Part of the Loomz International Student Guide

This article is part of our practical guide to studying and living in the UK for international students.

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Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for International Students

You've chosen your university.

You've worked out your tuition fees.

You've calculated how much money you need for your Student visa.

And then another sizeable number appears during the application:

the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Usually shortened to IHS, it's one of the major costs international students need to budget for when coming to study in the UK.

The basic idea is straightforward: many people coming to live temporarily in the UK pay the IHS as part of their immigration application, which then gives them access to NHS healthcare during the period covered by their visa.

The calculation, however, can be slightly less obvious.

Here's what international students need to know.

What Is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a charge paid by many people applying for UK visas.

For international students, it's normally paid as part of the visa application process, rather than after you arrive in the UK.

Paying the IHS allows you to access the UK's National Health Service (NHS) during the period covered by your immigration permission, subject to the normal NHS rules and charges that apply to particular services.

So although it's called a "surcharge", think of it as one of the main costs you need to include when calculating the overall cost of studying in the UK.

Check the latest Immigration Health Surcharge information on GOV.UK

How Much Is the IHS for International Students?

As of 17 September 2026, the IHS rate for students is:

£776 per year

The same £776 annual rate also applies to student dependants.

But there's an important catch:

You pay according to the length of your visa, not simply the length of your university course.

And those aren't necessarily the same thing.

Check the latest IHS rates on GOV.UK

Because immigration charges can change, we'd recommend checking that page even if you're reading this guide shortly after publication.

Your Visa May Be Longer Than Your Course

This is where students can underestimate the cost.

Imagine you're coming to the UK for a one-year master's degree.

It might seem logical to budget:

£776

because your course lasts one year.

But the IHS calculation is based on the length of immigration permission you're granted, and GOV.UK specifically warns that your visa may last longer than your course of study.

So don't calculate the IHS from your tuition dates alone.

How Are Partial Years Calculated?

You don't simply divide £776 by 365 and multiply it by the exact number of days.

The IHS uses particular rules for partial years.

For students at the current £776 annual rate:

Six months or less

If you're applying from outside the UK for six months or less, you don't pay the IHS.

If you're applying from inside the UK, the half-year student charge is currently:

£388

More than six months but less than one year

You pay the cost of a full year:

£776

More than one year

Partial years are effectively handled in six-month blocks.

For example, GOV.UK says that for a visa lasting more than one year but no more than 18 months, you pay the full-year charge plus half the annual charge.

At today's student rate:

£776 + £388 = £1,164

If the visa lasts more than 18 months but less than two years, the charge is equivalent to two full years:

£1,552.

This is why guessing the IHS from your course length isn't a good idea.

Some Simple IHS Examples

Using the current £776 student rate:

These are illustrations based on the current £776 student rate, not quotes for your individual visa application.

Your actual charge depends on the immigration permission you're applying for.

Always use the amount calculated during the official application process.

When Do You Pay the IHS?

You pay the IHS during your online immigration application.

You'll be asked for information including your course dates when applying as a student.

After payment, you're given an IHS reference number.

Keep the confirmation.

You'll then continue with your immigration application and pay the separate visa application fee.

Is the IHS Included in the Student Visa Application Fee?

No.

These are separate costs.

As of 17 September 2026, the Student visa application fee is £558, while the IHS for students is £776 per year of visa permission, calculated according to the applicable IHS rules.

So when budgeting for your visa, don't think:

Visa fee = total immigration cost.

You may need to budget for:

Student visa application fee

+ Immigration Health Surcharge

+ any other applicable costs

before you've even booked your flight.

Do You Still Pay the IHS If You Have Private Health Insurance?

Usually, yes.

This surprises quite a few international students.

Having comprehensive private medical insurance doesn't normally allow you to opt out of the IHS.

GOV.UK explicitly states that if you're required to pay the surcharge, you still need to pay it even if you have private medical insurance.

Private insurance and the IHS are separate things.

What Does Paying the IHS Give You?

