Student Services

Supporting You

International Students & Health

News : We are working closely with our UEL International Office team to guarantee that our international students are supported from the arrival.

We look forward to welcoming you!!!

Doctors (GP's), Dentists and other Health Services

GP’s - (General Practitioners) are doctors who work in buildings known as Health Centres/GP Surgeries/Medical Practises for example The Royal Docks Medical Practise and Vicarage Lane Health Centre. They cover a specific area in the community and are usually open during the day, early evenings and Saturday mornings. In order to see the doctor you need to make an appointment in advance. When they are closed an answering-machine message will tell you how to get help.

Hospitals -If you need specialized treatment your GP may refer you to see a Consultant (specialist doctor) at a hospital. An appointment to see this type of doctor will be sent to you and it can take up to 6 weeks before you receive this.

Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments -are open 24 hours a day (including Bank Holidays). They see people who need emergency treatment for serious illnesses or injuries. Not every hospital has an A&E Department so you should find out where your nearest one is.

Walk in Centres/ Minor Injury Units - You do not have to have an appointment to go to these but you may have to sit and wait for some time. They are able to give advice on or prescribe medication for minor illnesses or injuries such stomach upsets or sprains and you would normally be seen by a nurse not a doctor.

999 Emergency Service - Fire, police and ambulance services are available via this number which is free dial from all phones including mobile phones. If you need urgent, immediate medical treatment for a serious illness or accident you should ring this number and ask the operator for the ambulance service.

NHS Direct -Is a confidential 24 hour nurse led service that operates every day including bank holidays. If you or your family are feeling unwell they can be a helpful source of advice and information. They can be contacted either by phone on 0845 4647 or via their web site at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Dentists - There are many dentists located throughout the UK but not all of them are accepting new National Health Service patients so please check before registering as private care can be costly. Standard Charges for NHS treatment apply and the dentist will inform you of the cost prior to commencing any treatment.

Opticians - Located in most local High Streets and in some supermarkets. As with Dentists there is a charge.

Registering with a GP, Dentist or Optician

Student Health & Wellbeing team (SHWB) recommend that all students register with a GP as soon as possible after their arrival at UEL as waiting until you are unwell could mean that you are not able to see a doctor when you need to.

In the UK GP’s, dentists and opticians operate an appointment system and you need to book in advance to see them.

Students living on Campus can obtain forms from SHWB in order to register with the Royal Docks Medical Practise whilst those living near to Stratford Campus can register with Vicarage Lane Health Centre.

Students living off campus in other areas can use the NHS Choices web site to find their nearest GP (http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx). This web site can also be used to find other health care services e.g. hospitals, pharmacies etc which are local to your home address.

If you have any problems filling out these forms or finding health care please contact SHWB -

Do I have to pay for health care in the UK?

Some health care services are free to International students and some have to be paid for.

The following treatment is free for anyone:

Family planning services.
Treatment of some communicable diseases.
Compulsory mental health treatment.
Some emergency treatment but not follow up treatment.

In order to qualify for any other NHS treatment international students must meet certain criteria. If your course of study is of six months or more then you will qualify for NHS treatment from the beginning of your stay and will receive treatment on the same basis as anyone who is a UK resident. As long as these conditions are met your husband or wife and any children under 16 years (or under 19 and in full time education) are also entitled to NHS treatment providing they are living in the UK as your dependants. This does not apply to other family members or friends who visit you.

If your course is less than six months and funding is subsidised substantially by the UK government you will also be able to claim free NHS treatment. However you will need proof of this funding and still may not be entitled to free treatment from a GP.

Students from the European Economic Area (EEA/EU) and Switzerland need to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) prior to leaving their home country. This card entitles them to free NHS treatment even if their course is less than six months and is not substantially subsidised by the UK government.

For details regarding EHIC Cards please go to the following link: https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do

Some countries have a bilateral healthcare agreement with the UK but this changes rapidly as countries opt in or out of the agreement. For further information and an up to date list check out the following web site: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors

United Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/keeping_healthy.php

Students who do not meet any of the above criteria will be charged for any health care they receive apart from that listed above and are therefore strongly advised to obtain adequate health insurance before leaving their country of origin.

Anyone who meets the ordinary residence criteria still needs to pay statutory NHS charges e.g. prescription charges and will go onto waiting lists for non urgent treatment as appropriate.

In some cases students may get help with health costs e.g. due to low income. Information regarding this is detailed in leaflet HC11 which can be obtained from SHWB or the Student Services Help Desk.