Studying in Tanzania is exciting. It’s also a place where smart preparation pays off. Private care is available, but capacity outside the big cities is uneven. Emergencies happen. Plans change. Insurance is the safety net that lets you focus on your degree instead of hospital invoices. The UK government’s travel guidance puts it simply: check that your destination can provide the care you need and make sure you have travel insurance that includes local treatment and possible medical evacuation; in Tanzania, the emergency number is 112, and facilities are limited outside Dar es Salaam.
That’s the baseline. Now let’s go deeper—what strong coverage looks like for students in Tanzania, how to compare policies, and which providers consistently serve international students well.
Why international students in Tanzania need private, evacuation-ready cover
Here’s the practical reality. Although there is a good local clinic close to the campus, severe treatment might necessitate transfer- even outside of the country. The rationale behind the importance of medical evacuation as detailed by the CDC Yellow Book is that cost in this case can be as little as US $25,000 in North America or as much as US $250,000 in far-off or remote areas and that the plan you purchase must cover 24/7 support and be able to ensure direct payment into the hospital.
This is echoed in specific guidance to Tanzania. Travel-health advisories at the national level focus on planning and insurance, and note that access and standards differ by region; in brief, a personal plan that includes evacuation is a wise move.
Important to anyone visiting Zanzibar: since 1 October 2024, any visitor to Zanzibar (excluding residents) has to purchase compulsory travel insurance at the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (maximum 92 days). This is not a substitute to a full student medical plan but an additional box to check in case of the inclusion of the islands in your studies.
What “good” student coverage looks like in Tanzania
- Accidents and illness inpatient and outpatient care, subject to realistic annual constraints. You would rather have direct billing where applicable, and hence you would not be fronting cash in cases of an emergency.
- Medical evacuation and repatriation of emergency. Seek strategies that can organize air ambulance, ensure payment and transport you to the closest facility, which is in a position to offer definitive care.
- 24/7 assistance and telehealth. 24-7 support, as well as virtual on-demand assistance on minor problems.
- Mental health, prescriptions and optional dental/vision. Not everything is essential to you now, but go through with the add-ons at hand before making your decision.
- Visa/university compliance and expeditious demonstration of cover. A lot of student-oriented policies provide certificates right away and enumerate visa-oriented benefits.
- When you are comparing between the local and international private insurance, be aware of the trade-offs. Local policies may be less expensive but generally only include care in Tanzania; international private medical insurance (IPMI) is more expensive but more flexible; in most cases you can receive treatment in more than one country under your coverage area.
The top 10 international student health insurance options for Tanzania
These brands are popular among students and expats and post an easy to understand summary of benefits. Compare them to the needs of your school and the level of risk that you can take.
1) IMG (International Medical Group).
IMG Student Health Advantage is both Standard and Platinum and is long-term studying. Its benefits are emergency medical, maternity and mental health cover, organized sports cover and terms that are renewable on an annual basis. Among the offer are telemedicine access and an international network. In case you have shorter traveling programs, there are also other student and exchange options that IMG lists.
Where it is applicable: good overall option when you need a student-focused plan with long-stay renewability and telehealth-included.
2) International Student Insurance (ISI).
Student Secure levels of ISI (Smart, Budget, Select, Elite) are designed to serve international students and they are welcome on most universities. Existing condition coverage becomes effective at higher levels after a period of waiting (e.g., 6 months on Elite/Select; 12 months on Budget). ISI also has evacuation-only add-ons when you are already covered with basic medical.
Where it belongs: affordable and clear. The place you would begin dialing benefits up or down by tier.
3) APRIL international (MyStudies Cover)
The MyStudies Cover by APRIL is 100% online with immediate certificates and is designed with students who on stays less than one year. Medical expenses are paired with support, repatriation, liability and baggage and a detailed brochure is published by APRIL which includes explanations of inclusions.
Where it can be used: when you require quick evidence of cover when enrolling or scheduling your visa appointment and want to enjoy a student package that does not only cover medical bills.
4) Mondassur
Mondassur promotes international student insurance focusing on the hospitalization, medical expenses, and repatriation services- which are important to the destinations where high care might need to be transferred to another country. Their student web pages and information on how to re-patriate state why evacuation is necessary.
Where it works: when your university requires specific language on repatriation and you desire simple student-focused agreement.
5) William Russell
William Russell provides student cover as part of its global health package and issues tiered plan issues (Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc.). Hospital treatment, evacuation, and customer support are the policies emphasized, and the messages targeting students are related to access to care in other countries.
