin, many families may already have enrolled and be preparing to depart. Parents should therefore check before departure whether travel documents, luggage, pocket money, commonly used medicines and insurance cover are all in order.

This time, the 10Life insurance comparison platform has compiled a pre-departure checklist for summer study tours, a packing list, insurance points to note, popular study tour destinations and study tour fees, to help parents prepare for their children’s departure.

Many parents, when enrolling their children in study tour programmes, will ask: should they buy travel insurance, study tour insurance, or overseas study insurance?
Strictly speaking, there may not be a standardised category of “study tour insurance” in the market. Although some products are labelled as suitable for study tours or summer camps, the actual basis of cover may still be travel insurance or overseas study insurance. Therefore, parents should not look only at the product name; they should focus on whether the policy terms cover the relevant trip.
 

If your child is only taking part in a short summer study tour of 1 to 4 weeks, parents may first compare travel insurance products marked as suitable for study tours or summer camps. However, before purchasing, you should first confirm with the insurer whether the policy accepts the relevant trip, and pay attention to whether the cover for medical expenses, baggage, trip delay, trip cancellation or curtailment, and 24-hour emergency assistance is sufficient.

If your child is due to begin studying overseas after the summer holiday, or if the course lasts for six months to a year or more, standard travel insurance is usually not sufficient. It is generally advisable to take out overseas study insurance or student insurance. Parents may wish to pay attention to cover for medical expenses, interruption of studies, education fund protection, personal liability and personal belongings, among other items.

It depends on the scope of cover. Some study tours or summer camps include basic insurance, but this may only cover specified areas, such as accidents during the course or basic medical expenses, and may not include baggage loss, personal belongings, travel delay, trip cancellation or interruption, personal liability, or 24-hour emergency assistance.

Parents should not simply look at whether “insurance already exists”; instead, they should first understand the scope of cover, compensation limits, exclusions, and claim requirements. If the cover is insufficient, they may consider purchasing additional suitable travel insurance, or a policy specifically stating that it applies to study tours/summer camps.
However, parents should not assume that ordinary travel insurance will necessarily apply to study tours. Some travel insurance policies are primarily intended to cover leisure travel or business trips, and may not cover study tours, summer camps, overseas exchange programmes, or school activities. Before taking out insurance, they should first confirm with the insurer whether the relevant trip is covered, so as to avoid overlapping cover and then discovering that key risks are not insured when a claim is actually needed.

Study tours are not entirely the same as ordinary travel. When choosing insurance, parents should not focus solely on the premium; they should also ensure that the cover matches the actual itinerary, the child’s age and the planned activities.

1. Confirm whether the policy accepts study tours or school activities

Some travel insurance policies mainly cover leisure travel or business trips, and may not clearly cover study tours, summer camps, overseas exchanges or school activities. Before purchasing, you should check with the insurer whether the relevant itinerary is covered, and keep a written reply wherever possible, so as to avoid discovering after an incident that the cover does not apply.

2. Pay attention to age limits and children’s benefit limits

If the child is under 18, parents should confirm whether the policy can be taken out by a parent or guardian, and whether the child remains covered even when no parent is travelling with them. Some products may also impose lower compensation limits for children or minor insured persons than for adults; therefore, the actual benefit limits should be checked before purchase.

3. Pay attention to medical and emergency assistance cover

During their stay overseas, students may need medical treatment due to illness or an accident. Parents should check whether the medical benefit limit is sufficient, and whether it includes outpatient treatment, hospitalisation, emergency medical evacuation or repatriation to Hong Kong. If medical costs at the destination are relatively high, it is even more important to compare the medical benefit limit and the 24-hour emergency assistance arrangements carefully.

4. Pay attention to personal belongings and electronic device cover

Students usually carry mobile phones, laptops, tablets or cameras on study tours. Even if the policy includes personal belongings cover, there is usually a limit per item or for specified items. Parents should note whether mobile phones and computers are covered, whether a police report is required, and whether loss while unattended is excluded.

5. Pay attention to high-risk or special activities

If the study tour includes skiing, diving, horse riding, mountaineering, water sports or camping, you should confirm whether the policy covers such activities, or whether additional cover for special activities is required. Parents should also obtain the full itinerary from the study tour provider in advance, so as not to assess the risk based only on the course title.

6. Pay attention to trip cancellation or curtailment cover

Study tour fees are usually not low. If the trip needs to be cancelled or cut short due to illness, an accident or a family emergency, trip cancellation or curtailment cover may compensate part of the non-refundable expenses. However, the actual insured reasons, compensation limits and required documents vary by product, so these should be understood clearly before purchase.
 

Generally speaking, the cost of a 2- to 3-week summer study tour starts at around HK$25,000, but the actual price will vary depending on the destination, course content, accommodation arrangements, activities, airfares, group size and departure date.
The fee for a study tour typically may include course fees, accommodation, local transport, some meals, cultural activities and admission fees, as well as support from a tour leader or teachers. Some itineraries include airfares and basic insurance, while others require additional payment.
When comparing study tour prices, parents should not look only at the total fee; they should also check whether the following items are included:

• Airfares and fuel surcharges
• Visa or electronic travel authorisation application fees
• Accommodation and meal arrangements
• Local transport and transfer arrangements
• Course fees and teaching materials
• Costs for cultural activities, visits or outdoor activities
• Basic insurance or medical support
• Pocket money, SIM cards and personal expenses

Some study tours that appear cheaper may not include airfares, visas, insurance or fees for designated activities, so the final total cost may not necessarily be lower. Parents should compare the “total expenditure” before enrolling, rather than comparing only the advertised tour price.
 

1. What are the benefits of a study tour?

The main benefits of a study tour include improving language skills, developing independence, and broadening international horizons. Students can study and live in a foreign-language environment, increasing opportunities to practise the language in real situations; they can also learn to manage daily life, keep track of personal belongings, and adapt to different cultures, which helps prepare them for future overseas study.

2. What does the cost of a study tour usually include?

The cost of a study tour may include tuition, accommodation, local transport, some meals, activity fees, and support from a group leader or teacher. Some itineraries include airfare and basic insurance, while others require separate payment. Parents should confirm what is included before enrolling to avoid underestimating the actual total cost.

3. What should be packed for a summer study tour?

Parents can prepare luggage according to the destination’s weather, course schedule, and type of accommodation. Common items include a passport, visa, itinerary, insurance documents, clothing, travel adaptor, SIM card, charger, commonly used medicines, personal care items, and a small amount of local cash. It is also advisable to take photos of important documents as backups.

4. Do study tours need insurance?

It is recommended to first check whether the study tour provider already offers basic cover and whether it is sufficient. Some basic insurance policies may not cover baggage, travel delay, trip cancellation or interruption, personal belongings, or 24-hour emergency assistance. If the cover is insufficient, you may wish to purchase suitable additional insurance.

5. Should I buy travel insurance or study abroad insurance for a study tour?

This depends on the length and nature of the trip. If it is a short study tour of 1 to 4 weeks, you can first compare travel insurance policies specifically stated as suitable for study tours or summer camps; if it is overseas study for six months, one year, or longer, you may consider overseas study insurance or study abroad insurance.
 

Further reading:

• [Australia Study Guide 2026] A comprehensive look at Australian university tuition fees, application process and living costs!
• Studying in the UK in 2026: UK university tuition fees and student visa application process
• Studying in Canada in 2026: education system, costs and student visa process
• Checklist for overseas study preparation: what should you do before going abroad to study?

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.