Healthcare

You can get medical help from pharmacies, a general practitioner (GP), specialist doctors, phoning 111 and Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. The service you should choose may differ from how healthcare is in your home country.  

Pharmacies: If you’re not facing an emergency, it’s likely that your first point of contact should be your local pharmacy. You can go anytime they are open and it can be a quick way to get initial medical advice. Depending on the nature of your situation, the pharmacist may be able to offer treatment, or they will recommend where you should go for appropriate medical treatment.  

Doctors: The next point of contact for medical treatment in the UK is through a General Practitioner (GP) or health centre. Most illnesses and other problems can be treated by the GP, but if a specialist is needed then the GP will refer you to an appropriate hospital department. GP appointments are free, but there is likely to be a charge for any medication you need.

Emergencies: For urgent medical attention, you can call 999 or go straight to your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department. A&E departments are open 24 hours a day in some hospitals to provide emergency medical assistance to anyone within the UK.

• All Covid-19 related testing, treatment and vaccine is free.
  
  
• All primary healthcare access is free. This includes GP visits and walk-in clinic access. 
  
  
• All emergency treatment in a hospital Accident & Emergency (A&E) department, regardless of immigration status, is free. This includes emergency treatment for serious illness or injury, but does not include emergency services provided after being admitted as an inpatient, or follow-up outpatient appointments (unless covered by one of the below).
  
  
• Students on a short course of three to six months can register with a GP surgery to receive primary care services. If, however, you need a referral to a hospital specialist then you will be charged for this appointment and any subsequent treatment by the hospital.
  
  
• Students with a Student visa will have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their visa application. This entitles you to access the NHS with most services free to access, although some carry charges such as prescriptions and dentistry.
  
  
• EU/EEA/Swiss students are exempt from being charged for secondary treatment if one of the following applies:
• 1. you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your Student visa application or
  2. you have a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or
  3. you have status under the EU Settlement Scheme and are 'ordinarily resident in the UK'.  In practice, this means you have made the UK your home and are living here for reasons other than study.
• EU/EEA/Swiss students can request a refund on the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) but must not work while they are in the UK.
  
  
• British nationals who have been living overseas should consider private medical insurance unless you can demonstrate that you are 'ordinarily resident in the UK'.  That is that you are in the UK more permanently than for study purposes.
  
  
• If your healthcare needs are not covered in the above list, you may still be exempt from some changes if your country has a reciprocal arrangement in place for example you have a Norwegian passport.

We recommend all other students have adequate medical insurance to cover specialist appointments whilst in the UK. For more details please see NHS guidance and UKCISA.

If the doctor accepts you as a patient you will be sent a medical card through the post with your NHS number. However, being registered with a GP (doctor), and having an NHS number does not give you automatic entitlement to free hospital treatment. The hospital providing treatment is responsible for establishing whether international students are entitled to free hospital treatment.

Exeter-based students: You should register with the Student Health Centre online before you get here. Additional information on the services can be found on the Health Centre homepage.

Cornwall-based students: The Penryn Surgery is available in the Tremough House Annexe, Penryn Campus, Monday-Friday during term time. Once you know your address you can register with the Penryn Surgery online or during ‘Move-in’ weekend. If you have any questions the Compass Helpdesk (in the Library in the Exchange Building) will be able to help.

If you will be living in Falmouth, Truro or the surrounding areas, The Compass team will have details about other local doctor surgeries as well.

All students: You will be allocated an NHS number once you've registered with a GP practice as described above. To register with a doctor please ensure that you bring the following information for yourself and your family, if they are coming with you:

• Details of any past illnesses requiring medical treatment
• A full record of past immunizations

All students under 25 years of age starting at the University of Exeter are advised to have the Meningitis ACWY vaccination. If you haven't had this already in your home country, and if you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, you can receive the vaccine for free.

If you're over 25 years old, there may be a small cost for the vaccine. Check with your Health Centre or Practice directly.

Streatham campus

Register with the Student Health Centre before you arrive in Exeter. The Health Centre will be holding vaccination clinics in during Freshers' Week (time and days to be confirmed). No need to make an appointment, just drop in. Outside these vaccination clinics, make an appointment directly with the Student Health Centre.

St Luke's campus

Register and contact the Heavitree Practice directly to book an appointment.

Cornwall campus

Registered with the Penryn Surgery (email compass@fxplus.ac.uk to request a registration form), you can then book an appointment with the Penryn Surgery. 

If you are currently taking medicines please make sure you bring adequate medication to cover the first few weeks at University. Take your medicines or the empty containers to the Health Centre when you have your first doctor’s appointment. Be aware that not all medicines you have access to at home may be available within the UK.

If you have had a serious illness, if you are currently undergoing medical treatment or hospital investigation, or if you are currently taking medication, then a brief doctor’s letter in English, summarizing your medical history, will help the Health Centre to provide you with uninterrupted health care. Please do not send this in advance of your arrival but bring it with you when you register at the Health Centre.