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Whether international students have free access to public healthcare through the National Health Service (NHS) or need private health insurance is based on their immigration status in the UK.
- International students studying for 6 months or听longer;
- International students studying for less than 6 months;
- private medical insurance;
- Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
International students studying for 6 months or longer
International students studying for 6 months or longer will either be in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme or a visa听which included paying听the e.g. the听Student visa. Both have free access to the National Health Service (NHS) but will prove this听access in different ways.
International students with pre-settled/settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme听听听听听
International students with pre-settled/settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and studying in the UK for 6 months or more will have free access the National Health Service (NHS). Their听 is proof of their听right to access the NHS. 听听
International students coming into the UK on a Student visa/a听visa听which included paying听the Immigration Health Surcharge听
International students coming into the UK on a Student visa or any other听visa听which included paying听the 听as part of their听visa application and will have free access to the National Health Service (NHS). Their听proof of their听right to use the NHS will be their听Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
They will be able to register with a GP as a permanent patient.
International students studying for less than 6 months
International students studying for less than 6 months need to check their immigration status in the UK to see whether they have free access to the听National Health Service (NHS) or if they need to get听private health insurance.听
International students with pre-settled/settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
International students with pre-settled/settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and studying in the UK for less than 6 months will have free access the National Health Service (NHS). Their听 is proof of their听right to access the NHS.
As they听will be in the UK for less than 6 months, they听may only be able to register with a GP as a .
International students coming into the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa or as non-visa nationals
International students coming into the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa or as non-visa nationals听will not have free access to the National Health Service (NHS). They听should ensure that they听have private health insurance for the duration of your time in the UK. Their听private health insurance should be obtained before they听arrive in the UK. The听type of healthcare they听are entitled to will depend on the terms of their听individual private health insurance policy so it is important that they听fully understand what range of healthcare it offers.
They will most likely use a private clinic as their听GP. NHS GPs have discretionary powers over whether they see private patients and if they do choose to see them, will most likely charge a fee.
Private medical insurance
- If you are only studying in the UK for听six听months or less and you don't have pre-settled/settled status,听you are advised to obtain private medical insurance as you will be liable for any NHS health services that you use.
- If you are听studying in the UK for more than听six听months, you may still wish to consider private health insurance as well as there can听be longer waiting times for some secondary NHS services. With private medical insurance, you can also ensure you are covered for other medical-related costs that are not covered by the NHS. However, medical insurance is not compulsory and it is your decision whether you wish to purchase it or not.
- If you have medical insurance in your home country, be sure to check whether you can extend this plan to include your stay in the UK as well as considering options from UK health insurers.听
- UCL does not endorse or recommend a specific insurance company,听owever we have provided links to some of the major health insurance providers in the UK below:
Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
The GHIC allows UK residents to access state-provided, emergency and medically necessary healthcare whilst on temporary trips to听the听.听The GHIC has been introduced to replace the old European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs), which will be phased out. Your old EHIC will still be valid听until the expiry date. At which point, you should then apply for a GHIC or a new EHIC.
International students with pre-settled/settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme听can听continue to use their existing EHICs until expiry. At which point they can听then apply for a new EHIC.听
International students in听the UK on a Student visa or听visa听which included paying听the Immigration Health Surcharge听can听apply for a GHIC.听
International students here on a Standard Visitor Visa will not be able to apply for either a GHIC or a new EHIC. They should get for any temporary trips they make outside of the UK.
All eligible international students are advised by the NHS to apply for their GHIC听.听
You are not entitled to a GHIC if you're insured by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland but live in the UK. You should contact the relevant authority in the country you're insured by and request an EHIC.
Be advised that the GHIC听does not听provide cover in听Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It is advised that you take out private travel insurance if you travel to these countries.
Old and new EHICs will continue to provide cover in the 27 EU countries as well as听Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.听听
GHICs and EHICs are free to apply for. Please only apply via the NHS.听Do not听use websites which ask for credit/debit card details.
Be advised that a GHIC or an EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. GHICs and EHICs only provide emergency and medically necessary, state-provided healthcare. It does not cover accidents occurred during recreational accidents such as skiing and does not cover loss of luggage. Also take out travel insurance when visiting another country.
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