Register with a GP/doctor
All eligible students must register with a GP/Doctor when living in Edinburgh. This page will explain who is eligible, how to register and how to access medical assistance.
GP Registration
If you are studying in Edinburgh for longer than three months, you can register with your nearest doctor, known as a General Practitioner (GP). If you are on a short-term visit or travelling from overseas see 'International students' guidance below.
Visit the NHS Lothian website for more information on how to register with a GP
Emergency medical assistance
If you are unable to get to a GP or need immediate or out of hours medical advice, you can:
-
call NHS24 by phoning 111
- visit NHS24 online
Hospital treatment
For emergency services, including police, fire brigade and ambulance, call 999.
Emergency services are available to everyone in the UK, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Emergency Departments (Accident & Emergency)
Not sure who to contact
Step 1 - Before you arrive - How to find a GP Practice
Healthcare in Scotland
If you are already registered with a GP in another part of the UK, we recommend that you register with an Edinburgh practice, if that will be your main home whilst at University.
Find your local GP practices
Some GP practices fill up quickly with new students, so we recommend looking up at least three different options that are closest to your semester-time address in Edinburgh.
Use our handy Google Map to find a GP, hospital, and pharmacy closest to your Edinburgh accommodation:
Use Google Map to find your nearest GP
Use NHS Inform website to find your nearest GP
University Health Centre
The University Health Service is an NHS GP practice located on Bristo Square, Central Campus. This practice will register students who live within the area covered by the practice whether in private or university accommodation, if capacity allows after students have arrived in Edinburgh.
All registrations are undertaken digitally via the practice website. Please do not go to the practice to register in person.
Step 2 - When you start/arrive on campus - you can register with a GP Practice
Contact a GP practice
You will be required to complete one or two forms for registration.
Details of how to register, the registration forms you are required to complete (including further documentation that will be required for proof of address/identity and student status) and the best way to return the forms will usually be outlined on the GP practice website and/or within the registration forms. Call the contact number on the GP practice website if you have any questions.
After registering with a GP practice
After you have registered, check that you understand how your GP Practice works – where you need to go to see a doctor, how you make an appointment, how you order a prescription, etc.
Some GP Practices are just open on weekdays, while some are also open on Saturdays and evenings. We recommend you look up the opening times of each GP practice on their individual websites.
Watch our short video
The following short video guide will talk you through the steps above and will outline who is eligible, how to register and how to access medical assistance.
- Video: How to register with a GP 2024
- This video will explain how to register with a GP, who is eligible to register and how to access medical assistance.
The National Health Service (NHS) is a free health care service for all residents of the UK. We recommend that you register with a local GP practice, who will provide medical care if required. You may also find some medications available in pharmacies and shops.
If you are studying in Edinburgh full-time as a visiting student on the Standard Visitor route, you have access to free or affordable medical services provided by the NHS from the day you arrive until one month after your course end date.
Find out more about how the UK medical system works
NHS factsheet - Healthcare for People Coming to Scotland to Study
Existing medical conditions
It is very important to bring a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of your medical record with you and any proposed management plan (all written in English).
If you suffer from an ongoing chronic illness, requiring regular medication, you must bring at least a 3-month supply with you and consult with your registered doctor soon after you arrive. It is helpful to carry your medication in its original packaging so that it can be easily identified.
Not all medications used overseas are available in the UK, via the NHS, so it's important to have your own supply if time is needed to identify alternatives.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, we strongly advise that you contact the Student Disability and Learning Support Service which will be able to provide advice and support about treatment and medication.
Student Disability and Learning Support Service
ADHD Medication
If you are taking a form of Amphetamine, we suggest you try to bring a lengthy supply of the medication with you, accompanied by a medical note.
In the UK, these medications are classified as controlled substances and require a hospital consultant's prescription. To see a consultant, a referral from your GP is necessary, which may sometimes take more than 10 months.
If you have ADHD, we strongly advise that you contact the Student Disability and Learning Support Service which will be able to provide advice on the support available.
Student Disability and Learning Support Service
Short-term visits
If you are on a Student Route visa, you will have paid an ‘immigration health surcharge’ as part of the visa application process. This payment grants you access to NHS services (in the UK) from the day that you arrive up till the end-date of your visa.
More information on the Immigration Health Surcharge
You can still receive emergency treatment and 14 days of further medical support with your nearest GP if you:
- are studying for less than three months
- or were unable to register with a doctor straight away
In this situation, you should contact your local GP, explain that you are only staying in Edinburgh for a short time, and ask if they are able to see you. Please call as early in the day as possible.
Visit the NHS Inform website to find out how to register with a GP:
Non-EEA students studying for less than 3 months
You are not eligible for free NHS treatment and must take out private health insurance.
It must not be your intention to access healthcare when you travel.
The National Union of Students (NUS) recommends Endsleigh, which has specific insurance for international students in the UK. You can use comparison websites to research the options available to you and select the insurance policy which is most suited to your situation:
I can't find a GP practice who are accepting patients
If all the GP practices in your local area are full, contact Practitioner Services using the contact details below. They can offer more guidance and, where necessary, allocate a practice to you.
loth.primarycareenquiries@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Contact the Patient Advice and Support Service for more help
Personal information
There is no link between NHS services and the University, so the information you give the University is not shared with your GP and vice versa. You need to give consent for any GP information to be shared with the University. If you change your address, phone number, or email, you must let your GP practice know as well as the University.
There is no secure link between University or personal email addresses and the NHS so please avoid sending sensitive or personal information by email. If you do, your GP practice cannot respond to you in any detail.
Vaccinations and immunisations
Register with a dentist and optician
