Healthcare

Before you travel

If you have been living in a tuberculosis high-risk area, and you will be coming to the UK for 6 months or more then you will need to provide a TB certificate with your UK visa application. 

We also advise that all students are vaccinated against Meningitis C and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) before they travel to the UK. These are rare but serious diseases that can easily spread in student populations. If you cannot have the vaccine in your home country, you should make an appointment as soon as you’re registered with a GP here.  

If you are undergoing medical treatment, have a pre-existing serious health issue, or if you have a disability, we recommend that you contact the University’s Enabling Centre before you travel to find out what support they will be able to offer when you’re here. If you know you will need ongoing medical treatment whilst you’re in the UK, you should also bring a doctor’s report (translated into English) with you. If you want to bring medication from home, you should check with your airline about what you are allowed to take on board with you, and what you can bring through customs.

Arranging health insurance

If you are an international student coming for less than 6 months then you should arrange health insurance before you travel as you are not entitled to free healthcare in the UK. Even if you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge you may still choose to arrange private health insurance. There are often long waiting lists for non-emergency treatment or to see a specialist at the hospital, and health insurance would give you access to private treatment which is much quicker. 


Paying for healthcare

If you are an international student coming to the UK for more than 6 months, and you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application then you are entitled to free healthcare in the UK. If you are an EEA national with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and you arrived in the UK before 31/Dec/2020 then you are entitled to free healthcare in the UK, however you may need to apply for a new EHIC card.  If you are an international student coming for less than 6 months then you will not be entitled to free healthcare in the UK. If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss National and you arrived or after 1/Jan/2021, you will not be entitled to free healthcare in the UK and you will need to arrange private medical insurance before you travel.

Birth Control generally requires a prescription but it is free on the NHS and you don't need to be embarrassed to ask for it. Even people who have not paid the NHS surcharge (like those on a visitor visa) have access to free contraception. 

Abortion is legal in the UK. If you choose to have an abortion, you can either contact your GP for a referral or refer yourself privately. 

There are some extra charges to NHS Services. Prescriptions for medicines cost around £9. 

Dental Care also has a cost. Prices can vary depending on treatment and not all dentists accept new NHS patients.

Eye Care also has a cost and like dental care it depends on the treatment. You may also be entitled to a free eye test. 

National Health Service (NHS)

What is the NHS?

The National Health Service (NHS) is how healthcare is provided in the United Kingdom. It is government funded so is free at the point of use.

The NHS also provides the following services:

  • GPs
  • Accident/ Emergency
  • Walk in Centre
  • Standard Hospital Care/Operations
  • Ambulance Service
  • Dental Care (This actually costs money but through the NHS is discounted)
  • Optician – Eye Care (Like dental care costs money but is discounted through the NHS)
  • Various Mental Health Services

NHS App

Recently, the NHS has launched the NHS App which is a great resource for finding care and well as accessing your records.

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