Health information for international students
For all the latest information on medial and general health in the UK including registering for a doctor/dentist and emergency help, please visit the Medical and General Health section of Essentials.
Health Information
When you applied for the ‘student visa’, it is likely that you, and any dependants, would have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). IHS entitles you to use the National Health Service (NHS).
If you or your dependant(s) are accessing healthcare, you may need to take your with you. You can .
If you have not paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) because you have a visa to study, work, or join family in the UK for less than six months, and you did not apply in the UK, you are still allowed to use NHS services and emergency services. However, you will be charged for using them, therefore you may want to purchase insurance.
What’s included in the IHS medical provision?
- Registration at a GP
- Appointments with doctors
- Hospital treatment
- Accident and Emergency (diagnosis and treatment)
- Necessary medication (for example diabetic medication and contraception)
What’s not included?
- Over-the-counter medication and prescriptions from doctors (some people are eligible for free prescriptions. ) for medication deemed non-necessary for example creams or hayfever tablets. Find out how to save money with a
- Some vaccinations
- Eye tests (opticians)
- Dentistry (apart from emergency medical help)
- Some specific treatments such as IVF/assisted conception
Over-the-counter medication and prescriptions from doctors (some people are eligible for free prescriptions. ) for medication deemed non-necessary for example creams or hayfever tablets.
If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need. Find out how to save money with a .
Call 999 in a life-threatening medical emergency. 999 is for life-threatening emergencies like serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks. If you're not sure if you need to ring 999, you can call 111 first to check your symptoms and receive advice on what to do.
A&E (accident and emergency) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. It's also known as the emergency department or casualty. A&E departments are open 24 hours a day, every day. The which is a short walk from the University.
If you're not sure if you need to attend A&E or not, you can call 111 first to check your symptoms and receive advice on what to do.111 is the number for the NHS 111 service in the UK, which provides urgent medical help or advice for non-life-threatening situations. You can call 111 or use the online service at to be directed to the right care, which could include seeing a GP, visiting an urgent treatment centre, or getting advice on self-care at home. The service is free and available 24 hours a day, every day.
GP practice
You can make an appointment at your Doctors surgery / GP (general practitioner) practice - find information about GP practices in the area.
Pharmacy
You can visit a pharmacy. Pharmacists can offer advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains. They can also give advice about medicines. This includes how to use your medicine, worries about side effects or any other questions you have.
111
You can call 111. 111 is the number for the NHS 111 service in the UK, which provides urgent medical help or advice for non-life-threatening situations. You can call 111 or use the online service at to be directed to the right care, which could include seeing a GP, visiting an urgent treatment centre, or getting advice on self-care at home. The service is free and available 24 a hours a day, every day.
Non-life-threatening medical help
If you need help outside of the hours that your GP surgery is open, you can call 111. 111 is the number for the NHS 111 service in the UK, which provides urgent medical help or advice for non-life-threatening situations. You can call 111 or use the online service at to be directed to the right care, which could include seeing a GP, visiting an urgent treatment centre, or getting advice on self-care at home. The service is free and available 24 a hours a day, every day.
For non life-threatening medical help, you can also visit a pharmacy. Pharmacists can offer advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains. They can also give advice about medicines. This includes how to use your medicine, worries about side effects or any other questions you have.
Life-threatening medical emergencies
Call 999 in a life-threatening medical emergency. 999 is for life-threatening emergencies like serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks. If you're not sure if you need to ring 999, you can call 111 first to check your symptoms and receive advice on what to do.
A&E (accident and emergency) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. It's also known as the emergency department or casualty. A&E departments are open 24 hours a day, every day. The which is a short walk from the University. If you're not sure if you need to attend A&E or not, you can call 111 first to check your symptoms and receive advice on what to do.