Students registered for courses in the UK of 6 months or more are entitled to primary medical care provided by the National Health Service (NHS) and emergency or immediately required treatment. It is therefore unlikely that you would wish to have medical insurance but you should be aware that there are charges under the NHS for medicines, spectacles and eye care, and dental treatment.

If you are on a course of less than 6 months duration, you are entitled to primary medical care (NHS) only if you are from a European Economic Area Member State (EEA) or from a country with a reciprocal health agreement. All students and accompanying family members should complete the form E128 that is obtainable from your own national authorities. If you have not completed the form E128, you will only be eligible for treatment for illness that becomes apparent whilst in the UK.

All international students on courses of less than 6 months with no reciprocal agreement will need to obtain health insurance. Any overseas visitor is entitled to 'emergency' or 'immediately' required treatment. Your family's entitlements are the same as yours unless they have been accorded Visitor status. In this case they will be entitled to NHS care only if they are nationals of countries with reciprocal arrangements with the UK. Please ask your school International office if your country has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

You are advised to register with a family doctor (GP) in the area in which you live. Details of how to do this, and about other services, are available in the Health Service waiting areas. When searching for a doctor you will need to ask whether the surgeries are taking on any new patients, you may find that some surgeries will not take any new patients as they are over subscribed.

If you are taking brand name medication and may require further supplies while in the UK, find out the generic name before you leave home. A doctor's letter would also be useful. The charge for each individual prescription drug in the UK is currently £6.40 many medications are cheaper to buy over-the-counter (OTC) but antibiotics and strong pain killers are not available without a prescription. Dental treatment is only partially covered by the NHS but unless you require dental surgery annual costs should not exceed £250. Opticians charge for eye tests (from £15) and spectacles (from £60).

General Insurance
It is strongly advisable for students to ensure adequate insurance to cover accident, theft and travel before coming to the UK. Many companies specialize in low cost insurance for students. You should also consider insurance for the loss or theft of personal property or in case you have an illness that disrupts your course of study.

Women's Health
Contraception and sexual health advice are available free to women staying over six months or who come from the EU or a country with a reciprocal health agreement with Britain. You can either go to your own doctor or to your local NHS Family Planning Clinic. All contraceptives including condoms are free through the Family Planning Clinic.

Health Emergencies
For NHS treatments always visit a doctor first, unless it is an emergency. In case of an emergency either dial 999 or go straight to Casualty or Accident and Emergency department of the nearest hospital. It is worth noting that not all hospitals have casualty departments, so try to check before you go there. Even if you are here for less than six months you will not be charged for immediate treatment at hospital casualty departments or for the treatment of certain communicable diseases which confine you to hospital. However if you have to be admitted to hospital after an accident or in an emergency, you will be charged.

Dentists
There is no need to register with a dentist. The best way to find a dentist is to ask your friends or neighbours. If you can't find one that way, go along to the Family Health Services Authority (see Yellow Pages for details), your public library, the Community Health Council or the Citizens Advice Bureau and ask to see the list of local dentists. When you ring for an appointment ask if treatment under the NHS is possible, quoting your NHS number. The cost of dental work varies and can be quite expensive.

Opticians
If you feel your eyes need testing, or your doctor suggests it, you may go to an optician for an eye test. The cost of a test will vary depending on the optician. Lenses and frames for spectacles are charged separately and can cost as little as £50 or over £250 depending on your choice. There are some opticians that offer a free eye test.