Once your visa starts, having paid the IHS where required allows you to use the NHS without additional healthcare charges for services covered under the scheme.

But:

It does not mean absolutely every healthcare service is free.

You can still have to pay for certain services, including:

• Prescriptions
• Dental treatment
• Eye tests
• Assisted conception

depending on the applicable NHS rules.

Healthcare arrangements also differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

So don't think of the IHS as unlimited private medical insurance.

It's access to NHS healthcare under the applicable rules.

When Can You Start Using the NHS?

You can generally start using NHS services covered by the IHS from the date your visa starts

provided you've paid the surcharge where required.

That's important.

Paying the IHS months before travelling doesn't mean you've bought NHS coverage starting immediately.

Your immigration permission needs to have started.

If you have digital immigration status, you may also be asked to prove your status online using a share code when accessing healthcare.

What If You're Studying in the UK for Six Months or Less?

This can work differently.

If you're applying from outside the UK for immigration permission lasting six months or less, GOV.UK says you don't pay the IHS.

That doesn't mean:

"Great — free NHS healthcare anyway."

Your entitlement to healthcare will depend on your circumstances, nationality, immigration status and any reciprocal healthcare arrangements.

Appropriate travel or medical insurance may therefore be particularly important for shorter stays.

Do Student Dependants Pay the IHS?

If you're eligible to bring dependants under your Student visa, they may also need to pay the IHS.

For student dependants, the current annual rate is also:

£776 per year.

That can make a substantial difference to the total cost of moving to the UK as a family.

For example, if three eligible family members each needed to pay two years at the current student/dependant rate:

£1,552 × 3 = £4,656

in IHS charges alone.

That's before visa application fees, flights, accommodation or other moving costs.

Also remember that not every international student is eligible to bring dependants. Check the current Student visa rules separately.

Can You Get the IHS Refunded If Your Visa Is Refused?

Yes.

GOV.UK currently states that you'll receive a full IHS refund if:

You paid twice for the same visa application

Your visa application is refused

or

You withdraw your application before a decision is made.

There are also circumstances where you can receive a partial refund, including if you're granted less time on your visa than you applied for or certain dependants are refused.

Check the official IHS refund rules

What If You Extend or Switch Your Visa?

This is another situation where IHS calculations can become confusing.

If you're extending your stay or switching immigration routes from within the UK, you may need to pay the IHS again as part of the new application.

If this means you've paid the IHS twice for the same period, you may be eligible for a partial refund.

GOV.UK says overlapping periods eligible for a refund are rounded down to the nearest six months.

So keep records of previous IHS payments and reference numbers.

A Special Rule for Some European Students

This is worth knowing because some eligible international students may be able to reclaim some or all of the IHS.

Full-time higher-education students from:

• European Union
• Switzerland
• Norway
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein

may be eligible for an IHS refund if they meet the relevant conditions and hold a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by one of those countries.

But there is a major condition:

If you work or intend to work in the UK while studying, you won't qualify for this student refund route.

That's because paid work can affect the validity of the EHIC healthcare arrangement underpinning the refund.

Think Carefully Before Claiming an EHIC IHS Refund

Seeing the possibility of getting hundreds or even thousands of pounds back sounds very attractive.

But don't hit the refund button without understanding what changes.

Before receiving the refund, an eligible student who has paid the IHS is entitled to NHS healthcare under the normal IHS arrangements.

After receiving an EHIC-based refund, GOV.UK says the student's healthcare coverage changes: the EHIC covers medically necessary treatment during the stay rather than giving the same breadth of access obtained through the IHS.

The government therefore specifically tells students to consider their healthcare needs before applying.

Check whether you're eligible for the student IHS refund

How Much Can an Eligible European Student Get Back?

If your qualifying EHIC remains valid for the full length of your visa, you may be able to receive a full IHS refund.

If the EHIC covers only part of the visa period, you may be able to claim a partial refund.

Refund periods are rounded down to the nearest six months.

You need to meet all the relevant eligibility requirements — simply owning an EHIC isn't enough.

