Ensure that you have appropriate insurance during your study
Medical and Travel Insurance
All our international students must have current medical and travel insurance to cover them for the duration of their planned period of study in New Zealand.
To ensure that you have appropriate insurance, MDS uses Southern Cross as our preferred insurance provider. The Southern Cross StudentMax Plan offers you excellent Health and Travel Insurance benefits. These meet the requirements covered in the New Zealand Government's Ministry of Education's Code of Practice guidelines, (view more on the Code of Practice here) and it is the default insurance plan for all our new international students.
Insurance Fees
A 12-month premium for Southern Cross' international student travel insurance is around $860.25. Get an instant quote here.
Having Health and Travel Insurance is a condition of enrolment at MDS, and this premium will automatically be added to your fees invoice. If you already have insurance with another provider, your insurance policy will be assessed by us prior to your travel to ensure the policy meets the requirements outlined by the Code of Practice. If your alternative insurance is deemed to meet the requirements, a waiver will be issued. To have your policy assessed and a waiver issued you must complete a waiver application form and provide a copy of your policy wording to the school (in English).
To assist you in completing the Waiver Application form, please use MDS's Insurance checklist to ensure your current policy meets the minimum requirements of the Code of Practice.
Download the International Insurance Waiver Form here.
Download the Southern Cross Insurance Application Form here.
Eligibility for health services
As an international student, you're not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your time here, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website.
Accident insurance
The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs.
For all enquiries regarding insurance please contact our Registry team at registrars@mediadesignschool.com.