International students need to prove they have health insurance to cover any healthcare they need while in the UK. This is how it's done: EU students, students from the EEA and Swiss students If you're from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland and you came to the UK before 31st December 2020, you'll need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to free or reduced healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS) while you're in the UK. If you don't have one, it's as simple as applying for one through your home country's national health insurance provider. You can still access healthcare using your EHIC if you're an EU national who was living in the UK before the end of 2020. However, you should have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to protect your right to free healthcare in the UK. If you're from the EU and started living in the UK after 31st December 2020, the following information applies to you. Students from outside Europe coming to the UK If you're a student from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you'll have to pay the health surcharge as part of your visa application. This gives you access to the NHS during your stay here. You can find more information on this here. Also check any health insurance you already have. This may cover you while you're abroad. However, neither the EHIC nor health surcharge cover expenses or losses incurred as a result of illness or injury. This means cancelled travel plans or lost course fees aren't covered.