Goldsmiths - University of London

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Healthcare in the UK

Healthcare

You will normally be eligible to receive free medical treatment under the National Health Service (NHS) if:

  • you are studying a course lasting six months or more

    or

  • you are an EEA or Swiss national

    or

  • you come from a country which has reciprocal health agreements with the UK

The list of countries with reciprocal health agreements (which are limited to the treatment of conditions which arise while you are in the UK) changes frequently and you should seek advice on whether this applies to you.

Treatment for conditions which were present before you came to the UK may not necessarily be available under the NHS. Your direct family (husband or wife, and children under 16, or under 19 if they are in full-time education) will also be covered by the NHS if you are eligible.

If you are not entitled to free hospital treatment, buy health insurance before leaving your home country. If you already have health insurance, it will probably be cheapest to ask your insurers to extend it for your stay in the UK.

Although treatment is free under the NHS, there is a standard charge for prescribed medicines, currently £6.65 per item. Treatment which is regarded as cosmetic is not available under the NHS. This would include, for example, contact lenses or dental braces.

Contraceptive advice and supplies are available free of charge under the NHS and at Family Planning Clinics. Prescribed medicines are only available from chemist/pharmacist shops, which are generally open from 09.00-17.30, with some late evening opening. Chemist/pharmacist shops also sell non-prescribed medicines for minor ailments and are happy to give advice.


Students staying in the UK for over six months should register for medical treatment on arrival, either with the College Medical Centre or a local General Practitioner. Students staying for shorter periods cannot register, but can obtain General Practitioner services through the College Medical Centre under the terms stated above.

See UKCOSA's website for more information on health and medical services in the UK (PDF format).

This information can also be found by downloading our Guide for Guide for new international students [PDF format].