Those who enter the country on UK Student Visas pay an Immigration Health Surcharge as part of their application. How much you pay will depend on the length of your stay. You can calculate the amount here. After you have paid and received your visa, you will be able to use the NHS in a similar way to UK nationals. The first step towards doing this is the register with a local doctor (called a GP). It is important that you register as soon as possible after you arrive. We will help you to do this. Don’t wait until you are sick. Here is how you do it:

1. Follow this link to find a local GP near your homestay address.
2. If you are stuck, ask your homestay provider to help you. They will be able to tell you where they are registered.
3. Go to the GP practice with your passport and your homestay address and tell them you would like to register.
4. If you are told you cannot register, contact your study abroad coordinator, Hobstone or your homestay hosts and we will help.
5. Once you are registered you will receive an NHS number which you should keep safe.
6. Here is a short videos about how to register with a GP.

If your course lasts less than 6 months you may not be able to use the NHS for free and will probably not be able to register with a doctor. However, you can still access emergency care and support. You should make sure you have comprehensive medical/travel insurance to cover any costs.

1. If you need specialist advice or treatment for a specialist condition, you will need to see your GP first. They will refer you to a specialist.
2. A word of warning; it can take several weeks, even months to get an appointment to see a specialist in the UK. That is the same whether you are British or from overseas.
3. If you have an ongoing medical condition for which you will need treatment or prescription medication during your time in the UK, it is vital that you make us aware of this before you arrive via your homestay preferences form or email. You may need to speak to your doctor in your home country to ask about how this should be managed. We strongly advise that you do this before you leave.

There are a number of ways to get medical help if you are unwell. Here are some of the main ones:

1. In a life an death emergency call 999 and ask for an ambulance. See this video about how to do this.
2. You may need to find someone with a UK telephone to call this emergency number.
3. During office hours contact your GP practice and make an appointment. Depending on your problem, this could be with a doctor or an experienced nurse. Ask the person on the phone to explain the difference and advise you if necessary.
4. Out of office hours you can call the NHS national support line on 111. This is available 24 hours a day and is a really helpful way of getting advice and making urgent appointments. (see the video at the bottom on the page).