Insurance
Make sure you have the right insurance. For some countries and universities you must purchase a local health insurance policy on top of your University of Leeds insurance, plus any top-up cover you may choose to buy.
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS INSURANCE
If you are completing a study abroad year as part of your degree, you will automatically be covered by the University of Leeds travel insurance policy at no cost. The policy is a comprehensive travel insurance package but you should read the policy wording carefully before you travel, as there are some exclusions in both the healthcare and personal effects sections, as well as some limitations to where you can travel to on personal holidays during your year abroad. It is your responsibility to make sure that the policy fits your personal requirements and to make arrangements for additional cover, if necessary.
COUNTRY AND UNIVERSITY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Many students will be required to purchase an additional health insurance policy depending on local legislation. Some countries have a nationwide insurance policy that all international students are required to purchase. In other countries, universities have their own mandatory health insurance policies.
The information below will give you an idea of insurance costs in countries that are known to the Study Abroad office to operate compulsory insurance policies.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Mandatory insurance policies requirements as well as costs may change without warning.
EUROPE
If you are going on a study placement abroad within the European Union that will last more than six weeks, you must apply for a Student GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card). If you hold a regular EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), this will not be valid for your study period abroad.
If placed at a host university within the European Union, the Global Opportunities Team will provide you with a GHIC letter prior to your departure, which will allow you to apply for your Student GHIC online. Please note that currently, the Student GHIC only covers EU countries and Switzerland, but not Norway or Iceland. You can find more information about this on the NHS website.
Please also be aware that some overseas Consulates insist you also obtain a GHIC prior to travel. It is strongly advised that you check if this is a requirement of the country you are visiting and obtain one well in advance of your time abroad.
Most of our partner universities in Europe have no mandatory requirements for University of Leeds students to purchase a local health insurance policy, however it is advisable to purchase a local health insurance policy, as there are limitations to the University of Leeds travel insurance and to the GHIC. There are some exceptions, list below:
- Georgia: 50 Georgian Lari per month
- Germany: €115 per month for state student insurance
- Poland: Non-EU/EEA students are required to purchase private health insurance
- Turkey: 4800 Turkish Lira per year (around £140)
AUSTRALIA
All international students studying in Australia must purchase the nationwide, government-run Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in order to be eligible for a visa. OSHC can cost approximately $609 AUD (correct for 2023/24), though this may vary depending on the institution and most universities will recommend a preferred provider. If you choose not to purchase your host university’s preferred policy as recommended in your offer letter, be sure to seek advice from your host university as to the required length of coverage before committing to an alternative policy.
CANADA
All international students must purchase a university-specific health insurance policy dependent on the host university they attend. The costs outlined below are based on the 2023/24 academic year and are subject to change without notice (all figures quoted are in Canadian dollars and based on two semesters).
- Brock University: $756
- Carleton University: $756
- Concordia University: $1068
- Dalhousie University: $728
- McGill University: $634
- McMaster University: $756
- Queens University: $756
- Toronto Metropolitan University: $756
- Simon Fraser University: $281 (first semester, then $75 CAD per month)
- Trent University: $756
- Université de Montréal: $600
- Université de Quebec à Montréal: $600
- Université de Quebec à Trois Rivières: $600
- University of Alberta: $50 per month
- University of British Columbia: $315 (first semester, then $75 per month)
- University of Calgary: Do not require purchase of local health insurance
- University of Manitoba: Do not require purchase of local health insurance
- University of Toronto: $756
- University of Victoria: $265 (first semester, then $75 CAD per month)
- University of Waterloo: $756
- Western University: $756
- York University: $756
CHINA
Some universities in China require you to purchase health insurance, though others are happy to accept the University of Leeds travel insurance alone. China University of Political Science & Law, Southwest University of Political Science & Law, Nanjing University and Fudan University require students to purchase health insurance at the cost of 800RMB for the full academic year (correct for 2023/24).
HONG KONG
Most Hong Kong universities do not require students to purchase additional health insurance. The exception is Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST), who charge HKD3,000 (approximately £303) for health insurance for the full academic year 2023/24.
INDONESIA
Gadjah Mada University: Approximately USD240 for the full academic year 2023/24.
ISRAEL
Price varies as students can purchase insurance privately or with the host university. Students cannot access the national healthcare service in Israel. The price of insurance varies depending on the provider, but is approximately $1,600 USD for the full academic year 2023/24.
JAPAN
Students must register for National Health Insurance on arrival. The average premium is approximately 1,500-3,000 yen per month, but this varies considerably by university as the cost is heavily subsidised by the government and universities (correct for 2023/24).