What Do You Need for an EHIC Student Refund?

Current GOV.UK guidance says eligible applicants need information including:

• IHS reference number
• Immigration-status share code
• UK address
• Email address
• Copy of the EHIC

and evidence that they're studying in full-time UK higher education.

Evidence of student status can include a CAS or an appropriate university enrolment letter.

Can You Get a Refund Just Because You Never Used the NHS?

No.

The IHS isn't a pay-per-use system.

If you spend three years in the UK and never visit a GP or hospital, that doesn't normally entitle you to reclaim your IHS simply because you didn't use NHS services.

Likewise, choosing to use private healthcare doesn't normally create a refund entitlement.

Refunds apply in specified circumstances.

What If Someone Else Paid Your IHS?

Perhaps your parent paid it.

Or your university.

Or another third party.

This matters when refunds are involved.

For eligible student EHIC refunds, GOV.UK states that the refund goes back to the account originally used to pay the IHS.

So if Mum or Dad paid the bill, don't necessarily expect the refund to land in your own bank account.

Don't Confuse the IHS With Health Insurance

They're different things.

Immigration Health Surcharge

A UK immigration charge that gives eligible visa holders access to NHS healthcare under the applicable rules.

Travel insurance

Can cover things such as cancellations, lost belongings, repatriation and other travel risks depending on the policy.

Private medical insurance

Can provide access to private healthcare according to the policy's terms.

Having one doesn't necessarily replace the others.

Check what you actually need rather than assuming anything with "health" in the name does the same job.

Include the IHS in Your UK University Budget

This is the practical bit.

International students often concentrate on:

Tuition fees

and

monthly living costs.

But moving to the UK can involve significant upfront costs before university even starts.

Your planning might need to include:

• Student visa fee
• Immigration Health Surcharge
• Flights
• Accommodation deposit or advance payment
• Travel to your university
• Initial room and household essentials
• Food
• SIM/mobile costs
• and an emergency buffer.

The IHS can easily run into thousands of pounds for a multi-year visa, so it shouldn't be an afterthought.

Example: Three-Year Visa

At today's student rate:

£776 × 3 = £2,328

That's a substantial upfront immigration-related cost.

For a student with an eligible dependant also paying the same rate:

£2,328 × 2 = £4,656

And remember:

Those examples use the current rate.

They aren't a promise of what the IHS will cost when you apply.

IHS Checklist for International Students

Before applying for your Student visa:

☐ Check the current IHS rate on GOV.UK
☐ Check the expected length of your visa — not just your course
☐ Allow for partial-year charging rules
☐ Include the IHS in your pre-arrival budget
☐ Budget separately for your Student visa application fee
☐ Include IHS costs for eligible dependants where relevant
☐ Don't assume private insurance removes the requirement
☐ Keep your IHS payment confirmation and reference number
☐ Check whether any refund provisions apply to you
☐ If you're an eligible European student with an EHIC, understand the healthcare consequences before requesting a refund
☐ Check the latest official guidance immediately before applying

The Most Important Thing to Remember

The Immigration Health Surcharge isn't simply:

£776 × number of years at university.

It's based on your immigration permission, and the rules account for partial years.

The current student rate is £776 per year, but rates and immigration rules can change.

So use this guide to understand how the system works.

Then, when you're ready to apply, use the current official GOV.UK information to calculate what applies to you.

Check the latest IHS rate and calculation rules on GOV.UK

More Help for International Students

This article is part of the Loomz International Student Guide to Studying in the UK.

Head back to the main guide for practical information covering healthcare, visas, money, accommodation, preparing to travel and everyday university life in the UK.

Explore the International Student Guide →

Important

This guide provides general information for international students and isn't medical, financial, legal or immigration advice. IHS rates, refund eligibility, NHS access and UK immigration rules can change. Information and rates in this article were checked against GOV.UK on 17 September 2026. Always check the current official guidance before making an immigration application or financial decision.

© Loomz Ltd