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Find out how to access healthcare in the UK through the National Health Service (NHS). It is very important that you register with a doctor, a General Practitioner (GP) within your first weeks at UCL.
The National Health Service (NHS)
The National Health Service (NHS) is the healthcare system in the UK and is primarily funded through general taxation rather than requiring insurance payments. Some NHS services are free, others you need to pay for.
The following treatment provided by the NHS is free for everyone:
- accident and emergency services (but not follow-up treatment, or admission as an in-patient to hospital)
- family planning services
- diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
Find more information about the National Health Service on the NHS website.
UCL also runs an online health and wellbeing tour which explains how to use the key healthcare services located in the Bloomsbury area nearby the main UCL campus.
Access the online health and wellbeing tour.
Registering with a GP (doctor)
If you are eligible to do so, we strongly recommend that you register with a GP within the first few weeks of arriving in the UK. This will enable your GP to process your registration and provide you with an NHS number in good time. You are required to have an NHS number in order to obtain hospital treatment (non-emergency) and if you need to be referred to a specialist clinician.
A UK phone number is an important part of both GP registration and accessing other healthcare services. GP appointments and vaccine updates are often communicated via phone therefore it is very important you get a UK phone number as soon as possible.
More information for international students on eligibility to register with a GP can be found below.
Ridgmount Practice
If you live near UCL, you may be able to register with Ridgmount Practice, a local practice located near the main Bloomsbury campus.
Find your NHS number
When filling out certain documents such as the GHIC application, you'll need to know your NHS number. You can use the NHS website to find out what your NHS number is. Please note that you will need to have registered with a GP before you receive an NHS number.
The NHS app
The NHS app allows you to book and manage appointments with your GP, order prescriptions and have them sent to your local pharmacy, search for health advice including the use of NHS 111 and see your UK medical records. You can also use the NHS app to prove your vaccination status and obtain your NHS COVID Pass. Please be aware that at this point in time, you can only get your NHS COVID Pass if you have been fully vaccinated in the UK.
Important
If you are on a programme of study lasting less than six months, you cannot register with a doctor as a permanent patient but you can still register as a temporary patient. As a temporary patient, you will still be able to see your GP for free but specialist treatment will cost money. Your GP can explain any potential costs to you in more detail.
Please note that if you have submitted an application for a new Student visa following a programme of six months or less in the UK, you will not be able to register with a GP as a permanent patient until you have been granted a visa and received your BRP.