JORDAN
Students must purchase private health insurance and the price can vary depending on the provider, but is approximately $30 USD per month for the 2023/24 academic year.
KOREA
South Korean universities require students to purchase Korea’s national health insurance, at the cost of 50-60 USD per month (correct for 2023/24).
LATIN AMERICA
Most of our partner universities in Latin America have no mandatory requirements for University of Leeds students to purchase a local health insurance policy, however it is advisable to purchase a local health insurance policy, as there are limitations to the University of Leeds travel insurance.
There are some exceptions, listed below. If a Latin American university requires students to purchase a local insurance policy, they will outline the details of this on their Fact Sheet, which can be found on the Global Opportunities SharePoint Site in the Host University Catalogue.
- Argentina: $350 USD estimated per semester
- Brazil: Some universities will require you to purchase private health insurance, and others will accept the University of Leeds travel insurance policy.
- Chile: Some universities will require you to purchase private health insurance, and others will accept the University of Leeds travel insurance policy.
- Mexico: Some universities will require you to purchase private health insurance, and others will accept the University of Leeds travel insurance policy.
MACAU
MOP 120 per academic year (correct for 2023/24)
MALAYSIA
Monash University Sunway Campus: MYR 1,559 (Correct for 2022/23)
NEW ZEALAND
All international students must purchase a university-specific health insurance policy, dependent on the host university they attend, in order to complete registration. Currently policies cost approximately $375 NZ per trimester (correct for 2023/24). All students are expected to purchase the policy unless the host university agrees to waive it, based on the student having an acceptable alternative policy.
SINGAPORE
All international students must purchase a university-specific health insurance policy dependent on the host university they attend. Costs vary between universities and the insurance policy is charged on arrival as part of a general student services fee at all Singaporean universities, which all exchange students must pay. The general administration fees outlined below are based on the 2023/24 academic year (figures quoted are in Singapore dollars and based on two semesters).
- National University of Singapore: S$263
- Nanyang Technological University: S$500
- Singapore Management University: S$400
SOUTH AFRICA
University of Cape Town: You require medical aid cover from a medical aid scheme registered with the South African Council of Medical Aid Schemes before submitting your visa application. The cover must be for one year (renewable annually) or for the full duration of the study programme and intended stay in South Africa where this is shorter than one year.
The recommend two schemes are providing good medical cover and value for money:
The host university can advise on providers. This can cost around R370 per month of study. (correct for 2023/24)
TAIWAN
Students are required to be part of the host institution's student group health insurance, as well as their own private health insurance. The cost for 2023/24 is 326 NTD per semester, plus the price of private insurance.
THAILAND
Chulalongkorn University: Exchange students will be required to pay the University's health insurance fee of 2,000 THB per academic year (correct for 2023/24)
USA
All international students must purchase a university-specific health insurance policy dependent on the host university they attend, unless the university agrees to waive it. It is increasingly rare for US universities to agree to waive their insurance requirements due to the complexity of healthcare legislation and the high cost of healthcare in the USA. You will need to contact your host university after you have been accepted to enquire about the waiver request process. The costs outlined below are based on the 2023/24 academic year and are subject to change without notice (all figures quoted are in US dollars and based on two semesters, unless otherwise stated).
- Arizona State University: $2,765
- Bentley University: $2,481
- California State University Monterey Bay: $1200
- California State University San Marcos: $1576 (per term)
- California State University Sonoma: $980
- University of California Santa Cruz: $2,094
- The College at Brockport (State University of New York): $2124
- Colorado School of Mines: $2,494
- Drexel University: $2958
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University: $1,798
- Florida International University: $4,800
- George Washington University: $1,411
- Georgia Institute of Technology: $2,856
- Juniata College: $2052
- North Carolina State University: $2,785
- Northern Arizona University: $2,765
- Penn State University: $3,665
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $1890
- Stony Brook University (State University of New York): $2,568
- University of Hawaii: $4286
- University of Kentucky: $2,654
- University of Kansas: $2,831
- University of Louisville: $3,429
- University of Minnesota: $3,590
- University of Mississippi: $2,114
- University of Nebraska: $3,908
- University of New Mexico: four options ranging from $31-$193 per month
- University of North Texas: $2,878
- University of South Carolina: $3,091
- University of Rochester: $3,612
- University of Vermont: $3,814
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: $1,788
VIETNAM
RMIT Vietnam: The insurance costs 5,700,000 VND (around £189) per semester (correct for 2023/24).
