Accessing Health Services

National Health Service (NHS)

The National Health Service is the UK’s state health service, which provides treatment for UK residents through a wide range of healthcare services. Some of these services are free and others must be paid for.

All students (and their dependants) who are studying in the UK for six months or more are entitled to register with the NHS. As a patient, the NHS is accessed through your General Practitioner (GP / Family Doctor). If you are already registered with a GP in the UK and move to Oxford to study, you are advised to register with a local practice.

If you are entitled to NHS treatment then the following services are provided without further charge:

• consulting a GP and most other GP services (e.g. visiting a clinic)
• treatment in a hospital (both emergency and non-emergency)

Services that you may need to pay for are:

• medicines prescribed by your GP
• maternity/midwifery services
• Some GP services such as vaccinations for travel and obtaining a sickness certificate (the GP surgery should have a list of charges for such services)
• dental treatment
• optical treatment

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Students on visas may need to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of their visa application. The charge must be paid even if you have your own private medical insurance and do not intend to use the NHS.

The charge for a student is currently £776 for each year. You’ll find the most up to date information on charges available at www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

Healthcare for EEA and Swiss students

Students who have been granted pre-settled status or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are eligible for free treatment under the NHS. If you are visiting from the EU, EEA or Switzerland for a short period (six months of less) you should bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are eligible to continue using it in the UK, see the UK Government website for changes as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Students who require a visa and are studying full-time for more than six months will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of their visa application. If your healthcare is paid for by an EU member state, you may be eligible for a full or partial reimbursement of your immigration health surcharge. Further information about the reimbursement process is available here www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-health-surcharge-for-eu-students-in-the-uk 

For the most up to date information please refer to www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-for-eu-and-efta-nationals-living-in-the-uk