Where it fits: in case you want a traditional expatriate company that has a long tradition and provides tiered benefits.
6) Allianz Care
Allianz Care operates international student plans which are customizable- out-patient, repatriation and dental modules may be added to suit your school requirements. To provide a background on the local system, Allianz also provides guidance pages covering the healthcare environment, pharmacies, and practicalities of Tanzania.
Where it fits: it fits where you require a brand recognition, modular add-ons and extensive network..
7) Auras (digital travel medical insurance)
Auras is an online insurer that sells student travel medical insurance that was issued instantly and the policy delivered electronically. Should you think of Auras, be sure to ask your university about the admissibility of travel medical insurance (as opposed to a comprehensive student health plan) to register–different requirements may apply.
Where it applies: short-term programs and mobility terms in which an acceptable evidence is a travel-medical policy. LIFETIME student medical insurance (When you require extensive and long term student medical insurance, compare with those above that are student specific)
8) International Student Portal (comparison)
Student Insurance Portal provides destination pages (such as Tanzania) that provide information on what to consider and assist you in comparing options and requesting quotations. Aggregators will not issue the policy, but are able to accelerate market scanning.
Where it works best: in research at an initial level and short listing prior to approaching a provider.
9) Specialist Training (broker support)
A lot of students would like to be assisted in going through requirements. Expert Education is a consultancy service which elaborates to the international student about health insurance and links you to policies that suit the country and institution. This will come in handy in the event that your college has restrictive admissions.
Where it fits: where you need human direction and policy similarity across insurers.
10) StudyCo (insured adviser of education)
Students who have health-insurance plans also have the assistance of StudyCo during their time overseas. In case you are using them as the means of obtaining the admissions, it can be effective to arrange insurance simultaneously.
Where it fits: package insurance choice with your admissions service to save time.
At-a-glance comparison (feature snapshots)
| Provider | Student-specific plan? | Evacuation included | 24/7 assistance | Fast proof of cover | Notes |
| IMG | Yes (Student Health Advantage, others) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Long-term, renewable student plans; telehealth. imglobal.com |
| International Student Insurance (ISI) | Yes (Student Secure tiers) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Tiered pricing; pre-existing coverage varies by tier. International Student Insurancecdn.internationalstudentinsurance.com |
| APRIL International | Yes (MyStudies Cover) | Yes | Yes | Instant certificate | Bundled assistance, liability, baggage options. APRIL Internationalassets.april.fr |
| Mondassur | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Strong focus on hospitalization and repatriation. mondassur.com+1 |
| William Russell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Tiered Bronze/Silver/Gold; expat-style support. William Russell+1 |
| Allianz Care | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Modular add-ons; broad network. allianzcare.com |
| Auras | Travel-medical (student) | Yes (per policy) | Yes | Instant e-policy | Confirm university acceptance of travel-medical proof. Auras Insurance |
| Student Insurance Portal | Aggregator | — | — | Quote tools | Use to compare and shortlist. Student Insurance Portal |
| Expert Education | Advisory/broker | — | — | — | Helps match policy to institution rules. Expert Education |
| StudyCo | Education adviser | — | — | — | Can coordinate insurance during enrollment. StudyCo |
(“—” indicates they don’t underwrite insurance themselves.)
How to choose well (and avoid surprises)
You want a plan that works on a stressful day, not just on paper. Use this five-step method.
Be starting with the insurance letter of your university. Minimums (e.g., evacuation and repatriation, mental health visits, coverage period) are listed in many schools. Get the admissions or international office to spelling this out in writing. In case you are going to spend time in Zanzibar, include the obligatory Zanzibar Insurance Corporation travel insurance obligation on visitors (distinct short-stay insurance).
Match benefits to real risks. Tanzania is a great outdoor country and access to developed care is mixed. Select a plan which includes hospital care, referrals by specialists, ambulance and, most importantly, air evacuation. The Yellow Book by CDC suggests that you should shop polices that organize direct payment, operate a 24-hour physician-supported help line, and indicate where to evacuate you.
Review the network, but prepare out-of-network claims. Good networks will not cover all the clinics that you might visit in the course of travelling across the country or region. How to have reimbursement confirmed in case you pay cash and how to file in Tanzania; CDC notes that you might need to pay up front in certain situations and provide receipts.
Audit exclusion and waiting. Sports, adventure activities, pre-existing conditions and maternity, in particular. ISI, e.g., reveals certain waiting times by tier of pre-existing coverage. Read those lines and then you can click buy.
Demand fast documentation. Visa DNA and registration timeframes are fast. Some providers, such as APRIL, have immediate certificates; and numerous student plans have the same. Carry a copy both electronic and in hardcopy.
