Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
It is a visa requirement that international students and their dependants have overseas student health cover (except for students from Sweden and Norway).
OSHC covers the cost for out-of-hospital and some hospital medical treatment, pharmaceuticals and emergency ambulance services. Detailed information about OSHC is available from the Australian government Department of Health and Aging (DoHA).
Applying for OSHC
Arrange OSHC through the University
The University of Melbourne arranges course-length OSHC with OSHC Worldcare, the University's preferred health insurance provider. You can pay the health cover premium when accepting your offer of place. The University will inform DIAC that OSHC is in place for you and your family members and will indicate this on your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).
Arrange your own OSHC
You can buy OSHC insurance from an approved Australian health insurance provider. When you accept your unconditional offer of place, you must indicate that you have purchased OSHC for the duration of your course.
OSHC Worldcare
The University has entered into an agreement with OSHC Worldcare as the preferred OSHC provider. OSHC Worldcare offers 24-hour assistance via its helpline and has an on-campus representative (Parkville).
For information about prices, claims, family cover and more refer to the OSHC Worldcare website.
Membership cards
If you have OSHC arranged through the University, you will be covered from the date of your arrival in Australia. You can collect your membership card at the Welcome Centre during orientation. If you need to access medical services but do not have your OSHC membership card yet, you can print a temporary certificate from the OSHC Worldcare website.
Reciprocal arrangements
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Arrangements with Great Britain, Finland, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Malta and the Netherlands. Visitors (including students) from these countries are entitled to limited subsidised health services. These arrangements are in place in addition to OSHC.
Health cover for visitors
Family or friends who wish to visit you in Australia can apply for a visitor visa and need to have in place appropriate health insurance arrangements. They can obtain health insurance through a provider in their home country or in Australia. Australia also has reciprocal health care agreements in place with a number of countries. See: Cover for overseas visitors