Healthcare information for International Students

International and EU students can find information about UK healthcare here. You should register with a local doctor/General Practitioner (GP) as soon as possible after you arrive in the UK.  This is in case you need medical assistance whilst you are studying at Aston University.  

The nearest NHS GP surgery to campus is the Halcyon Medical Centre. It is located at 24 Martineau Place, Birmingham City Centre, about half a mile from campus, and it is open seven days a week. In the nearby Boots on the High Street, you can find additional services such as a Sexual Health Clinic, Opticians, Dental Treatment Suite and an NHS Urgent Treatment Centre.  

If you don't live on campus, you can find your closest GP surgery here. 

If you are an international student already registered with a GP in the UK, your medical records can be obtained quickly from your previous GP. If you have a UK medical card which has your NHS number printed on it, please take it to your new GP in Birmingham in order to speed up the registration process.

Medical Emergencies

On campus: If you need an ambulance or other emergency service, please call Security on 2922 - do not call the ambulance service direct as Security need to allow access to these services and need to know the exact location of the emergency. This will help to improve response times of the emergency services and enables Security staff, who are all trained in emergency first aid, to provide immediate assistance.

Off campus: If you need immediate medical assistance (for example, because of an accident) you should telephone 999, which is a free phone number. Your call will be put through to an operator who will ask which emergency service you require (Fire, Police, Ambulance).

Do I need to pay for healthcare in the UK?

EU Students - you will be entitled to free treatment on the NHS, but you must obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you arrive in the UK.

Students with a visa for longer than six months - you will pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your visa application.  If you pay this fee, you will be entitled to free NHS healthcare once you arrive in the UK.

Students with a visa for less than six months - you should obtain a private healthcare insurance policy to cover any medical costs while you are in the UK.  If you don't have insurance, you'll need to pay for healthcare as a private patient, which can be expensive.

Further information

Last updated: 17/08/2024 KB