All international students who come to the UK to study on a course which is 6 months or longer are eligible for full health care under the National Health Service (NHS) on the same basis as anyone who is ordinarily resident in the UK. This includes hospital treatment as an in-patient, treatment of any pre-existing conditions you may have as well as registering with a General Practitioner (Doctor).

In Wales prescriptions for medicines issued by a doctor are now free. Eye tests and dental treatment have to be paid for, as these do not come under the National Health Service.

If you are a non-EU student on a language course of less than 6 months duration you should arrange health insurance before you leave your home country. You will only be able to access the NHS services in the case of an accident or emergency illness.

We advise all students to register with a doctor as soon as they can when they get to Cardiff. A change in climate and diet etc can make students more vulnerable to infections etc. Students should register with a doctor while they are well rather than wait until they are ill.