Health - English

Prepare before you go

When you pass through immigration, you may have to produce health certificates proving you have had certain inoculations and vaccinations. These can include diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningitis, measles, mumps and rubella. If you come from a tuberculosis (TB) high-risk area, you may also have to produce a chest x-ray. Check with the British Embassy or High Commission in your home country to find out what is required.

Don’t forget to bring with you details of your current state of health, so the British doctors will know how to help you. If you are registered disabled, have had any serious illnesses or are undergoing medical treatment, you should bring your current prescriptions and a doctors’ report. These documents should give details of your condition, all treatment or medication you require, and any support you will need. If they are not already in English, you should have them translated.

Can you get free healthcare

Many international students will be entitled to use the National Health Service (NHS), which offers free health care paid for by British tax-payers. The following NHS treatments are free:
• some emergency treatment (but not follow-up treatment)
• family planning services
• treatment of certain communicable diseases
• compulsory psychiatric treatment

However, all other NHS treatment is subject to restrictions. As an international student, you may not qualify for it, and you may need to get medical insurance instead. Check our summary below to find out.

EEA nationals
If you come from a European Economic Area (EEA) country, you and your family qualify for full NHS treatment. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before coming to the UK, which entitles you to the treatment. EEA countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Non-EEA nationals
If you are not from an EEA country, you still qualify for full NHS treatment if you meet the following conditions:
• If your course is six months or more, you qualify for full NHS treatment. In England and Wales, if you have a husband, wife or children accompanying you as your dependents (not just as your visitors), they can also receive treatment. However, the children must be up to the age of 16 (or 19, if in full-time education).
• If your course is less than six months and you are studying in Scotland, you can receive full NHS treatment.
• If your course is less than six months long and you are studying in England and Wales, you can receive full NHS hospital treatment if the UK government is providing at least 35 per cent of the funding for your course. You will need to provide evidence of this. However, you might not be eligible for GP treatment.

Swiss nationals
If you are Swiss, or a national of one of the EU member states who has come to study in the UK from Switzerland, you will have the same healthcare eligibility as EEA nationals. However, this may not apply to you if you are a national of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and you have been resident in Switzerland before coming to the UK.

Reciprocal health care agreement countries
The UK has reciprocal health care agreements with some countries. The list of countries sometimes changes, so check with your health authorities to see if your country is one. If you are covered by a reciprocal health care agreement, you will be eligible for some NHS treatment even if your course lasts for less than six months. The reciprocal health care agreement will probably cover hospital treatment if a condition arises during your stay. However, it usually doesn’t cover hospital treatment for a pre-existing condition. You should check with your country’s health care authorities to find out how much treatment you will be entitled to; you may still have to take out medical insurance.

Register with your local GP

If you qualify for full NHS treatment, you should register with your local General Practitioner (GP) as soon as you arrive in the UK. It usually takes a while for your application to be processed, so it’s best not to leave it until you get ill. A GP is a doctor who can treat most illnesses, and they should be your first point of call for any non-life-threatening health problems and illnesses. They usually operate in a surgery or health centre, and many university campuses have their own health centres for students. You can find your local surgery or health centre here

Surgeries and health centres can also provide services like vaccinations, women’s health clinics, services for parents of young children, family planning, contraception and sexual health.

When you register, you will need a passport, evidence that you are a student (for example, a student card) and proof of your UK address (for example, accommodation contract). Once you have been registered, you will be put on a GP’s list if you prefer. Most surgeries have female GPs, so you can ask to be put on a female GP’s list. If a doctor accepts you as a patient, you will be sent a medical card via post with your NHS number. If a doctor does not accept you as a patient, try elsewhere or contact the local Primary Care Trust (in England or Scotland), the Central Services Agency (in Northern Ireland) or your Local Health Board (in Wales). Contact details

Know what to do when you get ill

You should call your surgery as soon as possible when you get ill, and make an appointment by telephone. You should be able to get one within a couple of days, but some surgeries are crowded. If you have a busy timetable, you may end up waiting a few weeks to get an appointment that suits you. Let the receptionist know if your problem is urgent, as they may give you priority. Appointments are free if you are entitled to full NHS treatment, and you should always arrive on time. Be aware that a GP will only visit you at home if it is an emergency and you are confined to your bed.

