Studying overseas is a huge opportunity—but insurance can be a hidden cost. Many universities and consulates require comprehensive health coverage, and private policies can run from hundreds to thousands per year. The good news: there are study abroad scholarships that provide insurance coverage, often paying for national health systems (like NHS/IHS in the UK) or bundled plans (like OSHC in Australia), plus extras such as accident and liability insurance. The challenge is knowing which awards truly include comprehensive coverage versus limited, accident-only policies.
This guide walks you through top programs by region, what “full” insurance actually includes, how to verify coverage before you accept, application timelines, and a step-by-step plan to win offers. You’ll also get checklists, tables, and copy‑paste templates to confirm benefits with scholarship offices.
What you’ll learn:
- Which study abroad scholarships provide insurance coverage (health, travel, accident, liability)
- Regional comparisons and quick-reference tables
- How to confirm that coverage meets visa, university, and clinical requirements
- Application strategies, deadlines, and competitiveness tips
- How to bridge gaps (dependents, dental/vision, mental health) with top-ups
CTA: Browse active study abroad scholarships that provide insurance coverage and set deadline alerts so you never miss an intake.
What “insurance coverage” means in scholarship terms
Not all “included insurance” is equal. Here’s how to decode the benefits typically bundled with study abroad scholarships that provide insurance coverage:
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Examples: UK NHS access via IHS, Australia’s OSHC, EU consortium policies (Erasmus Mundus), DAAD’s health/accident/liability package
- Covers inpatient and outpatient care, emergency services, prescriptions, and often mental health
- Travel/accident insurance
- Short-term cover for accidents, evacuation, repatriation, baggage, personal accident (AD&D)
- Good for travel periods between home and host, field trips, or short placements
- Personal liability insurance
- Common in EU/Germany packages (DAAD, Erasmus); covers accidental damage you cause to others or property
- Dental/vision add-ons
- Sometimes limited or excluded in base policies; check if top-ups are available
- Dependents’ insurance
- Some programs allow subsidized spouse/child coverage (e.g., KAUST); many cover only the scholar
What it’s not:
- Accident-only plans with low caps (e.g., $50,000 maximum) and exclusions for ongoing conditions
- “Assistance” packages without real medical benefits
- Benefits that don’t meet visa/university requirements
Pro tip: Look for phrases like “comprehensive medical insurance,” “national health insurance,” “OSHC,” “IHS/NHS access,” or “health, accident and personal liability insurance.”
Quick list: study abroad scholarships that provide insurance coverage (by region)
Below is a curated snapshot. Always verify the current year’s details on official sites.
Europe and the UK
| Scholarship/Program | Host | Degree Levels | Insurance Included? | Typical Coverage | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarships | UK | Master’s | Yes: IHS paid → NHS access | Comprehensive NHS healthcare | IHS for dependents usually not covered |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | UK | Master’s/PhD | Yes: IHS paid | NHS access during the award | Varies by scheme |
| Gates Cambridge | UK | Master’s/PhD | Yes: IHS covered | NHS via IHS | Check policy for family |
| Rhodes Scholarships | UK | Master’s/PhD | Yes: IHS covered | NHS via IHS | Limited support; verify |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) | EU multi-country | Master’s | Yes: EU-standard consortium insurance | Medical, accident, liability, repatriation | Usually scholar only |
| DAAD Scholarships | Germany | Master’s/PhD/Postgrad | Yes: health, accident, liability insurance | Comprehensive private policy | Scholar only |
| Eiffel Excellence | France | Master’s/PhD | Yes: social security + complementary cover | Comprehensive student health | Scholar only |
| Swedish Institute (SISGP) | Sweden | Master’s | Yes | Medical, accident, liability, property | Scholar only |
| Swiss Government Excellence | Switzerland | PhD/Postdoc | Yes (for non-EU/EFTA) | Comprehensive plan meeting Swiss law | Scholar only |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | Hungary | Bachelor–PhD | Yes: public services + supplementary policy | Health services + extra insurance | Scholar only |
| Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) | Netherlands | Short/Master’s | Yes | Health and accident cover | Scholar only |
Asia-Pacific
| Scholarship/Program | Host | Degree Levels | Insurance Included? | Typical Coverage | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Awards | Australia | Bachelor–PhD | Yes: OSHC paid | Overseas Student Health Cover (visa-compliant) | Sometimes; confirm |
| New Zealand Manaaki | NZ | Bachelor–PhD | Yes | Comprehensive medical insurance | Scholar only |
| Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) | South Korea | Bachelor–PhD | Yes: NHI contributions + program support | National Health Insurance + top-ups | Limited; verify |
| Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) | China | Bachelor–PhD | Yes: Comprehensive Medical Insurance | Hospitalization, medical services per CSC plan | Scholar only |
| Schwarzman Scholars | China | Master’s | Yes | Comprehensive health insurance | Scholar only |
| Yenching Academy | China | Master’s | Yes | Comprehensive medical insurance | Scholar only |
| MEXT (Japan) | Japan | Bachelor–PhD | Often: NHI participation + uni plans | NHI reduces costs; some add-ons | Scholar only (varies) |
| TaiwanICDF | Taiwan | Bachelor–PhD | Yes | Accident + medical; NHI upon eligibility | Scholar only |
| ADB–JSP | Regional (host dependent) | Master’s | Yes | Health insurance during study | Scholar only |
Middle East
| Scholarship/Program | Host | Degree Levels | Insurance Included? | Typical Coverage | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAUST Fellowship | Saudi Arabia | Master’s/PhD | Yes | Medical and dental insurance | Family options available |
| Türkiye Scholarships | Türkiye | Bachelor–PhD | Yes | Health insurance per national/private plan | Scholar only |
| Qatar (HBKU/Doha Institute) | Qatar | Master’s/PhD | Often yes | Comprehensive student plan | Varies by program |
Africa and the Americas (selected)
| Scholarship/Program | Host | Degree Levels | Insurance Included? | Typical Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Foreign Student | USA | Master’s/PhD | Limited (ASPE) | Accident & sickness benefits with caps | Often not “full” insurance; plan a top-up |
| Rotary Peace Fellowships | Multiple | Master’s/PDG | Often yes | Host institution health insurance | Verify by university |
| IsDB Scholarships | Multiple | Bachelor–PhD | Yes | Health insurance | Scholar only |
| JJ/WBGSP (World Bank) | Multiple | Master’s | Often yes | Host-compliant medical insurance | Scholar only |
Note on the USA: Many fully funded PhD/assistantship packages pay the university’s comprehensive student health insurance premium. Brand-name scholarships may defer to the graduate program’s standard coverage—always read the funding letter.
