When preparing to study in China, students and parents often focus on tuition fees, accommodation, visas and living expenses, while paying less attention to health insurance. In reality, this is an important matter that should be checked as soon as the admission offer is received.

For international students undertaking long-term study in China, health insurance is not simply a matter of whether they would like to purchase it. Many universities require international students to have valid health insurance before completing enrolment or registering for a semester. Some institutions may also require students to obtain insurance before completing their registration procedures.

Therefore, before travelling to China, students should understand what type of insurance they need, how much it costs, what it covers and what to do if they need medical treatment.

1. IS HEALTH INSURANCE COMPULSORY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN CHINA?

The practical answer is: international students studying in China are generally required to have health insurance that meets the requirements of their university and the relevant regulations governing international students.

Guidance for international students in China updated by the Shanghai municipal authorities in 2026 states that educational institutions should implement comprehensive insurance arrangements for international students, while students are required to purchase insurance in accordance with relevant laws, policies and university requirements. Failure to obtain valid insurance within the required period may affect enrolment or registration procedures.

Many universities apply this requirement directly. For example, Fudan University requires international students studying for one semester or longer to participate in comprehensive insurance for international students. The basic premium is currently listed as RMB 400 for six months or RMB 800 for one year.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University also states that international students studying in China must have valid comprehensive insurance, and students without valid insurance may not be allowed to register for a new semester after arriving in China.

An important point: students should not assume that every university follows exactly the same insurance arrangements. Some universities organise group insurance for international students, while others may allow students to purchase an approved insurance policy themselves. The university's official admission and enrolment instructions should therefore be treated as the primary reference.

2. WHAT DOES HEALTH INSURANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN CHINA COVER?

A common type of insurance for international students in China is comprehensive insurance for international students.

Depending on the specific policy, coverage may include:

• Medical treatment resulting from accidents;

• Outpatient treatment;

• Emergency medical treatment;

• Inpatient treatment;

• Certain surgical, treatment and medication costs;

• Death or disability benefits resulting from accidents, subject to the policy terms.

However, students should remember one important point:

Having health insurance does not mean that every medical expense will automatically be reimbursed in full.

Each insurance policy may have its own deductibles, reimbursement rates, benefit limits, exclusions and requirements regarding healthcare providers. Shanghai's 2026 guidance for international students, for example, notes that certain insurance policies may not cover treatment at private hospitals, international hospitals or VIP departments of public hospitals.

Therefore, students should not focus only on whether the premium is RMB 800 per year. They should also understand what the policy actually covers.

3. HOW MUCH DOES HEALTH INSURANCE COST FOR STUDYING IN CHINA?

The cost depends on the insurance programme and the period of coverage.

A commonly used reference level among universities is:

Fudan University lists a basic premium of RMB 400 for six months and RMB 800 for one year for international students studying for longer periods. Other universities may publish premiums of around RMB 800–1,200 per year, depending on the insurance programme and the relevant academic year.

When preparing a study-abroad budget, families may therefore use around RMB 800 per year as a general reference figure, but this should not be treated as a fixed fee applicable to every university.

If the university provides a different insurance fee in its official admission or enrolment instructions, students should follow the university's current requirements.

4. WHERE DO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BUY HEALTH INSURANCE?

There are generally two common arrangements.

Option 1: The university arranges the insurance

This is a common arrangement.

Students may be instructed to purchase group insurance as part of the enrolment process. The university will normally provide information such as:

• The name of the insurance programme;

• Premium;

• Coverage period;

• Payment method;

• Basic benefits;

• Procedures for using the insurance.

If the university already has an insurance programme for international students, students should not independently purchase another policy and assume that it will automatically be accepted by the university.

Option 2: Students purchase insurance themselves

Where the university permits students to arrange their own insurance, students should first confirm that the policy meets the university's requirements.

In particular, check:

Will the university accept this insurance policy?

Does the coverage period cover the entire period of study?

Does the policy provide medical coverage in China?

Does the scope of coverage meet the university's requirements?

This is particularly important for Vietnamese students. The fact that a policy is marketed as “international student insurance” does not automatically mean that it will be accepted by every university in China.

The correct approach is to confirm the requirements directly with the university before purchasing the policy.

5. DOES HEALTH INSURANCE COVER ALL MEDICAL EXPENSES?

Students should never assume that it does.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings among international students.

For example, an insurance policy may specify:

• A deductible before reimbursement applies;

• Reimbursement at a certain percentage;

• Maximum limits for particular categories of treatment;

• Coverage only at specified hospitals;

• Restrictions on certain medicines or medical services;

• Exclusions for particular circumstances.

Shanghai's guidance for international students gives examples of insurance terms that may include deductibles, reimbursement rates, outpatient limits and daily treatment limits. This is why students should understand the policy conditions rather than looking only at the premium.

A practical rule:

If you are unsure whether a hospital is covered, ask the university or insurance provider before receiving treatment whenever your medical condition allows.

In an emergency, medical treatment should always take priority. Students should then keep all relevant medical documents for insurance purposes.

6. WHICH HOSPITAL SHOULD INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS USE?

Not every hospital necessarily follows the same arrangements for insurance claims.

Before receiving non-emergency treatment, students should check:

• Does the university have a designated clinic or affiliated hospital?

• Is the hospital included in the insurer's approved network?

• Do I need to present an insurance card or policy information?

• Do I need to pay first and claim reimbursement afterwards?

• What documents must I keep?

This is particularly important for first-year students, who may not yet be familiar with the healthcare and administrative systems in China.

