Health cover is the piece of the study-abroad cost most families under-budget. Every destination handles it differently, and getting it wrong at the visa lodgement stage causes real refusals. Here is what applies in each country.
Australia — OSHC and OVHC
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory for the duration of the Subclass 500 student visa. Providers are approved by the Department of Home Affairs. The current major providers include Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, AHM, and nib.
- Typical cost for a single applicant: approximately AUD 700 to AUD 1,200 per year.
- Cover starts on or before your visa start date. Extend it or purchase multi-year cover to match the visa length.
- After graduation, if you move to a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa, you switch to Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) for the duration of the graduate visa.
United Kingdom — Immigration Health Surcharge
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a one-time payment made with the visa application that gives access to the NHS during the visa period. For students the discounted rate is GBP 776 per year. Dependants pay the standard rate of GBP 1,035 per year.
- Paid as part of the visa application — not as a monthly premium.
- Covers NHS services broadly on the same terms as UK residents.
- Some medications, dental treatment and eye tests attract separate charges.
Canada — provincial cover
- Health cover is set at the provincial level. Rules vary widely.
- Provinces that cover international students under the public plan: British Columbia (MSP after a waiting period), Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Provinces where private cover is required: Ontario (usually UHIP through the university), Quebec (mostly private unless a bilateral agreement applies), Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia.
- The Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is not health cover — it is proof of funds. Separate line item.
United States — school health plans
The US does not have a federal mandate on student health cover, but nearly every university requires either the school’s own health plan or a waiver-approved private plan. Cover cost varies by university — typical range USD 1,500 to USD 3,500 per academic year for the school plan.
New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand requires acceptable medical and travel insurance for the duration of the student visa. Universities usually offer a preferred provider plan; independent plans are accepted if they meet INZ criteria.
Practical points
- Budget health cover as a separate line item, not as part of tuition or living costs.
- For Australia and the UK, health cover cost is directly influenced by visa length. Long visas pay more.
- For Canada, check the province before assuming public cover is available.
- For the US, compare the school plan against a waiver-approved private plan; the school plan is usually the safer default.
Related pages: Study in Australia, Study in UK, Study in Canada, Study in USA, Study in New Zealand.