The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK’s state health service, which provides treatment for UK residents through a wide range of health care services. Some services are free and some services you will have to pay for.


The following NHS treatment is free for everyone
•    Some emergency treatment (but not follow up treatment)
•    Family planning services
•    Treatment of certain communicable diseases
•    Compulsory psychiatric diseases.

To qualify for any other NHS treatment, you must meet certain conditions

IF YOUR COURSE OF STUDY IS FOR 6 MONTHS OR MORE you will qualify for NHS treatment from the beginning of your stay on the same basis as anyone who is ordinarily resident in the UK. Your spouse or children (aged up to 16 or up to the age of 19 if they are in full time education) with you in the UK will also be entitled to NHS treatment.

IF YOUR COURSE OF TREATMENT IS FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AND YOU ARE STUDYING ON A COURSE THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY (at least 33%) FUNDED BY THE UK GOVERNMENT then you are also entitled to full NHS hospital treatment. However you may not be entitled to free GP treatment.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT STUDYING LESS THAN SIX MONTHS FROM A COUNTRY WITH WHICH THE UK HOLDS BILATERAL HEALTHCARE AGREEMENTS you will be entitled only to free NHS hospital treatment that is needed promptly for a condition that arose after arrival in the UK. You may not be entitled to treatment of an existing condition and may need to take out limited health insurance.

Full list of bilateral healthcare agreement countries:

European Economic Area Countries (EEA)
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Nationals from the following countries:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, New Zealand, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine.

Residents irrespective of nationality of the following countries:
Anguilla, Australia, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Virgin Isles, Channel Is, Croatia, Falkland Isles, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Macedonia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Serbia, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands.


IF YOU ARE NOT IN ONE OF THE ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES ABOVE AND YOUR COURSE IS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS you and your family are only entitled to limited free NHS treatment. You will have free emergency hospital treatment, but only the treatment given in a NHS Accident and Emergency department is free of charge. Once you are admitted to a ward or an outpatient then charges will apply and can be expensive. It is recommended that you take out medical insurance for the duration of your visit to the UK.