Register with a GP (Doctor)
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Register with a GP (Doctor)
GPs are your first contact if you have any type of health problem so we encourage all students to register once they have moved to Sunderland. You should only register with a doctor (GP) in Sunderland once you are living in Sunderland.
If you have yet to move, live at home or live elsewhere we recommend registering with your closest GP.
How to Register
You will need to select the GP surgery you want and check it covers the area where you will be living. You can find your nearest GP by using the NHS GP Finder.
You will need to contact the GP surgery and ask to register. They will usually ask you to complete a form called a GMS1 and may also need proof of your identity, such as a passport or driving license as well as proof of your student status in the form of an attendance letter that you will be able to obtain yourself from e:Vision.
International Students
You will be required to pay an immigration health surcharge (IHS) as part of your Student Route Visa application if your course duration is longer than six months. You can use the UKVI’s online IHS calculator to calculate how much surcharge you must pay. You will require your course start and end dates on your offer letter or CAS statement.
If your study duration is up to 6 months, you will not be required to pay the surcharge.
You can start using the National Health Service (NHS) when you have paid the health surcharge and your visa has been granted.
This surcharge does not cover all healthcare costs in the UK. You will still need to pay for certain types of services such as prescriptions, dental treatment and optician services.