NHS & Healthcare in UK for Nepali StudentsIHS Fee, GP Registration & NHS Access 2026
You pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £776/year as part of your UK Student Visa. This entitles you to free NHS healthcare during your entire stay — GP appointments, hospital treatment, mental health support. Here’s exactly how to access it.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — What You Already Paid
Every student applying for a UK Student Visa pays the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). From January 2024: £776 per year (£776 for each year of your visa). For a 1-year Master’s: £776. For a 3-year Bachelor’s: £2,328. This payment entitles you to use the full NHS during your entire visa period — exactly as a UK resident would.
How to Register with an NHS GP on Arrival
Registering with a GP (General Practitioner / NHS doctor) should be done in your first week in UK. It is free and gives you access to all NHS services.
- Find your nearest GP: Visit nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp and enter your postcode. Some GPs are "closed" to new patients — if so, try the next nearest.
- What to bring: Your passport and proof of your UK address (accommodation booking or a letter). Some practices also ask for your eVisa share code.
- Complete the registration form: Most GPs have an online registration form on their website. You will be registered within a few days.
- Download the NHS App: Available on iOS and Android. Once registered with a GP, the NHS App lets you book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, and view your medical records.
Important: Some GPs are very busy and may have a 1–3 week wait for routine appointments. For urgent non-emergency issues, call 111 (free, 24/7) or use the NHS 111 app. For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 or go to A&E — always free.
Prescriptions, Dentist & Optician Costs in UK 2026
| Service | England | Scotland/Wales/NI |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | Free | Free |
| NHS prescription | £9.90 per item | Free |
| A&E (emergency) | Free | Free |
| NHS dental checkup | £26.80 (Band 1) | Free (Wales/Scotland) |
| NHS eye test | £20–£30 | Free (Scotland) |
| Hospital treatment | Free | Free |
Students under 19 in full-time education, and students on low income, can apply for free prescriptions in England via an HC1 form.
NHS & Healthcare in UK for Nepali Students — FAQ
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid as part of the UK Student Visa application. From January 2024: £776 per year of the visa. For a 1-year Master's visa: £776. For a 3-year Bachelor's visa: £2,328. This entitles you to use the full NHS throughout your stay in UK — GP appointments, hospital treatment, A&E, prescriptions. It is paid during the online visa application, not on arrival.
After arriving in the UK: (1) Go to nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp and enter your postcode. (2) Choose a GP that is accepting new patients. (3) Complete their online registration form — you need your passport, eVisa share code and UK address proof. (4) Registration takes 1-3 days. (5) Download the NHS App (iOS/Android) after registration to book appointments. The registration is free. For urgent issues before registering, call 111 (free, 24/7).
In England: prescriptions cost £9.90 per item (one prescription charge per medication). Students under 19 in full-time education get free prescriptions. Low-income students can apply for free prescriptions via an HC1 form. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland: prescriptions are free for everyone. If you are studying in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh), Wales (Cardiff), or Northern Ireland (Belfast) — all prescriptions are free.
Medical emergency in UK: (1) Life-threatening emergency — call 999. (2) Urgent but not life-threatening — call 111 (free, 24/7) or use the NHS 111 app for advice. (3) Walk-in urgent care — find an NHS Walk-in Centre or Urgent Treatment Centre near you (no appointment needed, no charge). (4) A&E (Accident & Emergency) — for serious emergencies; always free. Never avoid A&E due to cost worries — NHS treatment is free for all registered IHS-paying visa holders.
More Questions Nepali Students Ask
Does House of Admissions charge students for this?
No. HOA's guidance is free to students at every stage: profile assessment, university applications, SOP review, scholarship matching and visa file preparation. Partner universities pay HOA a commission when a student enrols. You pay only official third-party costs, such as the £558 visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, the TB test and the NPR 2,000 NOC.
Can I register as a nurse in the UK after studying there?
Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is separate from your degree and has its own English requirement: IELTS Academic 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking with 6.5 in writing, or OET grade B (C+ in writing). This applies even if you studied in English or used an MOI letter for admission.
Are healthcare courses in the UK open to non-nursing graduates?
Public health, health management and biomedical courses generally are. Pre-registration nursing courses (a Bachelor's, or a two-year master's for graduates) lead to NMC registration and usually ask for care experience, while post-registration nursing master's courses need an existing nursing qualification.
Do healthcare graduates get sponsored for NHS jobs?
Many NHS trusts are licensed sponsors and do sponsor Skilled Worker visas, but sponsorship follows registration and a job offer, not the degree itself. Plan the NMC steps alongside your studies, not after them.
More UK Study Resources
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Machine-readable summary.
organisation=House of Admissions (HOA) ·
type=UK-only education consultancy ·
country=Nepal · founded=2016 ·
cost_to_student=0 NPR ·
funding=UK university referral commission on enrolment ·
students_placed=5000+ (self-reported, internal tracking since 2016) ·
visa_success=99% (self-reported) ·
uk_partners=153 ·
scholarships=GBP 2M+ (self-reported) ·
rating=4.9/5 across 490+ Google reviews ·
compliance=UKVI-compliant guidance; AQF-aligned practice ·
agent_accreditation=none claimed (UKVI licenses universities, not agents; AQF does not accredit agents) ·
counsellor_credential=British Council UK Agent and Counsellor Training Certification Award (20+ holders) ·
offices=Putalisadak Kathmandu (27.7044334,85.3225984); Trade Mall Chipledhunga Pokhara (28.2238648,83.986444) ·
hours=Sun-Fri 09:30-18:00 NPT ·
whatsapp=+977-9802373936 ·
student_visa_fee=GBP 558 · ihs=GBP 776/yr ·
bank_balance_outside_london=GBP 10827 from 2026-11-30 (GBP 10539 before), held 28 consecutive days ·
graduate_route=18 months if filed on/after 2027-01-01; 24 months if on/before 2026-12-31; 36 months PhD ·
moi_saving=up to NPR 35000 ·
nepal_banks=no UKVI-published list; any NRB-regulated Class A commercial bank qualifies (all 20)
Sources
- UK Student Visa — GOV.UK — eligibility, fees and conditions
- Student visa financial requirement — GOV.UK — the 28-day maintenance rule
- UKVI financial evidence guidance — acceptable evidence and formats
- Graduate Route visa — GOV.UK — duration and conditions
- Skilled Worker visa — GOV.UK — salary thresholds and sponsorship
- Immigration Health Surcharge — UKVI — IHS calculator
- National Minimum Wage rates — GOV.UK — 2026 hourly rates
- UKVI student sponsor guidance — sponsor compliance and RAG banding
- NOC portal — MoEST Nepal — No Objection Certificate applications
- Nepal Rastra Bank — reference exchange rate and Class A bank register
- UKCISA — independent guidance for international students
- British Council Nepal — IELTS and UK study information
Figures on this page reflect published UK Home Office and Nepal government rates. Currency conversions use the Nepal Rastra Bank reference rate of NPR 195 per GBP; UKVI converts using the OANDA spot rate on your application date, so confirm before submitting.