What is the Immigration Health Surcharge and how much is it for students?
The Immigration Health Surcharge is a fee paid with your visa application that gives you access to the National Health Service. Students pay the discounted rate of £776 per year of the visa, charged in six-month blocks.
Reviewed 17 September 2026 · 1 min read
Short answer: The IHS is £776 for each year of your Student visa, paid upfront with the application. It gives you access to the NHS on the same basis as a resident.
How the total is worked out
The surcharge is charged per year of the visa, rounded up to the nearest six months. Your visa runs beyond your course: four months for courses of 12 months or more, so a three-year degree becomes a 40-month visa and is charged for 3.5 years, about £2,716.
What it covers
GP appointments, hospital treatment, A&E, maternity and mental health services. It does not cover prescription charges in England (£9.90 per item), dental or optical treatment.
Refunds
You get a refund if the visa is refused or withdrawn, and a partial refund if you leave early in some cases. Dependants pay the same student rate.
The cost calculator includes the surcharge for your course length automatically.
Sources
- https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay
- https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
General information, not regulated immigration advice. Rules change; check the source before you act, and speak to an IAA-registered adviser about your case.