Tanzania context: what to do in an emergency
In the event of a crisis in Tanzania, dial 112 to call an ambulance and call your 24/7 line with your insurer immediately. Be prepared to give your policy number, a local contact and GPS or landmark information. The Tanzanian FCDO page provides the emergency number and indicates that there are few facilities outside of Dar es Salaem-another reason your policy evacuation and coordination services are important.
Insurers can arrange to transfer patients to the closest facility that is capable of providing the high-level treatment even across the country. The various advisory and broker sources on Tanzania state that the East or Southern African evacuation (such as Kenya or South Africa) is occasionally organized in the case of complex cases, so it is worth ensuring that you check the evacuation destinations in your plan.
Shortlist recommendations by situation
Choose the scenario that feels close to your own, then narrow to one or two providers to quote.
One-year master, in Dar, fieldwork throughout the country. Target IMG Student Health Advantage, Allianz Care student plans to have strong evacuation and outpatient and telehealth. Include incidental dental and mental health, as necessary.
Semester abroad on a tight budget and hard university minimums. Begin with the Student Secure budget/ Select of ISI and APRIL MyStudies cover to have fast certificates and tiered pricing. Examine current and sports coverage.
Mobility program (Tanzania and the neighbors). Check plans which permit treatment outside Tanzania to be covered: William Russell or Mondassur student contracts fit well in this category.
Add-on travel or very short programs in which travel-medical policy is acceptable. Such a digital policy as Auras may be fast to make the documents; make sure that it is accepted by your university and do not count on it to enroll.
How to keep costs sensible without sacrificing safety
- Pick a deductible you can actually pay. A lower premium is no win if you can’t meet the excess at the clinic desk.
- Exclude what you don’t need, not what you might need. Dental/vision can often be skipped; evacuation should not. CDC travel-health guidance is clear that medevac is the high-cost risk to plan for.
- Use telemedicine first for routine issues to avoid time-consuming clinic trips and out-of-network bills. IMG and several others include 24/7 virtual care.
- Renew on time and keep proof handy. Many student plans are renewable; lapses can reset waiting periods. APRIL issues instant documents if you need to re-submit proof.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Relying on credit-card “insurance” alone. Benefits are variable and usually aren’t a substitute for real medical or evacuation coverage.
- Assuming local public schemes will cover you as a student. International students typically don’t qualify for national coverage in Tanzania and should plan for private insurance; even expat-oriented local policies are country-limited.
- Skipping the exclusions page. Adventure sports, motorbike injuries without a proper license, and pre-existing conditions can be excluded or limited. ISI’s brochure is a good example of how clear—and strict—those terms can be.
A simple buy-checklist you can copy
- University acceptance letter and any insurance requirements handy.
- Two shortlisted plans that meet those requirements.
- Confirm: evacuation included; direct billing arranged where possible; 24/7 assistance number.
- Read the exclusions and waiting periods (sports, pre-existing, maternity).
- Get a written certificate of coverage with your name, dates, area of cover, and emergency contact.
- Save the policy PDF and wallet card on your phone. Print once and keep it with your passport.
- Program the emergency number 112 and your insurer’s hotline into your phone favorites.
Final word
You do not need the most costly plan. You require the plan that actually works when you need it to work. That includes inpatient and outpatient coverage, live support and evacuation in Tanzania that you would never need to problem-solve. IMG, ISI, APRIL, Mondassur, William Russell and Allianz Care are global student insurers that tick those boxes and provide rapid documentation of enrollment and visas. A comparison portal or adviser is recommended in case you wish to sanity-check your picks. Then purchase, send in the paperwork and head back to your studies with one less thing to fret about.
Sources:
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Tanzania travel advice – Health, including emergency number 112 and the need for insurance with medical evacuation. GOV.UK
- CDC Yellow Book 2026, Travel Insurance, Travel Health Insurance, and Medical Evacuation Insurance, including cost ranges for medevac, direct-payment guidance, and 24/7 support features to look for. CDC
- NaTHNaC/TravelHealthPro, Tanzania—note on Zanzibar’s mandatory visitor insurance from 1 Oct 2024. travelhealthpro.org.uk
- Insurer/plan pages: IMG Student Health Advantage; ISI Student Secure; APRIL MyStudies Cover (site + brochure); Mondassur international student insurance and repatriation guidance; William Russell student coverage and plan tiers; Allianz Care international student plans; Auras student travel medical page; Student Insurance Portal—Tanzania; Expert Education—student health insurance support.
