Register with a doctor

Student visa and immigration health surcharge

International students who are coming to the UK to study a course for 6 months or more are eligible for full health care under the National Health Service (NHS). These students will be required to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of their visa application fee. This surcharge will entitle students to access the NHS in the UK at no additional cost. This includes registering with a doctor’s surgery (General Practitioner or GP) or a Healthcare Centre, a hospital treatment as an in-patient, and treatment of any pre-existing conditions you may have. You will still need to pay for some services such as dental and optical treatment as well as medicine prescribed by the doctor.

If you are coming to study in the UK for less than 6 months, you should ensure you’re covered for healthcare through a medical insurance during your stay as you will be liable for NHS charges for the treatment you receive in the UK except for in a medical emergency and this is limited. You can register as a temporary patient with a local doctor.

Register with a local GP

You will need to register with a local General Practice in your area of residence before you can make an appointment to see a doctor. You can register on the GP’s website if they have one or just walk in and they will guide you. The General Practice you are registered with will keep your medical records and can book you an appointment with a general practitioner.

GP surgeries are usually the first point of contact if you have a health problem. They can treat many conditions and give health advice and refer you to other NHS services. If you have an emergency, you can either call your GP to book an emergency appointment, or alternatively go directly to the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at the nearest hospital.

You can choose to register with any local GP. The health centre attached to your university is likely to be the most convenient, and the doctors working there will be experienced in the health needs of students. Many university health centres have good links with specialists, such as psychiatrists, sport physicians, psychotherapists, counsellors and physiotherapists.

You can look up GP surgeries to see what they offer and how they compare. Or you can find your nearest GP by using this link: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-GP

Out of Hours Help

18.30pm – 8.00am if you call your doctors between these hours you will be directed to an out of hour’s service who will assist you.

NHS 111 (non-emergency)

If you are experiencing an urgent medical problem, but are unsure if you need to be seen by a doctor you can call the NHS  line on 111 who will go through your symptoms and advise you on the best course of action.

Emergency Only 999 (Life-threatening emergencies)

Please only call this number in urgent medical or mental attention. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.