Student Health
Registering with a doctor
The University strongly recommends that all students register with a doctor in St Andrews. This is arranged at matriculation offering an initial allocation to one of the three local practices according to the initial of a student's surname. This is only to ease the administration involved and all students are free to register with the practice of their choice.
NHS primary care facilities
Primary care facilities under the National Health Service (NHS) are available to all students. If you are a student from the UK, you should bring your NHS Medical Card with you to the University. If necessary, new ones can be obtained from the General Practitioner branch of your local Health Board (in England, the Family Practitioner Committee of the Area Health Authority).
NHS Health Centre
The NHS practices in St Andrews are based at the St Andrews Community Hospital. International students and dependants who pursue a full-time course of study are covered by the National Health Service in the UK for all routine and emergency treatment. In Scotland, this includes students who are studying for less than six months.
NHS cost and private healthcare insurance
NHS cover for students may incur minimal costs for prescriptions, eye tests and dental treatment. This cover does not include repatriation to your home country in the case of serious injury or death. For this extended cover, and if you intend to travel out of the UK during your studies, private health insurance is a necessity.
Dental
Dental treatment on the NHS is becoming increasingly more difficult to access. We recommend that, where possible, students maintain registration with a dentist close to their home address for routine treatment. In a dental emergency students should contact Student Services for advice.