NHS Surcharge for Students 2027: The £776 Health Fee

NHS Surcharge: What You Need to Know

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) jumped from £470 to £776 a year for students in February 2024, and you must pay it upfront for your whole visa. Here's what it covers and what it doesn't.

The 66% Increase Explained

In February 2024 the UK government raised the Immigration Health Surcharge from £470 to £776 a year for students (the standard rate went from £624 to £1,035). That's a 66% increase overnight — and the surcharge had already been raised from £300 a few years before. Many students who had budgeted on the old rate found themselves £300+ short. Your visa usually runs a few months past your course, and any extra period of six months or less costs half a year. So a 12-month master’s (about a 16-month visa) usually costs £1,164, and a two-year course about £1,940. Check your exact amount with the GOV.UK surcharge rules.

What the Surcharge Covers

• GP visits
• Hospital treatment
• A&E (except charges such as missed appointments)
• Prescriptions: £9.90 per item in England (frozen for 2026/27); free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Mental health services: waiting lists of six months or more are common

Many students never use the NHS at all during a one-year master's.

What It Does Not Cover

• Dental care (a private check-up costs £25–65)
• Eye tests (£25–30)
• Prescriptions in England (£9.90 each)
• Cosmetic treatments
• Private healthcare — and some specialist treatments involve long waits

You're paying £776 a year for a service that many young, healthy students barely use.

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