Health cover requirements

International students holding an Australian student visa are required to maintain valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) with an approved OSHC provider.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) requires Visa Length Cover (VLC) for all student visa applications. This means you must be able to show DHA that you have OSHC for the entire proposed duration of your student visa.

As an RMIT student we recommend that you purchase OSHC from our preferred OSHC provider Medibank. To make it easy for you RMIT can arrange this for you when you accept your offer.

Alternatively, there are alternative OSHC providers where you can arrange cover yourself. You will need to provide the details of this cover to RMIT before we can issue you a CoE.

Medibank Comprehensive OSHC

Medibank is RMIT's preferred provider of OSHC. We can arrange for visa-length cover directly with Medibank, with a payment for the service when you accept your offer.

In your offer letter you will find Medibank OSHC pricing. You can pay this amount when you pay the program deposit, after which RMIT will arrange the cover directly with Medibank. A copy of your OSHC membership certificate will be sent to your RMIT email. You can use this to activate your membership when you arrive in Australia.

Medibank exclusively offers Comprehensive OSHC to partner universities.

The benefits of the Medibank Comprehensive OSHC Policy above a standard policy are:

On-Campus Medibank Support Staff
Medibank 24/7 Student Health and Support Line;
100% back on eligible prescription medicines up to annual limits after co-payment ($30);
100% covered for Emergency Ambulance
100% of Emergency Facility Fee covered at any Hospital;
Free doctor consultation at RMIT Medical Hub

International students who are not on a student visa are strongly encouraged to purchase personal health cover for their time in Australia. Further details about health cover options are available from Medibank for overseas visitors.

Activate your Medibank OSHC

Once you arrive in Australia, you will need to activate your insurance so we know you have arrived. To activate your Medibank OSHC, you will need your OSHC Policy Certificate which will be waiting in your RMIT student email, then use the Medibank OSHC App or website to activate and set up your OSHC.

Download the Medibank OSHC app, tap on Activate and follow the steps, or
Activate using the Medibank OSHC website.

For any issues or queries, you can talk with a Medibank team member on campus or call 134 148 between 8.00am - 8.00pm AEST Monday to Friday.

Masters by research and PhD students

The DHA provides an 'increased visa period' to all international students applying for a new visa subclass 574 (Masters by research or PhD). The visa period increases by a further six months after your completion date. Therefore, you will need to ensure you have valid OSHC for the full increased visa duration.

Students who do not require OSHC

a Norwegian student covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme
a Belgian student covered under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia
studying for less than three months on a visitor or tourist visa
- You will not be eligible for OSHC and are advised to purchase Overseas Visitors Health Cover or comprehensive travel insurance
an Australian government scholarship student.

Acknowledgement of country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business. - Artwork created by Louisa Bloomer

More information