COVID-19 Vaccinations
The UK government has recently announced that anyone over the age of 18 in the UK will be eligible for free vaccination regardless of nationality or immigration status.
If you have already received your first vaccination you should try to receive your second before travelling to the UK if possible. If not then you will be offered the same manufactured vaccination, if approved by UK government for use, or the most similar alternative if not.
You can find a useful FAQ sheet from the UK government here.
REGISTERING FOR HEALTHCARE
Choose the option below that best describes you to find out your options for registering with a doctor or accessing healthcare while at UEA.
You can also find out information regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for those over the age of 18.
Healthcare: UK Students
Registering With a doctor and dentist
It is a university regulation that you register with a general practitioner (GP) in the Norwich area. Luckily, this is made easy by having a Medical Centre right on campus!
The doctors and nurses are very experienced in dealing with students and all contact is strictly confidential. All UK students who live within the practice boundary area can make use of the University Medical Centre.
How do I register?
Online! It takes 5 minutes to complete your registration - as soon as you have your full/confirmed campus address you can sign up.
You can still register in person if you need to - just be aware you may encounter some queuing! Follow the link below for instructions.
UEA Dental Practice
The University also has a dental practice located on the first floor of the Medical Centre. Although the building is shared, the Dental Practice is not connected to the Medical Centre, and separate registration is required. To join, take your university campus card and NHS medical number into the practice.
Medications and prescriptions
Helpfully adjoined to the Medical Centre and Dental Practice is a Boots Pharmacy. Here you can collect your prescriptions, or pick up any medical supplies you might need. Boots is open from 8.30 - 6pm from Monday to Friday, and 8.30 - 12pm on Saturday.
Healthcare: International Students
Where can I get medical help if I need it?
In the UK there are two main types of healthcare, the National Health Service (NHS) and private healthcare. The NHS is the state healthcare service which is mainly government funded through taxation.
To access the NHS system, you are required to register with a doctor called a General Practitioner (GP). Your GP is the doctor you will make an appointment to see for medical advice or treatment, and they will refer you to a specialist if required.
If you are here for a full year, you can register at the UEA Medical Centre on campus after you arrive. However, if you are here for less than 6 months, you are not able to do so. Don’t worry though – you can still go to the walk-in centre in town.
How do I register?
Online! It takes 5 minutes to complete your registration - as soon as you have your full/confirmed campus address you can sign up.
You can still register in person if you need to - just be aware you may encounter some queuing! Follow the link below for instructions.
Where can I get medications or care for an ongoing condition?
If you have an ongoing medical condition that will require regular care and/or medications from a doctor in the UK, bring with you a printed summary of your medical record from your current doctor and give it to the Medical Centre when you register with them.
What kind of coverage do I have?
If you paid the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) as a part of your visa application, you will be covered by, and have access to, NHS care. Most treatment and appointments will then be free of charge.
I’m here for less than six months – what kind coverage do I have?
If you are coming to study in the UK for less than 6 months or you have not been covered under the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), you cannot access the NHS free of charge. This includes anyone on a Visitor visa.
Some people can access free hospital care. You can check whether you can or not on UKCISA’s page under ‘People who don’t pay hospital fees’.
Accessing medical treatment (other than if you are entitled to free hospital care) is not allowed as a visitor and you will need to get private medical insurance for your time in the UK. You must take out private healthcare insurance that covers your stay in the UK before travelling to the UK.
Are there additional costs under the NHS?
You will be expected to pay for:
- Prescriptions (currently £9.35 per item)
- Dental treatment
- Eye exams, glasses and contact lenses
- Some immunisations
What kind of immunisations do I need?
Please make sure you are fully immunised to the UK Department of Health standards before coming to the UK. You are strongly recommended to have had 2x MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations and a single Meningitis ACW&Y vaccination.
Tuberculosis (TB) screening
If you are from overseas and you come from a country with a high prevalence of this disease, you may need to be screened.
TB screening is free.
Failure to comply with the TB screening is a breach of University regulations and may lead to suspension from the University and exclusion from campus.
Where to pick up medications and prescriptions
Helpfully adjoined to the Medical Centre and Dental Practice on campus is a Boots Pharmacy. Boots is the largest pharmacy health and beauty chain in the UK, and whilst the branch on campus is small, it should have all the essentials you’ll need. Here you can collect your prescriptions, or pick up medical supplies. Boots is open from 8.30 - 6pm from Monday to Friday, and 8.30 - 12pm on Saturday.