International student support

The NHS Student Health Hub offers useful information about NHS health services for current and new students living in Glasgow.  This dedicated resource helps you access the right NHS support at the right time.  

Please also see the NHS Student Checklist here .

You can find information on who is eligible to access healthcare from the NHS and what sort of health services you can access on the Scottish NHS Inform webpages and the Guide to NHS Health Care in Scotland .

You may also wish to download the NHS 24 Online app for Scotland to identify appropriate self-care, find your nearest health services and to get virtual assistance.

Please see the NHS Inform webpages for details about vaccines for students.

See NHS treatment for overseas students in the UK for the NHS services and treatment you can access while living in the UK on a valid Student visa.

Student visa holders:

Student visa is longer than 6 months: You will have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) when applying for your Student visa (unless you were exempt).  The IHS payment goes toward the costs of accessing NHS healthcare over the duration of a valid Student visa.

Student visa is for less than 6 months: You will not have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of applying for your visa.  It is recommended that you apply for health insurance that will cover the costs of any NHS or private healthcare you access while you are living in the UK on your visa.  See the UKCISA webpages for information on private health insurance. 

Standard Visitor visa or leave holders (e.g. for study up to 6 months or less): You will not have paid the IHS when you made your visa application.  It is recommended that you apply for health insurance that will cover the costs of any NHS or private healthcare you access while you are living in the UK.  See the UKCISA webpages for further information private health insurance.

In Scotland, doctors are also referred to as "General Practitioners" or as a "GP". They work in medical surgeries, medical practices or health centres and a GP will be the first point of contact for your health needs.  International Students should initially contact the GP in relation to health conditions, including those they already have a diagnosis for (or where they are seeking a diagnosis), including mental health issues, in the first instance.   

If your GP advises you that you need to see another health professional (for example a specialist in a hospital or someone in a specialist service) they will organise the referral for you.

How to register with a GP:

• You should register with a General Practitioner (GP) as soon as possible after you arrive in Scotland and have completed Registration and Enrolment as a University of Glasgow student.  Please do not wait until you are unwell as this may delay treatment. 

• You will need to provide proof of your student status (certifying letter), your passport/national identity card and your visa (or EUSS pre-settled or settled status) in order to register.

• To find your local GP, select 'GP practices' from the dropdown menu in the Services Directory section of the Scottish NHS Inform webpage and enter the postcode of your term-time UK address. 

Prescriptions:

If your doctor issues you with a prescription for an item of medicine, you will need to collect the item from a chemist. There is no charge for prescriptions in Scotland.

When making your first appointment with a dentist, you should first of all check that he/she will accept you as a patient under the National Health Service. Otherwise, you may be treated as a private patient, which will cost more than the usual NHS charge.

You must be registered with a doctor before being entitled to be treated by a dentist under the NHS.  Take the contact details (address and telephone number) of your GP surgery when you go to register with the dentist.  NHS dentistry is not free of charge, however is cheaper than accessing a private dentistry.  See the NHS Inform webpages for details of prices for NHS dental treatment.

See the NHS Inform webpages to find your local NHS dentist and their information on receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland.

Please see the NHS Inform webpages for information on the different services you can access for eye and sight health care and here to find your nearest opticians in Glasgow.