Know Where Overseas Health Insurance Stands in Your Study Abroad Preparation List

An astounding similarity can be noted between the emperor penguin and students. The Emperor Penguin - largest of their species are well known for its migration behavior across Antarctica. They travel hundreds of miles to finish the arduous journey to reach their nesting grounds. Nonetheless, the migration pattern created remains picturesque. Students migrating for higher education from developing to developed nations are no different. The common traits both have to possess are good health, preparation & a will to make this journey a successful one. Here is a complete guide suggesting the best ways for students on how to prepare for studying abroad. It could range from selecting a program, choosing overseas health insurance, to expecting a different cultural exposure.

Alright, let’s begin. This post is simplified with the to-do list for students looking to gain an overseas study experience.

Step-by-Step Guide To Studying Overseas.

First things, first! It will be a strenuous year or so journey from the day you onset until receiving your visa. If you are filled with eagerness and anxiety about the results & future of studying abroad, then it’s a good thing. Yes, a good thing because fear creates a trigger for alertness. It diminishes your chances of failure & guides you in the right direction.

Let’s understand the process of how to prepare for an overseas study experience by considering an average time of 12 months to complete from start to finish.

Essential Study Abroad Checklist & Tips In "Timeline"

Timeline - A Year Before Departure

1. Do Research

Doing thorough research is the key to your overall & successful study abroad experience. Check courses, universities, and their locations. If required, consult with the international student administrator about teaching modules, eligibility criteria, opportunities, etc. A few programs also welcome student exchange program if that sounds interesting to you.

Make sure you leave no stone unturned before concluding and finalizing your program, university & country. Remember, your prime objective is to gain overseas education knowledge & degree; thus, everything else falls behind.

2. Preparation is Vital

Congratulations, you are now one level up!

Now comes the preparation & taking steps to reach your goal. Since a lot of documentation part is involved whether applying for a passport or university, it is advisable to start with at least 10 months in hand.

Although, at this point, you should also start applying for your chosen program and inquire about student accommodation (on/off campus). Extra efforts helps, such as taking a virtual tour of the institutions and getting connected with existing students or seniors over social media channels.

You must also check the options (if any) available or applicable for financial aid or scholarship as foreign education tends to be expensive. You do have to account for tuition fees, housing, traveling, food, and entertainment costs.

Additionally, if your course enrolment requires you to obtain a language efficiency certificate, then start preparing for IELTS, Pte, or TOEFL as applicable.

Timeline - 6 Months to Depart

3. Visa Application Process

At this juncture, you are expected to be ready with your file consisting of necessary documents organized (preferably in chronological order & in a file). The student visa process differs for each country. For some, like Australia, New Zealand, the enrollment process is online, while in others, such as the U.S, an in-person interview happens at an embassy or consulate. Either way, the process includes you to deal with a large amount of paperwork.

Here is a list of documents that might come in handy apart from your visa application.

• Academic Transcripts- Personal Statement- Character Certificate- Proof of Finances- Medical Information- Resume- Language Certification (if applicable)- Copy of Passport- Passport Size Photos

4. Health is Wealth

Since you’ll be on your own, it is best to keep your health in check. Moreover, foreign medical facilities are better, but they do come at a high cost, especially if you have not taken overseas student health cover (OSHC). Your national medical insurance might not cover you across the borders. Thus, universities encourage students to get overseas health insurance. A country such as Australia has made OSHC Australia mandatory for the student, visitor, and working visa application process.

Foreign land has the best medical standards & facilities, and Australia is one of them. Thus, students must get insured with overseas student health cover (OSHC) for Australia to maintain such standards.

Overseas health insurance helps international students to cover:

• Hospital costs for treatment and accommodation- Out-of-hospital medical services- Ambulance services- Prescribed medicines and much more depending upon the insurance service provider.

We recommend you to refer the entire overseas health insurance document thoroughly and choose the one that best suits you.

Additionally, most education agents will also provide you with in-depth details of the policy if you registered through them. To make the task easier, they can use a comprehensive OSHC tool to compare and buy the best overseas health insurance for students. Konpare a robust yet straightforward tool that allows education agents to earn from each policy, manage sales insights, and reduce the visa application time.

