We are getting more and more requests for student travel insurance for overseas exchange and high school exchange programs. This is one of the most exciting times of your life and while you should always make the most of every moment away, it’s also critical that you take steps to safeguard your health and belongings while you’re off exploring the world. The easiest and most cost-effective way to do this is with quality student travel insurance from Insure4Less.
We provide cheap travel insurance for Australian students planning an overseas exchange trip, to give you the freedom to relax and enjoy the experience without having to worry about something happening while you’re away from home. No matter how old you are or where you’re going, we have quality travel insurance policies to suit.
Under 18 and travelling alone? We can cover you! Just enter the number of children travelling in the section of the quote form which asks for ‘Other children aged under 18 years’.
Get a travel insurance quote today by filling out the Quick Quote form to the right, and find out just how much you can save!
We Meet All Visa Requirements
If you’re planning to become an overseas exchange student then you may well find that there is a visa requirement for the country you are visiting that requires you to take out travel insurance that at least meets a minimum set of limits, as established by that country’s government.
As far as we are aware, all of our student travel insurance policies from Insure4Less meet and exceed these requirements. These limits and requirements will vary depending on the country you are visiting for your exchange program, however below is an example taken from the US exchange student travel insurance website, where we have compared our cover with what they say you must have to show you the extent and quality of our comprehensive and cheap travel insurance policies.
- Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness: Insure4Less provides up to $Unlimited AUD under the ‘medical expenses’ section of the policy wording.
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500: Insure4Less provides this up to $Unlimited AUD under the ‘medical expenses’ section of the policy wording.
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000: Insure4Less provides this up to $Unlimited AUD under the ‘medical expenses’ section of the policy wording.
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness: Insure4Less has an excess of $200AUD per accident or illness.
Please see our Product Disclosure Statement for full details about our policies. If you would like us to compare our travel insurance with the requirements of the country you’re travelling to, please send us an email at travel@insure4less.com.au with the relevant details.
What your Student Travel Insurance Policy Covers
Our comprehensive travel insurance plans are available in various levels of cover so you can choose the right one for your budget and travel plans. They all provide effective cover for a full range of situations that you can encounter while you’re travelling, to ensure you’re never left out of pocket. This cover includes:
- Medical, hospital, surgical and dental expenses
- Loss, theft or damage to your baggage, valuables, personal money and travel tickets including Passport and Visas
- Missed departures or connections
- Cancellation, loss of deposit and curtailment
- Travel delays
- Car rental excess waiver
- Abandonment of trip
- Personal liability
- Legal advice and expenses
- Accidental death and permanent disability
- Catastrophes including terrorism, war, epidemics and pandemics, and natural disasters
- Search and rescue expenses
- Hijack benefit
- Resumption of trip
- Travel carrier insolvency
See our Summary of Cover for more information about each section and the maximum amounts payable for these sections.
You also have the option of taking out either a single trip or multi trip travel insurance policy, to give you complete flexibility in your cover. Both provide the same inclusions, exclusions and levels of cover, while the multi-trip also gives you the opportunity to save money if you’ll be travelling more frequently.
Single trip travel insurance is purchased each time you travel, so if you are only making one return overseas exchange trip then this is the most effective cover for you.
Multi trip travel insurance covers multiple trips per year, so if your exchange will involve more than one trip in one year then this type of travel insurance may offer more convenience and value for money.
Applying for Exchange and Preparing for Travel
There are many things that you’ll need to do in preparation for your exchange trip overseas. If you are applying for exchange through your high school or university, they will generally provide guidance about the steps you need to take, help you complete the correct application forms and make sure you are aware of anything else you need to arrange.
Here are all the essentials:
Preparation and Research
This includes researching both the destination you are planning on visiting, and the eligibility requirements you will need to meet in order to study overseas.
Depending on the school or university you attend, you may need to have a minimum grade average, be enrolled in specific classes or courses, have completed a minimum portion of your degree or classes, and/or have any necessary language skills. It’s a good idea to attend an information session or speak with a relevant advisor before you apply, to ensure you have a good chance of being accepted.
You should also research your destination to familiarise yourself with the culture, climate, geography and customs. Get an idea of your accommodation options – some exchange programs will provide on-campus accommodation, while others will require you to organise your own – and the costs of living.
Apply Early
The application process for overseas exchange will vary between schools and universities, so it’s always better to start early just in case it takes up to a few months to complete.
Passport and Visas
Make sure you have a valid Passport and all the relevant visas. Some countries will require you to hold a student visa, which can take up to 6 weeks to process, so do your research and submit your applications as soon as possible.
Visit Your Doctor
It’s always a good idea to get a general health check-up before you go overseas for an extended period of time, and make sure all your vaccinations are up to date. Your doctor will also be able to tell you if you’ll need any additional vaccinations for the country you’re visiting.
Try and see your doctor at least a month or two before you leave, as some vaccinations need to be given over a period of several weeks and others will require time to take effect.
Organise Your Finances
Plan a realistic budget by researching the living costs in your host country, and planning ahead for your lifestyle, accommodation and any additional travel plans. You should also be aware of exchange rates, conversion fees and international ATM access fees. Plan to use a credit card or travel money card as much as possible, which will offer much better exchange rates than foreign exchange counters. Alternatively, opening a bank account in the country you are visiting is one of the best ways to avoid these fees altogether.
As a general rule, one semester of exchange will cost approximately $10,000 – $12,000. Some universities and schools will provide scholarships, grants or loans to assist students with funding their exchange trip – talk to your exchange advisor to find out if there are financial assistance options available to you.
Register Your Travel Plans
Visit the Smart Traveller website to register your travel plans with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This will make it easy for the Australian Government to contact and find you in an emergency situation, as well as advise you if you are in a particularly affected area and provide you with relevant safety information and updates.
Get Exploring!
Start exploring the world and get a quick student travel insurance quote today!