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Health and Safety
You should organise health and travel insurance before you leave as it is important to take extra care of your personal health and safety when overseas. You should have a medical check up before you leave and ask your doctor about any additional vaccinations you may require. If you are taking any prescription medicines on a regular basis it is a good idea to take enough supplies with you to last for the duration of your study as it is sometimes difficult to get some prescription medication in foreign countries.
Health Insurance
Having adequate health insurance is very important when visiting another country. Before leaving Australia you are encouraged to purchase medical and accident insurance for travel overseas. Most partner universities will not accept students if they do not have appropriate health cover. Some international institutions insist on the purchase of their own insurance policies (often including illness) or advise you to use the recommended national scheme to ensure that all students are adequately covered. Whatever the case at your home or partner institution you need to ensure you are covered for the whole period you are overseas.
Travel Insurance
Most travel policies, in addition to cover for emergency medical expenses, can provide cover for such things as loss or theft of baggage and personal effects and trip cancellation expenses. Insurance for medical expenses offered by travel policies is not for general health cover, which means that you cannot claim for general medical expenses relating to check ups etc. This is why students are required to purchase general health cover through their host university in some countries. You might already be covered by your home institution so you should check with them about what travel insurance you need.
Why all Australians should take out travel insurance before going overseas
Travel Insurance – Tips on Travelling from the Insurance Council of Australia.