Insurance during an internship determines who pays after an accident or damage. Not every student is automatically covered by the university, and private liability insurance does not always apply. This guide gives you the key connections for liability and accident cover.
Short answer: If you are integrated into the company and work under its instructions, you are covered by the statutory accident insurance (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) of that company (§ 2 SGB VII). The direct route between your home and the workplace is generally covered too (§ 8 SGB VII). Damage you cause is often covered by private liability insurance, but professional activities are frequently excluded. Abroad, German accident cover often does not apply. Stand: October 2026.
The essentials at a glance
- Accident cover during an internship depends on whether you are integrated into the company and bound by its instructions.
- The direct route between your home and the company is generally covered. Detours for private reasons usually are not.
- Abroad, German accident cover often does not apply. Clarify this before you leave.
- Damage you cause at work is not automatically covered by your private liability insurance.
- Record tasks and responsibilities in writing with the university and the company before you start.
Am I covered by statutory accident insurance during an internship?
Statutory accident insurance protects employees. If you are integrated into the company during your internship, work under its instructions and take on a fixed task, you count as an employee under § 2 para. 1 no. 1 SGB VII. The accident insurance provider of the company is then responsible, not your university.
Students are also insured by the university during their studies. This applies to activities within the university’s area of responsibility, such as events, projects or laboratories. An internship in a company usually does not fall under this unless you are working on behalf of the university. The following overview shows typical cases.
| Situation | Responsible accident cover | What you should check |
|---|---|---|
| Internship in a company with integration and instructions | Accident insurance of the company | Document in writing that you work as an integrated member of staff |
| University event or project | University | Ask the university who is responsible |
| Pure observation without tasks | No clear cover | Clarify with the company and the university |
| Internship abroad | Often only under the law of the host country or through a private policy | Check in writing before departure |
How is the route to the internship covered?
Routes to and from the insured activity count as work accidents if they are directly connected with the activity. This is set out in § 8 para. 2 SGB VII. A detour for private reasons, such as shopping on the way home, can end the protection. If you are unsure, note your route and times, and clarify with the accident insurer which routes apply.
Who is liable if I cause damage at the company?
Damage during an internship is not automatically covered by your private liability insurance. Many policies exclude professional activities or limit them. It is therefore worth reading the conditions before you rely on the cover.
How far liability reaches depends on the degree of fault. In simplified form, case law for employees works as follows:
- Slight negligence: As a rule, you are not liable.
- Medium negligence: The damage is often split between the company and you.
- Gross negligence or intent: Liability is generally full.
This is a simplified picture. In individual cases the circumstances and case law decide. Report damage to the company early, and get professional advice for larger sums.
Companies also benefit from clear rules. If you take on tasks for which you bear responsibility, the company and the university should know who is responsible for what. This protects you and everyone else involved. A short conversation before the internship starts is often enough to settle the key questions.
Which insurances do I need during an internship?
Not every internship needs additional contracts. The overview shows which cover applies where and where you should add something.
| Insurance | Applies during an internship | Where you should add cover |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory accident insurance | Yes, if you are integrated into the company | Usually no extra cover needed where the cover is clear |
| Private liability insurance | Limited, because professional activities are often excluded | Check the occupational clause and the exclusions |
| Private accident insurance | Mainly during leisure time and abroad | Useful if no equivalent cover exists abroad |
| Health insurance | Depends on the type and duration of the internship | Separate guide, see below |
What should be in the internship agreement?
A written agreement creates clarity before anything happens. It does not need to be long, but it should name the points on which insurance cover and liability depend. If there is no such agreement, obtain a confirmation from the company about tasks, working hours and instructions.
- tasks and workplace, so it is clear whether you work as an integrated member of staff,
- working hours and a contact person in the company,
- whether it is a compulsory internship set by the university,
- rules on work equipment that you use or bring along,
- who must be informed in the event of damage.
For compulsory internships in particular, universities often require a certificate of duration and content. These documents also help to assign insurance cover, because they show how the activity was structured.
Frequently asked questions
Am I automatically insured through the university during an internship?
Not automatically for activities in the company. University insurance covers activities within the university’s area of responsibility. For an internship in a company, the company is usually responsible if you work there as an integrated member of staff.
Does accident cover also apply in a home office?
For work you do for the company from home, cover may apply if the activity is insured. The accident insurer decides this in individual cases. Document your workplace, your assignment and your working hours in writing.
What if the company does not report an accident?
You can report the accident yourself to the responsible accident insurer, who will then investigate the facts. The sooner you report, the easier it is to clarify the course of events and identify witnesses.
Does the cover apply to an internship abroad?
Often not. German accident cover generally ends at the border, unless an agreement or the law of the host country grants benefits. Check before you travel whether a private accident insurance or travel health insurance is needed.
Do I have to insure my own laptop or tools privately?
For items you bring with you, the company’s cover usually does not apply. Your contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) or private liability insurance may cover such items under certain circumstances. Check whether they also apply outside the home, for example at the company or on the way there.
It is also important to document accidents and damage, even if they seem small. Note the date, time, place, the people involved and the sequence of events in short bullet points. These notes help later, when those involved remember things differently or an insurer asks for evidence.
What to do now
- Ask the university about its rules on internships and insurance cover.
- Agree in writing with the company on integration, working hours and tasks.
- Check your private liability insurance for occupational exclusions and, if necessary, get written clarification.
- For an internship abroad, clarify accident and health cover before you depart.
Related reading
- Internship during studies: pay, duration and rules
- Internship health insurance for students: what you need to know
- Health insurance during an internship abroad (in German)
- Insurance for students: what you really need
Sources: § 2 SGB VII, Insured persons (retrieved October 2026), § 8 SGB VII, Work accident (retrieved October 2026).
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information and not individual advice.
