Whether you’re doing a gap year in Southeast Asia, a semester exchange in Europe, or a quick ski trip to Japan, student travellers need proper travel insurance just as much as older travellers, often more so, because students tend to take more physical risks and are less experienced with the healthcare systems of foreign countries.
The Non-Negotiables: Don’t Cut These
- Emergency medical cover: At least AUD $5M. Medical emergencies are the biggest financial risk of travel.
- Medical evacuation: Getting you home if you’re seriously ill or injured.
- 24/7 emergency assistance: You need to be able to call someone at 3am in a foreign hospital.
Where You Can Save
- Destination: Policies for Asia are cheaper than policies including the USA. If you’re only going to Southeast Asia, don’t pay for a worldwide policy.
- Excess: Choosing a higher excess reduces your premium. For a fit and healthy student, a higher excess is a reasonable trade-off.
- Trip cancellation amount: If you don’t have thousands of dollars of non-refundable bookings, you don’t need high cancellation cover.
Annual vs. Single Trip for Frequent Student Travellers
If you travel multiple times during your studies (holidays, semester breaks), compare an annual multi-trip policy against individual trip policies. Annual policies can be very cost-effective for students who travel 3–4 times a year on shorter trips.
University-Provided Insurance
Some Australian universities provide basic travel insurance for students on approved overseas study programs. Always check what this covers, it is often basic and may exclude common student activities (adventure sports, extended stays, working). Supplement with a personal policy if needed.
Top Tips for Students Buying Travel Insurance
- Compare at least 3–4 providers using comparison sites
- Don’t assume the cheapest is bad, compare what’s included, not just the price
- Read the adventure activities section if you plan to ski, dive, or do extreme sports
- Check that your entire destination list is covered
- Save your insurer’s emergency number on your phone before you leave
