UK · CHAPTER 14
NHS, bankand phone in the UK.
Your immigration health surcharge gives NHS access on similar terms to residents. Register with a GP near you. Prescriptions in England carry a fixed charge; dental and optical care usually cost extra. Open a UK bank account in your first weeks.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
Healthcare
- Register with a GP surgery near your address
- Call 111 for urgent non-emergency advice, 999 for emergencies
- Prescriptions in England have a set charge per item
- Dental and eye care are partly charged
Banking and phone
- App-based banks open accounts in minutes
- High-street banks may need a university bank letter
- SIM-only plans start around £8–15 a month
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
Using the NHS
- Register with a GP as soon as you have an address
- Call NHS 111 or use 111 online for urgent but non-emergency problems
- Go to A&E or call 999 only for emergencies
- Pharmacists can advise on minor illnesses without a GP appointment
- Prescriptions are free in Scotland and Wales and carry a fixed charge in England
- Dental treatment is charged at NHS rates; register early because places are limited
Banking options
| Type | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| App-based | Monzo, Starling, Revolut | Open in days, good for first weeks |
| High-street student accounts | HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander | Need a university letter; some offer overdrafts |
| Indian banks in the UK | SBI UK, ICICI Bank UK, Bank of Baroda UK | Familiar for transfers from India |
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Once you pay the immigration health surcharge, NHS GP and hospital treatment is free at the point of use. Prescriptions in England, dental and eye care usually cost extra.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
UK GUIDE
First weeks in the UK
After arriving in the UK: enrol, check your eVisa, register with a GP, open a bank account, get a SIM and a railcard.
UK GUIDE
Safety, wellbeing & emergencies
Emergency numbers, NHS 111, mental-health support, the High Commission of India, scams aimed at students and how to report hate crime in the UK.
UK GUIDE
Part-time work
UK Student visa work rules: 20 hours a week in term, full time in vacations, minimum wage, National Insurance and common student jobs.
FROM INDIA
Sending money abroad
Pay foreign university fees from India: LRS limit of USD 250,000, TCS from April 2026 (nil on loans, 2% above ₹10 lakh), Form A2, forex cards and TCS refunds.
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Compare countries
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FRANCE
Study in France
The full France guide: degrees, fees, Campus France, visa, housing and work, chapter by chapter.
COMING SOON
Support for the UK
opens soon.
Althéa’s personal support for the UK is coming soon. Today we help students coming to study in France, and everyone already living in France.
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