Healthcare
You should be aware that your fee status and the length of your course can affect your access to healthcare services in the UK. Please check whether you will need to make additional arrangements to cover healthcare and costs before you arrive.
Remember that, whatever your status, it may take a little while to register with a doctor. If you need medication for a pre-existing health condition, it is a good idea to ensure that you have sufficient supplies to cover this period.
Meningitis vaccination advice for new students
The Department of Health has informed universities that there has been an increase in the number of students getting meningitis. Although no cases have been reported at QMUL, the Department of Health is advising all new university entrants to be vaccinated with the Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine before the beginning of the new academic year. The vaccine is available for first-time students up to the age of 25, including international students. Even if you have already had the MenC vaccine, you should have the MenACWY vaccine.
Information about how to get the vaccination can be found our Student Health Service website.
Home students
If you are studying on a course of six months or more and you will be living within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (E1, E2, E3 and E14 postcode areas), you can register with the Student Health Service (SHS) and you will be sent an email with information on how to do this.
Student Health Service is provided by Globe Town Surgery, an independent contractor to National Health Service (NHS) England operating as an unlimited liability partnership. Student Health service improves students’ physical and mental health and wellbeing by providing an on-campus (Mile End), weekday NHS medical service for students living in QMUL halls of residence, or off-campus within Tower Hamlets. Students can see a doctor or nurse there every weekday during term time.
Student Health Service work with local health organisations (e.g. Bart’s Health, Positive East and Step Forward) running communications campaigns and organising events aiming to keep students healthy. They run events for the welcome week (Health Hub), as well as student support events during revision and exams. For enquiries email: studenthealth@qmul.ac.uk
If you live outside the area you should register with a local doctor close to where you are living. You can find a list of doctors’ surgeries near you on the NHS Choices website.
International and EU/EEA students
You should visit the Advice and Counselling website for advice on whether you are able to use the National Health Service (NHS). If you aren’t able to use the service, you will need to arrange for health insurance for your period of study in the UK before you arrive.
EU/EEA nationals are eligible for free NHS treatment on the same basis as UK nationals if you are 'ordinarily resident' in the UK. Living in the UK as a student would usually mean that you meet this 'ordinary residence' requirement. However, having a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will make accessing NHS services easier but you will need to apply for this before you leave your home country. Visit the European Commission's website for more information on the EHIC.
For more information about your entitlement to medical treatment, and general advice about keeping healthy during your studies in the UK see the UKCISA Health and Healthcare website.