What counts as “full” coverage vs. limited benefits
Use this checklist to determine whether a scholarship’s insurance is comprehensive enough for study and visa requirements.
Comprehensive plans usually include:
- Inpatient and outpatient care
- Emergency services and ambulance
- Prescription medications
- Mental health care (varying copays)
- Maternity (varies by host country)
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation (often via travel policy)
- Personal liability (common in EU/DAAD/Erasmus)
- Meets legal visa/university standards (OSHC, IHS/NHS, Swiss/EU minimums)
Limited plans often:
- Cap benefits at low limits (e.g., $50,000 per incident)
- Exclude pre-existing conditions, mental health, maternity
- Act more like travel accident insurance
- Do not meet visa/university minimums without a top-up
Pro tip: If a scholarship lists “accident insurance” only, ask whether comprehensive medical treatment is covered for illness, not just injury.
How to verify coverage before you accept an award
Spend 10 minutes to confirm that a study abroad scholarship that provides insurance coverage truly meets your needs.
- Ask for documents
- Policy certificate or Summary of Benefits (PDF)
- Award letter section detailing insurance
- University health insurance waiver criteria (if applicable)
- Confirm visa compliance
- UK: Does the award pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for NHS access?
- Australia: Is OSHC fully covered for the entire visa period?
- EU/Schengen: Does the policy meet minimum coverage, including repatriation?
- Korea/Japan: NHI enrollment support and any interim private plan?
- Coverage components to tick off
- Inpatient/outpatient, ER, prescriptions, mental health
- Evacuation/repatriation (often via travel policy)
- Personal liability (if required by university/housing)
- Timing and duration
- Start date (arrival vs. enrollment)
- End date (graduation or award end)
- Waiting periods
- Dependents
- Is spouse/child coverage included or purchasable at scholar rates?
- Claims and networks
- Local in-network hospitals/clinics
- 24/7 assistance line
- Claim submission timelines
Keep PDFs in a “Scholarship Insurance” folder on your phone and email—useful for visa interviews and university check-in.
Top program snapshots and application cues
Chevening (UK)
- Insurance: IHS paid → full NHS access
- Extras: Tuition, stipend, travel, visa
- Timeline: Aug–Nov applications for next year
- Tip: Emphasize leadership and policy impact; secure strong references
Erasmus Mundus (EU)
- Insurance: EU-compliant consortium policy (medical, accident, liability)
- Extras: Tuition, monthly stipend, travel
- Timeline: Most close Oct–Jan
- Tip: Tailor your statement to the specific joint programme’s academic fit
DAAD (Germany)
- Insurance: Health, accident, personal liability
- Extras: Monthly stipend, travel, sometimes language course
- Timeline: Programme-specific; many Aug–Dec
- Tip: Align with a host supervisor/department early
Australia Awards
- Insurance: OSHC for entire visa duration
- Extras: Tuition, stipend, establishment allowance
- Timeline: Typically Feb–Apr (country-dependent)
- Tip: Connect your study plan to development priorities at home
GKS (Korea)
- Insurance: NHI contributions plus supplemental medical support
- Extras: Tuition, stipend, settlement allowance
- Timeline: Feb–Apr (embassy/university tracks)
- Tip: Present a realistic and detailed study/research plan
The value: how much insurance adds to your award
Estimated annual insurance costs without a scholarship:
- UK: Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) can be several hundred pounds per year (fee subject to change)
- Australia: OSHC ~AU$500–800+ per year (single), more for couples/families
- US: University health plans often US$1,800–$4,000+ per year
- EU: Private student insurance ~€300–€1,000+ (varies by country and coverage)
If a scholarship pays these costs, that’s effectively thousands in extra value—sometimes more than the difference between two similar awards.