When you see the GP, they may refer you on to hospital treatment. If this happens, you will usually be given an appointment to see a consultant. Depending on the problem, you’ll either stay overnight in the hospital (as an “in-patient”) or just visit in the day (as an “out-patient”). Hospital treatment will be free if you are entitled to full NHS treatment, although waiting lists are sometimes notoriously long.

If the GP recommends medicine, they may give you a prescription. This allows the pharmacist to give you the medicine. You will be asked to pay a prescription charge of around £6.50 per item. However, there are instances when you can get free prescriptions. For example, if you are or have been recently pregnant, have children or have a listed illness. You can also get free prescriptions if you are under 19 and studying full-time. In Wales, everyone under 25 can get free prescriptions. For more information about exemptions, ask at your surgery.

If you are studying in England and Wales and you feel ill, you can also contact NHS direct, a 24-hour telephone nurse service. It can provide confidential information on what to do about your health problems, as well as listings of local health services and self-help organisations. The NHS direct website, and the telephone number is 0845 4647.

Be prepared for emergencies

The emergency services number in the UK is 999. Dial this if you need urgent medical assistance (for example, if someone has been in an accident). An operator will ask you which service you require, and you should ask for an ambulance. You will be connected to an emergency medical dispatcher, and you should tell them about the condition of the patient and where he or she is, especially the street name. The dispatcher may tell you what to do until the ambulance arrives. If the person is badly injured and needs to go to hospital, an ambulance will be dispatched to take them to hospital.

If you need urgent treatment but are well enough to travel, you can also make your own way to hospital in a taxi or in a friend’s car.

When you arrive at hospital in an emergency, you should go to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. These are open 24 hours a day, and they treat patients in need of emergency treatment. Remember that you should only use A&E departments for serious illnesses or injuries. Emergency treatment is free to everyone, regardless of where they are from. However, if you are not eligible for full NHS treatment, follow-up treatment may not be free.

Take care of your teeth and eyes

You should get your teeth checked by a dentist every six months, and many dentists in the UK offer NHS treatment. This treatment is cheaper than private treatment, but it is not free. If you are eligible for full NHS treatment, you should register with your doctor first, otherwise you will have to pay the full cost. You should give the dentist your NHS medical number from your medical card. Remember that if you are eligible for free prescriptions (see above), you are also eligible for free dental treatment. You can also get a refund on the basis of low income. You can find your nearest NHS dentist

If you need to see an optician during your time in the UK, you should go to a high street shop like Boots. You can make an appointment for an eye test, and the optician will either update your current prescription or prescribe you glasses or contact lenses if you need them. You will normally have to pay a minimum charge for an NHS eye test (around £20), unless you are under 19 and in full-time study. Charges for frames and lenses varies; you may be able to apply for help with these costs if you are on a low income. If you already have glasses or lenses, bring the details of your prescription (in English) along to the UK.

Don't be afraid to use the family planning clinic

You will probably have a family planning clinic in your area. These offer free, confidential advice on contraception and sexual health. You can get free condoms and other contraceptives, pregnancy tests and cervical smear tests. Anyone can use the clinics, including those under 16 and those not entitled to full NHS treatment. All services are confidential. Although many clinics have walk-in services, you may need to book an appointment to be seen.

Get medical insurance

If you do not qualify for full NHS treatment, you will need to get private medical insurance, as private health care can be very expensive. If you have an accident or fall ill, only emergency treatment will be provided for free. Even if you do qualify for NHS treatment, you may still want to get medical insurance. If you get a policy that allows you to have private health care, you will be able to avoid the NHS waiting lists and get the treatment you need faster.

Aside from medical expenses, there are all sorts of other costs you’ll have to take into account. If you fall ill, you’ll lose the fees you paid if you don’t complete your course. You may also need to pay for a relative to visit you, or for you to return home for treatment. In the worst case scenario, there is the possibility that you would have to pay for your body to be returned home for burial.

You may already be covered if you have medical insurance in your home country, so check with your provider to find out if you need extra. If you do, have a quick scan of our insurance section for tips on how to find the best policy for you.