Students should not choose a hospital simply because it is the closest one to their accommodation. Where possible, check in advance whether the facility is covered by the insurance policy.

7. WHAT DOCUMENTS SHOULD STUDENTS KEEP AFTER RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT?

If students have to pay for treatment first and subsequently submit a claim, they should keep all relevant documents.

These may include:

• Passport;

• Insurance certificate or policy information;

• Medical records;

• Doctor's diagnosis;

• Medical invoices;

• Prescriptions;

• Payment receipts;

• Hospital discharge documents for inpatient treatment;

• Accident-related documents where applicable.

The exact documentation required depends on the insurance programme. Students should therefore check directly with the insurer or the university's international student office before submitting a claim.

Some insurance programmes require students to report the incident, submit supporting documents, undergo a claims assessment and receive reimbursement in accordance with the policy terms.

8. A COMMON MISTAKE: LETTING INSURANCE COVERAGE EXPIRE

This is a practical issue that long-term students should pay attention to.

If a student studies in China for several years, the insurance coverage should be checked whenever moving into a new academic year.

Do not assume:

“I bought insurance last year, so it is still valid this year.”

If the policy has expired and has not been renewed, a gap in coverage could create financial risks if the student has an accident or requires medical treatment.

Shanghai's guidance for international students also highlights issues relating to gaps in insurance coverage and medical conditions or accidents occurring during periods when a student is not covered.

At the beginning of each academic year, students should therefore check:

Start date → expiry date → renewal date → coverage scope.

9. IF I ALREADY HAVE INSURANCE IN VIETNAM, DO I STILL NEED INSURANCE IN CHINA?

This is a common question among Vietnamese parents.

It is important to distinguish between having insurance and having insurance that is accepted by the university and applicable to medical treatment in China.

Some universities may allow international students to use an appropriate international insurance policy if it meets their requirements. However, each university may have its own rules regarding acceptable insurance.

Therefore, if a family already has international insurance purchased in Vietnam, do not assume that it automatically replaces the insurance required by the Chinese university.

The correct procedure is:

Send the insurance details to the university → confirm whether it is accepted → only then treat it as an appropriate alternative.

10. SHOULD STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE IN VIETNAM?

This is a separate issue from health insurance for international students in China.

Whether a Vietnamese student should continue participating in Vietnam's national health insurance system depends on their personal circumstances, eligibility and the current Vietnamese regulations governing health insurance.

Vietnamese students should therefore distinguish between their obligations and benefits under Vietnam's health insurance system and the insurance requirements imposed by their Chinese university.

The two matters should be considered separately.

Most importantly:

Vietnamese health insurance should not automatically be regarded as a replacement for the insurance required by a Chinese university during the student's period of study in China.

11. DO SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS HAVE TO PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE THEMSELVES?

Not necessarily.

Under certain Chinese Government Scholarship programmes, comprehensive medical insurance for international students may be included as part of the scholarship benefits.

China's Ministry of Education states that comprehensive medical insurance for international students is included among the benefits provided under Chinese Government Scholarship programmes.

However, students should not automatically assume that receiving a scholarship means that all insurance costs are covered.

Students should check:

• The specific scholarship programme;

• The scholarship period;

• The benefits included;

• The host university;

• The official admission notice;

• Whether insurance has already been arranged or paid for by the scholarship programme or university.

If the admission or enrolment instructions require students to purchase insurance themselves, they should follow those instructions.

12. PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR VIETNAMESE STUDENTS BEFORE TRAVELLING TO CHINA

From a practical study-abroad preparation perspective, one simple principle is:

Do not wait until you arrive in China to find out how your health insurance works.

Before travelling, students should:

First, ask the university what type of insurance is required for international students.

Second, confirm whether the university arranges group insurance or whether students must purchase an approved policy themselves.

Third, check the premium and coverage period.

Fourth, keep both electronic and printed copies of the insurance certificate.

Fifth, identify hospitals or medical facilities near the university that are accepted by the insurance programme.

Sixth, save the insurer's contact details and the university's contact information in case assistance is required.

These are simple steps, but they can help students avoid unnecessary financial difficulties when health problems arise.

13. HEALTH INSURANCE CHECKLIST FOR STUDENTS IN CHINA

Before enrolment, students should check:

☐ I know what type of insurance my university requires.

☐ I know the insurance premium and coverage period.

☐ I know the date on which my insurance becomes effective.

☐ I know which hospitals are covered.

☐ I understand whether I need to pay medical expenses first or whether direct settlement is available.

☐ I understand the basic deductible and reimbursement limits.

☐ I have saved my insurance certificate.

☐ I know who to contact if I need to use my insurance.

☐ If I already have another international insurance policy, I have confirmed with the university that it is accepted.

CONCLUSION

Health insurance is a relatively small expense compared with the overall cost of studying in China, but it plays an important role in protecting international students against unexpected health-related financial risks.

For long-term students, a reference premium used by a number of Chinese universities is around RMB 400 for six months or RMB 800 for one year, although actual premiums and benefits may vary depending on the university and insurance programme.

The most important point is not simply to find the cheapest insurance policy, but to make sure that the insurance meets the university's requirements, remains valid throughout the study period and that the student understands exactly what is covered.

For Vietnamese students preparing to study in China, Tohoku Song Da recommends checking insurance requirements as soon as the admission notice is received rather than waiting until the student arrives in China.

Students and parents can also explore other China study-abroad guidance on Tohoku.vn, including information about Chinese student visas, preparation before departure and rules for international students in China, to ensure a more complete preparation before travelling.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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