Insurance and medical information for international students coming to the UK
Do I need health insurance as an international student?
If you’re enrolling on a course which lasts for less than six months, you must make sure that you have medical and health insurance before arriving in the UK to cover any expenses which may arise.
It is also worth considering private medical insurance in the unlikely event that you become seriously ill. This could cover the costs of you returning home, or if a member of your family travels to the UK to help in the event of an emergency.
In addition to health insurance, it is essential that you obtain travel insurance for your journey to Birmingham. This should cover any delays, medical emergencies, or the cost of replacing any lost belongings while travelling. You should also insure your personal property as soon as possible after arriving.
How does healthcare work in the UK?
Health care is provided under the NHS by doctors (General Practitioners or GPs), located in surgeries close to where you are living. It is important that you register with a doctor soon after you arrive in the UK.
Our Student Services team can put you in touch with a local GP surgery which offers comprehensive medical care at our City Centre and City South Campus medical rooms.
Although the NHS service is free, there are supplementary charges associated with eye tests, dental care and prescriptions. For courses lasting more than six months you will have paid a health care surcharge as part of your visa application which will enable you to use the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Will I need any vaccinations to study in the UK?
Meningitis
Meningitis outbreaks occur all over the world, and the Chief Medical Officer for Health in England has recommended that all new students be vaccinated against Group C Meningitis.
You should contact your own doctor about this or speak to our own Healthcare Services team when you arrive at Birmingham City University.
Medical screening
Pulmonary Tuberculosis Certificate
Students applying for a UK visa which is longer than six months will be required to obtain a certificate showing they are free from infectious pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) if they are from the following countries:
Afghanistan
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Benin
Bolivia
Botswana
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Congo
Congo Democratic Republic
Cote d'Ivoire
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
GuyanaHaiti
Hong Kong or Macau
India
Indonesia
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea
Korea Democratic Republic of
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lesotho
Liberia
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor Leste
Thailand
The Philippines
Togo
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe
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