Your health and wellbeing
Taking care of yourself is important
The last thing anyone hopes is to have a health problem while abroad, however it's important to be prepared before the event that you might need help.
As well as medical, dental and eye-sight care, don't forget about your emotional and mental wellbeing. Living abroad is a big change, and you may find that you experience homesickness or culture shock.
- Online course: Managing Your Wellbeing When Studying in the UK
Learn more about health and wellbeing below:
National Health Service surcharge
National Health Service surcharge
Most students will need to pay a health surcharge of £300 a year if they are studying on a course for longer than six months. If the surcharge is not paid when the immigration application is made, your application will be delayed until correct payment is made. This payment, an immigration health surcharge, is in addition to the visa application fee and is not optional, even if a student intends to purchase private medical insurance for when they are in the UK.
The Home Office collects the surcharge and it is paid directly to the NHS. The fee is an annual rate and the amount is calculated in relation to the duration of their course. More information on the surcharge, including a calculator to determine how much the student will need to pay, and what types of treatments remain free for all can be found on the Home Office website.
If you are coming to Scotland on a short-term student visa for six months or less and will be studying a full-time course, access to healthcare in Scotland will be free and you do not have to pay the healthcare surcharge. Please note this is not the case if you are going to be studying in England or Wales, where it is advisable to take out private medical insurance.
UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it.
GHIC and EHIC do not replace travel insurance.
All non-UK students and their families should obtain a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) before coming to the UK. This card will entitle you to NHS treatment.
If you intend to stay in the UK on a more permanent basis or if you cannot get a GHIC card from your own country, you will need to obtain comprehensive sickness insurance before you leave home.
Tuberculosis and COVID-19 testing/vaccines
Tuberculosis and COVID-19 testing/vaccines
Tuberculosis screening is compulsory for those from certain countries who are applying for a visa for longer than six months. Further information can be found on the Gov.uk website.
The UK's National Health Service has a policy of immunising against meningitis C and measles, mumps and rubella. We recommend that all students who have not been vaccinated make arrangements to have this done before leaving home or shortly after arrival in the UK.
For information on COVID-19 vaccine entry requirements see the Scottish Government website.
NHS Inform
NHS Inform
NHS inform is Scotland’s health information service providing self-help guides, a directory of health services for you to find a local doctor or dentist, a webchat facility and a helpline.
Tel: +44 (0)800 224488 or go to www.nhsinform.scot
If you become unwell in the out-of-hours period, when other sources of support such as your doctor or dentist are closed, you can call NHS 24 on 111 for medical advice.
Emergency treatment
Emergency treatment
In the event of a medical emergency, dial 999 for an ambulance. Alternatively, if you are injured or seriously ill, you can go to the accident and emergency department by yourself or get friends/family to take you.
If you are not sure if it is an emergency, call 111 for the NHS telephone service when you need medical help fast, but when it isn’t a 999 emergency.
Culture shock
Culture shock
Leaving home and travelling to a new country is an exhilarating experience. Studying in a new country and city can be exciting and memorable, however it can also be challenging. The extent of this change and its effects may surprise you, but do not worry - this reaction is temporary and quite normal.
“Culture shock” sums up the impact of moving from one familiar culture to a completely different one. As an international student, you are moving away from the people and places you know to a completely new environment; you will be meeting lots of new people and learning the ways of a completely different country. You may miss the familiar sights, sounds and smells of your home country and, if you are tired or confused, the smallest thing can be very upsetting.
What are the signs of culture shock?
You may not experience culture shock initially but, after a short time as you start to settle in the UK, the differences may start to frustrate you and you may feel confused and isolated. You may experience homesickness, sleep loss, appetite loss, lack of concentration or fatigue.
How to cope with culture shock
Culture shock is temporary, however, there are also several things you can do to minimise the effects of it:
- Make sure you have brought things such as ornaments/mementoes from home, having familiar things around you will help
- Eat a well-balanced diet
- Exercise to help alleviate stress and tension
- Use your free time to travel and explore your neighbourhood, the local area, Scotland and even further afield in the UK
- Relax - read, listen to music or go to bed early
- Make friends with other international students going through the same experience whether from your own culture or from others, as they will understand what you’re feeling
- Make friends with the local students so you can learn more about each other’s culture
- Keep in touch with friends and family at home – speak to your friends, write a letter or email home
- Keep a diary so you can see how things are changing; write down why you have come to the UK and what you hope to achieve while you are here, you can then refer to these goals and work towards accomplishing them
- Find activities which will give you a common interest with UK students, perhaps sports, music or volunteering
- Contact a member of university student support staff, who will be happy to chat to you and talk things through
Where’s the sun?
Where’s the sun?
In mid-winter (December/January) there is less than seven hours of light a day in most parts of Scotland. The sun comes up around 8am and sets before 4pm, and you might feel like switching off, especially if you come from countries with plenty of sun.
Make sure you get out into the sun for at least a little bit every day.
If you feel particularly tired or your mood is low, you may want to consider investing in a seasonal affective disorder light for your room.
Registering with a doctor
Registering with a doctor
Shortly after you arrive in Scotland, you must register with a doctor or general practitioner (GP) near your accommodation.
Please do not wait until you are ill. To register you will need to take your passport, biometric resident permit card and proof that you are a student at the University of the Highlands and Islands to a doctors’ surgery or clinic during consulting hours and ask to be added to the list of NHS patients.
Once you have done this, if you need to see a doctor, you will just need to make an appointment with them. If you have any preferences about who sees you (male, female or someone who speaks your language) then mention this when registering.
Keep a written record with you at all times of any medical condition affecting you and the generic names (not just the trade names) of any medication you are taking from your home country.
If your doctor issues you with a prescription for an item of medicine, you will not have to pay a charge at the dispensing chemist (pharmacy). Chemist shops are open during normal business hours, but they also operate a rota system to cover late opening, Sundays and public holidays.
To find a doctor in your area, use the Scottish NHS website.
Dental treatment
Dental treatment
When making your first appointment with a dentist, you should ask the dentist whether they accept National Health Service (NHS) patients - many do not.
The dentist may wish to conduct the same process for checking your entitlement to NHS care as a general practitioner (GP) would. The dental practice should contact your GP to ensure that they have undertaken an entitlement check. If accepted by the dentist as an NHS patient, you will need to give the dentist the NHS number on your medical card.
You may still have to make a contribution towards the cost of your dental treatment, even if you are entitled to NHS treatment.
You must be registered with a doctor before being entitled to be treated by a dentist under the National Health Service.
For a list of local NHS dentists, see www.nhsinform.scot/national-service-directory
Optometry
Optometry
If you want to have your eyesight tested, make an appointment for a test with any qualified optician. The optician will supply spectacles if required, but the cost will depend on the type of frame and lenses you choose.
When you are leaving Scotland
When you are leaving Scotland
Remember that when you complete your studies and leave Scotland, you must let the NHS know. It is important to do this as it allows your name to be removed from the NHS register and will stop letters and circulars being sent to your address.
Contact your GP surgery/dentist/optician and inform them that you are leaving the country.