Study abroad in Australia: the European Health Insurance Card is not valid there, and the social security agreement does not cover health insurance. For study you need the Student Visa (subclass 500) and Overseas Student Health Cover. UNSW cites 29,710 Australian dollars per year as proof of finances, as of 10 May 2024.
Study abroad in Australia at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is not valid, the agreement does not cover health insurance | European Commission, DVKA |
| Visa | Student Visa (subclass 500) for full-time study, applied for from outside Australia | Study Australia |
| Local health insurance | Take out Overseas Student Health Cover before applying | Study Australia |
| Proof of finances | 29,710 AUD per year for one person (as of 10 May 2024) | UNSW |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Possible, responsible office: Studierendenwerk Marburg | German Student Services (DSW) |
All details are general information, not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative.
How are you insured in Australia?
EHIC and social security agreement
Australia is not part of the EU or the EEA. The European Health Insurance Card is not valid there, as the European Commission limits it to the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. According to the German liaison body for health insurance abroad (DVKA), the German-Australian social security agreement (signed on 9 February 2007) covers only statutory pension insurance and the Australian compulsory retirement provision (Superannuation Guarantee). Health insurance is not included.
For statutorily insured students this means you pay treatment costs in the host country yourself at first, or through insurance taken out locally or abroad. According to the Federal Government Commissioner for Patients, German cover does not apply outside the EU, and a private travel health policy is advised for full cover in case of illness. Whether your German insurance continues during the semester depends on your enrolment and your insurer, so get it confirmed in writing. If you have private insurance, see Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German) and, for countries outside the EU, Private health insurance for students outside the EU (in German).
Overseas Student Health Cover
Study Australia, the government portal for international students, requires you to take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before you apply for the visa and to maintain it for the required period unless an exemption applies. The German Federal Foreign Office gives no information on Medicare, social security agreements or OSHC. It describes the health system as generally good, with possible waiting times in emergencies, and private clinics usually have no emergency department.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The German Federal Foreign Office advises travel health and repatriation insurance. The federal portal names higher co-payments abroad and repatriation costs as a residual risk that private travel health insurance can cover. What you need depends on your contract, your university and the length of your stay. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and Work and Travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Australia?
Yes, for study. The German Federal Foreign Office notes that Germans need a visa or an ETA before travelling. The eVisitor visa (subclass 651) is valid for twelve months with several stays of up to three months each, and the ETA (subclass 601) costs 20 Australian dollars plus the provider’s fees. Both are meant for visits. The Office’s page gives no information on study visas.
Study Australia names the Student Visa (subclass 500) for study at a recognised institution. You can apply for it from outside Australia. The evidence of finances and English required depends on your main course. The page names neither fees nor processing times and notes that the rules for student visas changed on 2 October 2026. Check the current position with the Australian immigration authority, Home Affairs.
UNSW states that since 10 May 2024 a single student must show financial capacity of at least 29,710 Australian dollars per year, more for family members. Because the rules have changed since then, the amount may differ.
- Passport valid for the entire stay
- Admission by the host university
- Overseas Student Health Cover, taken out before applying
- Evidence of finances and English as specified by the immigration authority
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Australia (page as of 25 October 2026). It names terror alert level 3 and natural hazards such as bushfires, heatwaves and tropical cyclones from November to April. Read the current travel and safety advice before you leave.
What does a semester in Australia cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees apply at the Australian host university depends on your university’s exchange agreement. We name no general amount because we found no official figure. Study Australia does not name the visa fee on its page. Ask your university and check the fee with Home Affairs.
Living costs
UNSW cites 120 to 250 Australian dollars per week for food and about 40 dollars per week for energy and about 70 dollars per month for water in a house. The figures are estimates that vary with location, household size and housing situation. The page carries no date. The accommodation table on the page is not clearly labelled, so we do not quote rent ranges.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
Australia is not on the European Commission’s list of Erasmus+ programme countries. Whether your university offers funding for Australia depends on the partner institution and your university’s programmes, so ask your international office. For more on the programme, see Planning Erasmus and a semester abroad (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study abroad grant, is available for part of a degree abroad. According to the German Student Services, the Studierendenwerk Marburg is responsible for Australia. According to the leaflet (as of January 2026), you need a permanent residence in Germany, funding starts at the earliest in the month of application, and you should apply online about six months before you start. It includes a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement and tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for a maximum of one year, and for study outside the EU and Switzerland possibly a monthly foreign-country supplement. Details are in Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).
Worked example: For a 20-week semester and food costs of 120 to 250 Australian dollars per week, food alone comes to 2,400 to 5,000 dollars. Accommodation, travel, visa fee, OSHC and your home university semester fee are added. Convert the amounts into euros at the current exchange rate. The total is a guide, not a commitment.
Steps before you leave
- Ask the host university which visa you need and check the current rules and fees with Home Affairs.
- Take out Overseas Student Health Cover before you apply for the visa.
- Collect the evidence of finances and English that your course requires.
- Apply for the visa in good time before you book flights that cannot be changed.
- Ask your insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured during your semester abroad before you sign the learning agreement.
- Take out travel health and repatriation insurance if your cover does not include repatriation and treatment that can wait.
- If you receive funding, submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the responsible office (the Studierendenwerk Marburg) about six months before you start.
- Ask your international office about funding and the host university fees.
Frequently asked questions
Does my EHIC work in Australia?
No. The card is valid only in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The social security agreement with Australia does not cover health insurance.
Do I need a visa for Australia?
For study, yes, according to Study Australia the Student Visa (subclass 500). The visitor permits eVisitor and ETA are meant for visits.
What is Overseas Student Health Cover?
Health insurance for international students that, according to Study Australia, you must take out before the visa application and maintain for the required period unless an exemption applies.
How much do I have to show as proof of finances?
UNSW cites 29,710 Australian dollars per year for one person, as of 10 May 2024. The rules changed on 2 October 2026, so check the current amount with Home Affairs.
Is there a travel warning for Australia?
No, according to the German Federal Foreign Office there is none (as of 25 October 2026). Check the current page before you leave.
Who handles Auslands-BAföG for Australia?
The Studierendenwerk Marburg.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Australia: travel and safety advice (page of 25 October 2026)
- DVKA, social security agreement between Germany and Australia (signed 9 February 2007, in German)
- Study Australia, Student visa (subclass 500) (undated, rule change of 2 October 2026 noted)
- UNSW, cost of living (undated)
- European Commission, social security FAQ: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: programme countries (accessed 25 October 2026)
- Federal Government Commissioner for Patients, leaflet on cover abroad (undated, in German)
- German federal portal, health insurance abroad (last updated 6 December 2022, in German)
- German Student Services, Auslands-BAföG leaflet (as of January 2026, in German)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026 unless stated otherwise.
Related guides
- Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German)
- Semester abroad in New Zealand (in German)
- Semester abroad in Japan (in German)
- All countries for your semester abroad (in German)
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
