Anybody aged 18 or over in the UK is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. International students who live in the UK will be able to access both doses and the booster Covid-19 vaccination for free, in the same way as they are able to access other healthcare.
You should register with a GP (a doctor who is a general practitioner) online as soon as you arrive in the UK. You can search for the nearest GP surgery to your term time address on the NHS website and register as a new patient on the GP's website. If you will be living in Kingston, students are welcome to join our on-site GP practice and can register by contacting the Fairhill Medical Practice (the Health Centre) on the University's Penrhyn Road campus.
Students registered with a GP can book their vaccination appointment through the National Booking Service website or by telephoning 119. Those who are registered with a GP will also receive an invitation to be vaccinated from their GP practice.
While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, if desired, individuals can request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.
NHS England have produced and published a Covid-19 vaccination Frequently Asked Questions document for students in Higher Education. These FAQs will help answer some of the most common questions, including how to get a vaccinated, vaccine eligibility and mixing different vaccine brands.
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A Biometric Residence Permit or BRP is a document issued by the Home Office to students as evidence of immigration permission. This is also known as leave to enter or remain. If you are applying for a Student Visa from outside the UK for a course which lasts more than six months, you will be issued with a BRP.
You will collect your BRP on arrival in the UK. You will be given an entry clearance vignette (a sticker) in your passport which will start no more than 90 days before your course start date as specified on your CAS statement.
You will be able to collect your BRP card from the post office designated on your visa decision letter. It is essential that you bring the following documentation with you:
- Your passport and
- Your visa decision letter
If you are required to quarantine on arrival in the UK, you will not be penalised for not being able to collect your BRP whilst coronavirus measures are in place. The post office will hold your BRP until you are able to collect it.
Some international students will be required to register with the police on arrival in the UK. If you applied for your Student Visa overseas, this requirement will be printed on your entry clearance sticker in your passport. Please check the UK government website for the full list of nationalities who are required to register with the police in the UK.
It is important to open a UK bank account when you first arrive and you should do some research to find the best bank account for your individual needs. You can get advice from the following sources:
