Rethinking Student Protection for Global Education Journeys

The Voice of Canada/Chandigarh News

Student mobility for higher education and professional courses continues to be one of the strongest segments within India’s outbound travel market. According to recent government and industry estimates, more than 1.3 million Indian students are currently pursuing higher education overseas, with destinations such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and parts of Europe continuing to attract significant student inflows.

The scale of this movement is substantial. Over the last five years, the number of Indian students studying abroad has grown steadily, driven by increasing access to global education, wider course choices and stronger international career opportunities. At the same time, the financial commitment involved has also increased significantly, with families often investing anywhere between ₹30 lakh and ₹1 crore or more towards a student’s overseas education.

As a result, student travel is no longer viewed as a simple admission-and-departure process. It has evolved into a long-term journey that requires careful planning, financial preparedness and comprehensive protection to mitigate unforeseen emergencies.

Asego has been closely observing this shift through its extensive network of education counsellors, study abroad consultants and travel partners. Conversations today are increasingly moving beyond visas, admissions and mandatory insurance requirements to broader concerns around student wellbeing, financial protection and emergency support during their time abroad.

One of the key challenges faced by students and families is the complexity of navigating country-specific insurance requirements. Every destination has its own regulations, university benchmarks and healthcare systems. While some countries require mandatory student health cover, others follow university-specific or institution-approved insurance frameworks. For students and parents, identifying the right coverage often becomes a complex and confusing process.

Recognising this gap, Asego has introduced UNISHIELD, a comprehensive student protection solution designed specifically for Indian students pursuing education overseas.

UNISHIELD brings together access to leading insurance providers, destination-specific coverage options and an array of travel assistance services tailored to the needs of international students during their time abroad. The solution is designed to support students before departure and throughout their academic journey by providing assistance during unforeseen situations.

Beyond meeting country-specific insurance requirements, UNISHIELD extends protection to areas that are becoming increasingly relevant for students and their families. These include study interruption support, sponsor protection, personal accident cover, personal liability protection, emergency medical assistance and parental visit support during emergencies.

The solution also addresses a growing concern among families — unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. With healthcare costs continuing to rise globally and exchange rate fluctuations impacting overseas spending, students often face expenses that may not be fully covered under standard plans. UNISHIELD is designed to help reduce this financial exposure through a broader protection framework and dedicated assistance services.

For student recruitment partners and the travel trade, this represents an opportunity to move beyond transactional insurance conversations and adopt a more consultative approach. Instead of focusing solely on compliance requirements, partners can offer students a solution that combines destination-specific coverage, assistance services and long-term protection within a single framework.

As international education continues to grow, expectations among students and parents are evolving as well. Protection is no longer viewed as an optional add-on; it is increasingly becoming an integral part of the overall study abroad experience.

Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO, Asego, said:

“Students and families today are making some of the largest investments of their lives in international education. Our focus with UNISHIELD is to provide protection that goes beyond mandatory requirements and supports students throughout their entire journey—from the moment they begin planning their studies overseas to their time on campus and beyond. By combining country-specific coverage options with assistance-led support, we aim to help our partners deliver a more complete and confident experience to aspiring students and their parents.”