Timeline - 3 Months to Depart

Hooray! The hardest part is over. All you need to do is take follow-up, and wait for your visa to arrive. You must now be holding a passport, university acceptance letter, funding documents, your overseas health insurance policy documents, and waiting for a visa. 5) Visualize

While you can relax for a bit, try to visualize what your everyday would seem like once your reach your destination. Close your eyes, and with a calm state, imagine all the tasks you would be doing and specifically things required to perform those tasks. You could also take this time to prepare yourself emotionally. And more profoundly, exercising & training your brain to deal with difficult situations if they arise. However, it is best to trust your abilities in all the circumstances, and being open to new things always helps.

Timeline - A Month Before Travel

Buckle up your shoes and get going!

6. Start Booking

It is time to start checking flights, as traveling long-distance will wear you off. It is recommended to pick a flight with the least connecting flights, maybe a fewer hour of layover time, and most importantly, to arrive in the day-time (check local timings).

Simultaneously, also get in touch with your international student coordinator about your student accommodation if you opted for an on-campus housing facility. Off-campus housing will require to start hunting a few months in advance as it usually takes time. Things to keep in mind is how far it is from your university as the nearby apartment facility tends to fill up quickly.

7. Backpack Tools

Buy a multi-pocket backpack. Trust us. It is going to be your handy friend. You could carry a charger, adapter, earphones or over-heads, travel documents, a few medicines, a journal & a pen and some cash.

8. Final Budget Plan

It is in the best interest not to go over-budget. And to ensure that, it is excellent to make a final budget plan for everything.

9. Visit a Doctor

Pay a visit to your doctor to detect any last-minute irregularity concerning your health. Good health will support you in the transition phase and also help you to accustom to new food habits, weather conditions, etc. It is also an excellent time to get any necessary prescriptions and medication.

Timeline - 7 Days to Go

10. Setup Communication

It is time to set up your communication channel. Check with your phone service provider about the compatibility of your device abroad? Whether it’ll be operational, or you’ll have to purchase a new one along with the SIM card? All in all, ensure that you have an overseas contact number where your university and your family & friends could reach.

11. Currency Exchange

Time to fill your wallet with a couple of hundred dollars with the foreign currency. Majorly all the banks provide this facility as long as you provide a visa copy and necessary documents.

12. Print

With our smartphones coming in handy at all times, it is still advisable to keep a few copies of all your travel documents printed and ready in your backpack.

13. Download Apps

Download a few apps that can help you with language, translation, finding places to visit or events, attending seminars, etc. Don’t forget to download an app that helps you navigate in and around town to explore.

The Moment of Excitement

14. Be Curious

Curiosity works in an undefined manner. It leads to new places and helps you connect with more people and develop a broader understanding. You might want to savor all the abroad experiences while you are at it. A word of caution: Do not let your curiosity lead you to the wrong place at the wrong time.

15. Be an Extrovert

Studying abroad could be your life’s best experience but only if you project a warm, welcoming & open personality. The more you will allow people, colleagues to bond and connect, the more joyous time you’ll have while staying abroad.

Last but not least, the following are a few of the unavoidable of an International Student Experience. Jet lag.

Jet lag:- It is part and parcel of an international trip and causes a change in the timezone. The best way to quickly recover from jet lag is by adapting to your destination’s timezone as quickly as you can.

Cultural Equality & Diversity:- Of course, the new place will have its history, customs, and rituals. Make friends and try to learn the local cultural rules. You would also encounter a varied range of cultures from other students who would have come from different parts of the world, just as you. A humble behavior will help you close the "Cultural Diversity" bridge and smoothly mix up with the community.

Wrap Up:

We hope this complete guide on the international student experience will help you to proceed in your endeavor. You can tweak a few things as per your need; however, it is essential not to miss out on vitals such as overseas health insurance. If your student destination is Australia, then kindly visit getmypolicy.com to compare and buy the best OSHC Australia from leading health insurance providers. Rest, have fun!

Drop a comment, feedback, or suggestion below if you wish us to add or if we have missed out on any point.

GetMyPolicy introduces an online platform to Compare & Choose from the widest range of Oshc/ Ovhc policies from Government-approved Health Insurance providers like Ahm, Allianz Global Assistance, Australian Unity, Bupa, Medibank, Iman & Nib.