Study at Cardiff | International

Am I entitled to free medical treatment in the UK?

If your course is 6 months’ duration or more you will qualify for National Health Service (NHS) treatment. You must register with a doctor.

This is the UK’s state health service which provides treatment on a wide range of health care services. If you are entitled to NHS treatment the following services will be free of charge:

• Medicine you require on prescription - this is free in Wales (but not throughout the UK)
• Consulting a doctor/General Practitioner/GP and most other GP services (e.g. visiting a doctors’ surgery/clinic)
• Treatment in a hospital (both emergency and non-emergency treatment)

You are likely to pay for:

• Some GP services (e.g. vaccinations for travel and getting a sickness certificate)
• Dental treatment, see: where can I find a dentist?
• Optical treatment (you can get free and reduced price optician services through the University’s School of Optometry)
• Any illness or conditions which existed before you arrived in the UK

See also:

• Are my family entitled to healthcare in the UK?
• How do I register with a doctor?

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