Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
The Australian Government requires all international students to:
- purchase OSHC in order to be granted a student visa;
- be covered by OSHC for the length of their student visa;
- purchase OSHC from a registered health provider, approved by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care; and
- pay OSHC before they leave home that will cover them from when they arrive in Australia.
The
Department of Home Affairs provides detailed information about the health insurance requirements of the Australian Government.
BUPA OSHC
 | TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) has a preferred provider arrangement with Bupa. |
If you wish to use another provider, you will need to make your own payment arrangements and show evidence of the payment to the Department of Home Affairs when you apply for your visa.
OSHC is offered by a number of different providers. If you want to obtain health cover from another provider, please visit the
Australian Government's Department of Health website to view the available options.
OSHC Coverage
You are strongly encouraged to read the relevant health cover page documents for information regarding what is and is not covered.
Please note that dental work and spectacles are not covered under Overseas Student Health Cover and can be expensive in Australia. You can purchase additional cover for these services at an additional cost.
Bupa Services
You can find useful information regarding Bupa services below:
Health cover card
If you have arranged OSHC through TIWA you will receive information about your OSHC card at your
TAFE college's orientation session.
After hours emergency doctors service
Students that have their health care with Bupa can call the National Doctors Service on 137 425 for medical emergencies after 4pm.
Campus visit schedule
You can visit a Bupa representative at your TAFE college.
View the 2018 Campus Visit Schedule
Health cover costs
The following table gives you a guide as to the cost of cover effective 1 February 2018 (subject to change).
| Months duration |
 Single policy* |
 Couples policy+ |
Family policy# |
| 6 | $303 | $964 | $1,405 |
| 12 | $605 | $1,928 | $2,809 |
| 18 | $937 | $2,959 | $4,576 |
| 24 | $1,249 | $3,945 | $6,102 |
| 30 | $1,561 | $4,931 | $7,627 |
| 36 | $1,874 | $5,917 | $9,152 |
* Single - Cover for you only.
+ Couples - Cover for you and your partner as listed on your dependant visa.
# Family - Cover for you, your partner and your children under 18 years of age if they live with you in Australia and are listed on your dependant visa.
Useful links
- To find out more about OSHC you can download this helpful factsheet produced by the Department of Home Affairs.