Application strategy: win awards that cover insurance
- Build a balanced list
- Mix marquee global awards (Chevening, Erasmus, DAAD) with government and university scholarships in your target country
- Work backward from deadlines
- Many open 9–12 months before start. Map tests (IELTS/TOEFL), references, and transcripts now
- Lead with outcomes
- Show quantifiable impact, publications, or community leadership
- Secure institutional alignment
- For research degrees, contact potential supervisors and include their interest in your application
Suggested timeline (example for a fall intake):
- Aug–Oct (prior year): Identify programs, draft statements, take language tests
- Nov–Jan: Submit scholarship applications (Erasmus, many EU/UK)
- Feb–Apr: Submit country-specific awards (Australia Awards, GKS)
- Mar–May: University admissions finalization
- May–Jul: Visa, insurance confirmations, housing
CTA: Set up deadline alerts for study abroad scholarships that provide insurance coverage by country and degree level.
Dependents, dental/vision, and top-ups
- Dependents
- Most awards cover only the scholar. Some (e.g., KAUST) offer family options. If you’re bringing dependents, ask early about costs and eligibility
- Dental/vision
- Often limited or excluded; consider buying a top-up plan locally
- Mental health
- Coverage varies. If thin, look for add-ons or university counseling services
- Travel gaps
- If coverage begins at enrollment, buy a short travel medical policy for your arrival week
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Assuming “insurance included” means comprehensive
- Solution: Request the policy certificate and verify visa compliance
- Overlooking start/end dates
- Solution: Confirm exact dates; bridge gaps with short-term cover
- Ignoring liability requirements
- Solution: Some EU universities require personal liability; check your policy or add a standalone plan
- Double-paying
- Solution: If your scholarship provides a plan, follow waiver steps so you don’t also get billed for the university plan
- Forgetting dependents
- Solution: Budget for spouse/child coverage or confirm subsidized options
Email template to confirm insurance (copy/paste)
Subject: Insurance Coverage Details for [Scholarship Name]
Hello [Scholarship/Admissions Contact],
Could you please confirm the insurance coverage included with the [Scholarship Name] award?
- Does it meet [host country] student visa requirements?
- What does it cover (inpatient/outpatient, prescriptions, mental health, evacuation, liability)?
- When does coverage start and end?
- Are dependents eligible for coverage or scholar-rate add-ons?
- May I have the policy certificate or Summary of Benefits (PDF)?
Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Application ID]
FAQs: Study Abroad Scholarships That Provide Insurance Coverage
Q: What types of insurance do study abroad scholarships usually include?
A: The most common is comprehensive health insurance that meets visa and university rules (e.g., NHS via IHS in the UK, OSHC in Australia). Many also include accident and liability insurance, evacuation and repatriation, and sometimes travel coverage for program-related trips.Q: Which scholarships reliably include full medical coverage?
A: Chevening, Commonwealth, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, DAAD, Eiffel, Swedish Institute SISGP, Swiss Government Excellence, Australia Awards (OSHC paid), New Zealand Manaaki, CSC (China), GKS (Korea), Türkiye Scholarships, and select university fellowships (e.g., KAUST) typically include comprehensive coverage. Always verify in the current year’s call.Q: Do US scholarships include insurance?
A: Many fully funded PhD/assistantship packages in the US pay for the university’s student health plan (comprehensive). Fulbright’s ASPE is not full health insurance—consider a top-up. Program letters detail what’s covered.Q: Are dependents (spouse/children) covered by these scholarships?
A: Usually no. Some programs allow subsidized dependent enrollment (e.g., KAUST) or provide guidance, but most fund the scholar only. Ask early and budget for family coverage.Q: When does coverage start, and how do I avoid gaps?
A: Start dates vary—some begin at arrival, others at enrollment. If your policy starts after orientation, buy a short travel medical plan to bridge the gap. Confirm end dates and any waiting periods.Q: What if the scholarship provides accident-only coverage?
A: Accident-only won’t meet most visa/university requirements. Request a comprehensive plan or purchase a compliant student health policy yourself. Ensure your university accepts the waiver.Q: How can I quickly verify that a scholarship’s insurance is compliant?
A: Ask for the policy certificate or Summary of Benefits and compare it to visa/university requirements. Check inpatient/outpatient, prescriptions, emergency, mental health, evacuation, and liability. Confirm start/end dates and dependent options.Q: Can I waive the university plan if the scholarship provides insurance?
A: Often yes, if the scholarship plan meets waiver criteria. Submit the policy certificate to the university by the deadline. If the scholarship pays the university plan directly, no waiver is needed.Choose funding that protects your studies—and your health
Study abroad scholarships that provide insurance coverage can save you thousands and simplify your visa and enrollment. Programs like Chevening, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD, Australia Awards, CSC, GKS, Swedish Institute, Swiss Government Excellence, Türkiye Scholarships, and select university fellowships routinely include comprehensive medical benefits or national health access. Before you accept, request the policy certificate, check timing and dependent rules, and plan any top-ups for dental, vision, or mental health.