health and wellbeing for international students

Page last updated:
13 Oct 2022

Making sure that you are healthy in body and mind is the most important part of ensuring that your time in the UK is all you want it to be.

On this page you’ll find information about the health service in the UK, registering with a doctor and other tips on staying physically and mentally healthy. The following information is given as a starting point but don’t forget that the Student Immigration Advice and Compliance team is here to help with any issues that you may want to discuss further.

National Health Service (NHS)

Unlike other countries which have an insurance-based healthcare system, in the UK, our healthcare system is publicly funded. 

You may use the facilities of the National Health Service free of charge if:

  • You are coming to the UK to study for more than six months and you have a valid student visa, or
  • You are a national of, or a refugee in, a European Economic Area country and you currently reside there, or
  • Your country has a reciprocal health agreement with the United Kingdom (you can check with the UKCISA website for further information)

If your family are in the UK as your dependants then they will receive NHS health care on the same basis as yourself.

If you do not fall into one of these categories - if, for example, you are a non-EU national, or on a course for less than six months, then you must consider getting private health insurance before travelling to the UK. This is very important as private treatment without insurance can be extremely expensive! More information about private health insurance can be found on Endsleigh Insurance's website.

I have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - do I need insurance?

Your EHIC lets you get state healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. It will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow you to continue your stay until your planned return. It also covers you for treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and for routine maternity care, as long as you’re not going abroad to give birth. Please choose one of the options below that best fits your need.

A smartphone application is available for iOS, Android and Windows mobiles, which includes information in 24 languages on how to use the EHIC in all the participating countries. It includes general information about the card, emergency phone numbers, covered treatments and costs, how to claim reimbursement and who to contact in case you have lost your card. It does not replace the card, which is still needed.

Registering with a doctor

You should register with a doctor's surgery shortly after arriving in Leeds. Doctors in the community are called General Practitioners (GPs). You can find a GP close to your accommodation using the NHS Service Finder.

You may also be eligible for help with the costs of prescriptions, you can find out if you qualify by visiting the gov.uk website. If you become ill or are injured please make sure you get the best possible treatment in the right place. For urgent advice and treatment anytime, call 111.

It is important to find a surgery close to your accommodation in case you require a home visit. Do not delay registration with a surgery until you are ill, make this a priority upon arriving in the UK.

What does the NHS provide?

If you qualify for NHS treatment, you will be entitled to the same benefits as British citizens. This includes free medical consultations with your doctor and free hospital treatment if required. 

NHS 111

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.

Depending on the situation you’ll:

  • Find out what local service can help you
  • Be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
  • Get a face-face appointment if you need one
  • Be told how to get any medicine you need
  • Get self-care advice

You can access this service by phoning 111 or visiting 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only). You can ask for a translator if you need one. 

If you're in an emergency and require an ambulance, the police or fire brigade, call 999. Calls are free of charge and can be made from any public telephone, including card phones and mobile phones, even if your credit has run out.

Additional charges

For prescribed medicines and treatment by a dentist or optician - including eye tests - charges are payable. The single item prescription charge is £9.35.

As a student, you may be eligible for full or partial exemption of NHS charges. To apply for exemption, you should fill in an HC1 form, available from NHS hospitals, walk-in centres and your doctor. 

If you come to the UK suffering from a long-term illness or disability which requires hospital treatment, you may be asked to pay for the hospital treatment for your long-term illness or disability. You should bring any relevant information or records with you from home, especially details of any medicines you are taking regularly. Specialist treatment, if required, will be arranged by your GP.

NHS Dentists

NHS dentists in Leeds have very long waiting lists, often several months at least, so it is best that you remain with your dentist in your home country.

If you would like to register on a waiting list for an NHS dentist, or if you need emergency dental treatment, call the Leeds Dental Advice Line on 0800 298 5787. It is open between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday.

What service should I use if I get ill?

If you are suffering from a cough, cold or sore throat you can buy medicine from a chemist (pharmacy) without a doctor’s prescription to treat these symptoms. You may be able to purchase ‘alternative’ medicines from health food stores and herbalist shops.

If your illness appears to be more serious, you should see a doctor as soon as possible and describe your symptoms clearly. Many surgeries have female as well as male doctors. If you would prefer to see a female doctor, please tell the receptionist, but you may have to wait longer for an appointment.

Keep your doctor’s surgery’s telephone number handy, in case you need to call for help during the night. This should only be done in an emergency. At night and at weekends you will be seen by the Deputising Service and not your regular GP.

Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments are situated at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) on Calverley Street (opposite Leeds Beckett's Civic Quarter) and St James's Hospital on Beckett Street. The departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have a serious injury or illness you will be seen by a doctor on duty and advised about treatment. If you go to A&E with a condition which is not serious, you may have to wait a couple of hours to be seen.

Other things to think about

Prevention is often better than cure, and it's important to live a healthy lifestyle. Two of the best ways to do this is through a healthy diet and regular exercise. 

A healthy diet will help you to feel good both physically and mentally. Adjusting to being away from home can be difficult. Different routines and mealtimes can affect when and where you eat. Try to have regular meals and not to snack too much in between! You should also try and eat the recommended five portions of fruit or vegetables a day.

It is also essential that you take some form of regular exercise. Exercise keeps the body healthy and also helps relieve feelings of tension and anxiety. Everyone has a different level of fitness so choose something at the right level that you will enjoy, as you are likely to stick at it for longer.

There are a vast range of sports facilities available at Leeds Beckett along with many sports clubs and organised activities

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and you should try to look after it as much as possible. If you do find yourself struggling with your mental health, please get in touch with our Student Wellbeing Team who offer a range of services. 

Student wellbeing team

For information surrounding disability advice, please speak to our Disability Advice team.

Disability advice team

A healthy diet will help you to feel good both physically and mentally. Adjusting to being away from home can be difficult. Different routines and mealtimes can affect when and where you eat. Try to have regular meals and not to snack too much in between! You should also try and eat the recommended five portions of fruit or vegetables a day.

It is also essential that you take some form of regular exercise. Exercise keeps the body healthy and also helps relieve feelings of tension and anxiety. Everyone has a different level of fitness so choose something at the right level that you will enjoy, as you are likely to stick at it for longer.

There are a vast range of sports facilities available at Leeds Beckett along with many sports clubs and organised activities

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and you should try to look after it as much as possible. If you do find yourself struggling with your mental health, please get in touch with our Student Wellbeing Team who offer a range of services. 

For information surrounding disability advice, please speak to our Disability Advice team.

Contact student immigration advice and compliance

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