Student health services

If you're a student, that means that you’re constantly on the hunt for a good bargain. And, boy have we got some good news for you when it comes to healthcare. Read on as The Mix answers common questions about student health services such as do university students get free dental care, or free eye tests?

University doctors

Larger universities tend to have their own student health services on campus. Depending on the size of the student health centre, there might be several doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and sometimes even dentists. If there’s no student health centre, then students’ll have to register with their nearest doctor (GP). In which case, see this article for help finding a doctor.

A list of local doctors is included in most welcome packs, and freshers are strongly advised to sign up with a doctor within their first few days on campus and/or in halls. Of course nobody ever plans to get sick, but it’s better safe than sorry. And if you aren’t registered with a doctor when the time comes, it’s a lot more difficult to book an appointment, which can be frustrating.

Student counselling services

As part of the student health services, most UK universities should have counselling available. This includes trained counsellors and psychologists who provide a strictly confidential service for students in distress. They’re usually available for anyone who’s struggling with issues such as homesickness, anxiety, exam stress, bereavement, depression, etc, but if you just need to offload, they’re there for that as well. Your counselling services may be part of the health centre, student advice centre, or have its own separate building. Just ask someone or check a map of your campus to find out.

And if you’re struggling with any of the things we’ve just mentioned, then check out The Mix’s article on feeling homesick at uni here and our article on depression at university here.

Do university students get free dental care?

Probably the most frequently asked question when it comes to health care is, “do university students get free dental care?” Well… it depends.

In some circumstances students can get free dental care. For instance, you may be entitled to reduced cost or free NHS dental treatment if your income is deemed low enough. Plus, if your university has a dental school, you may be offered free dental treatment of all kinds. In case you’re worried, the trainee dentists are supervised by senior staff at all times. So you won’t risk losing all your teeth if you choose that option.

See our article on NHS dental treatment for more information.

Are university students entitled to free eye tests?

Yes, some students are entitled to free eye tests, as well as discounts on frames and lenses. If you wanna find out more then just ask your optician for details. We get that buying new glasses or contact lenses can be a major expense, but it’s an essential one if you can’t see projections or writing on the board during your lectures. So make sure you do your research and get them ASAP.

Pharmacies

Pharmacists are a good source of advice all 12 months of the year. They can help with anything small that might be bothering you and even put you on a short course of treatment. That way you save a long wait at a bunch of GP practices for a face-to-face appointment. Plus, tonnes of them now offer the covid 19 vaccination. But the minute you think it’s something serious, make an emergency appointment to see the doctor instead. 

How much should healthcare cost?

Generally speaking, if you’re aged 18 or under you can get free prescriptions and dental care.

In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland students 19 or over won’t automatically be able to claim for prescriptions and dental care, but they can claim under the NHS Low Income Scheme as a form of income support. Once you apply to the scheme, you’ll either get a HC3 certificate (limited help with health costs) or a HC32 certificate (full help with health costs). A leaflet called HC11 students’ guide explains it all.

Prescriptions are free in Wales, and dental treatment is free for under 25s, but for other costs you can get help by completing a form HC1W.

For more information on NHS services read this article.