Living in the UK: Practical Information
Healthcare and Emergencies
Am I entitled to free healthcare in the UK?
All Student Visa holders studying for more than six months are required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the point they apply for their Student visa. This surcharge will allow you to access the same level of healthcare as a permanent UK resident. Most care provided by the NHS is provided without fees, but you may be changed for some services e.g. dental treatment and prescription charges.
If you have come to the UK to study for less than six months, you may not have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge and so will not be eligible for free NHS care. This will include anyone on a Visitor visa. It is, therefore, very important that you make sure you have sufficient private healthcare insurance to cover your stay in the UK, in case you need to access healthcare services whilst staying here.
Students who paid the IHS and are from the EU or Switzerland may be eligible to apply for an IHS reimbursement. You have one year to apply from the date your visa starts.
You can apply for an IHS reimbursement if:
- you are a full-time student in UK Higher Education
- your visa started on or after 1 January 2021
- you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by an EU country or Switzerland
- you do not work and do not intend to work in the UK
More information about this is available online:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-health-surcharge-for-eu-students-in-the-uk
Who should I contact in case of an emergency?
In a life-threatening or medical emergency, you should always phone 999. If you need medical help or advice but it is not a life-threatening situation, then call 111 or contact your GP Surgery.
You can read more about registering with a GP here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery
Norwich has an NHS Walk-in centre in the city centre which is open seven days a week between 7am and 9pm. You can call them on 01603 677500.
They are currently offering both telephone consultations as well as face-to-face appointments. The most up to date information is available on the following page:
http://www.norwichwalkincentre.co.uk/
Student Support are available to support you in a variety of ways throughout your time as a student at Norwich University of the Arts, offering a friendly face and a safe place to visit.
Student Support can be contacted via support@nua.ac.uk.
You can read more about Student Support here:
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Your student accommodation will also have emergency numbers for you to call if you have issues with where you are living. You should make sure to familiarise yourself with these and save them in your phone.
Finances and Living Costs
How do I open a bank account?
You should be able to open a basic bank account with most high street banks or an online bank.
A basic bank account will allow you to pay in and take out money, set up direct debits and withdraw from cash machines but will usually not allow you to have an overdraft.
Many banks will allow you to apply for an account online, but you will often also need to visit a branch with your passport and Student visa to prove your identity. This will vary from bank to bank so you may wish to check on their website first that you are eligible to open the account that you have chosen, and what the process is.
You can request a bank letter from the Self-Service tool in eVision.
What is a TV License and do I need one?
In the UK you will need to purchase a TV Licence if you want to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or watch BBC programmes on the iPlayer. This could be on any device including a TV, a tablet device, games console, digital box, mobile phone or desktop computer.
More information on applying for a TV License is available from:
What is Council Tax and do I need to pay it?
Council tax is a tax on residential property. The Council use these funds to provide and support local service including transport, police, fire, and rubbish collection.
A property is exempt from council tax if full-time university or college students wholly occupy it. If you rent a property before your official course start date, or after the end date, you are likely to be liable for council tax during these periods. Student halls of residence are automatically exempt.
You can read more about this here: Council Tax
Public Funds and Welfare
What does ‘No recourse to public funds’ or ‘No access to public funds’ mean?
If you have a Student visa, you are likely to have been given immigration permission with the condition ‘No recourse to public funds’ or ‘No access to public funds’. If you have this condition, you are unable to access ‘public funds’ on your current immigration permission.
Public funds includes many types of UK benefits and financial support including Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, and Universal Credit. You can read more about this on the UKCISA webpage:
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information–Advice/Fees-and-Money/Welfare-Benefits
If you have any concerns about your finances, wellbeing or access to services please contact Student Support to discuss the support options available to you: Student Support VLE
Some international students are encouraged to apply for benefits by agencies which are not aware that they are in the UK with immigration permission as a Student, and that it would be a breach of their immigration conditions to claim the benefit.
For example, if a student or their partner has a baby in the UK, the midwife, hospital or social work staff may encourage them to apply for Child Benefit, when in fact the student is not usually permitted to claim this.
It is important to check carefully before accessing public funds and you should contact visa@norwichuni.ac.uk if you have any concerns.
If you receive ‘public funds’, you may be in breach of your immigration conditions. Breaching an immigration condition is a criminal offence and could lead to serious immigration problems, including removal from the UK, difficulties with getting an immigration extension, or not being allowed to come back to the UK for a specified period of time.
Please note that you are entitled to medical care within the UK due to the Immigration Health Surcharge and should not have concerns about accessing essential medical care due to a ‘No recourse to public funds’ restriction.
Additional Study and Post-Study Time
Can I study an evening course alongside my degree?
Yes, Student Visa holders can do a supplementary course, such as an evening class, alongside your degree. The supplementary course does not have to relate to your main course of study, and you do not need to inform the UKVI that you are doing the course.
You must ensure that any additional study you undertake does not interfere with your studies at the Norwich University of the Arts and does not prevent you from attending all taught sessions in your timetable.
How long can I remain in the UK after my course has completed?
At the end of your course, you will usually be granted an additional four months leave to remain if you are studying a course longer than 12 months. Your eVisa will confirm the date by which you must have left the UK (unless you have been notified of any changes).
Please note, if you leave the UK during this additional leave to remain period and then return to the UK you will need to ensure that the UK Border Agent is satisfied that you will leave or apply to extend your immigration permission before your Student visa expires and should carry appropriate evidence in your hand luggage when you travel.
Can I stay in the UK after my visa has expired?
You must ensure that you have left the UK before the expiry date on your Student visa or applied for appropriate immigration permission to remain in the UK.
Norwich University of the Arts is unable to offer advice on any non-study visas and you are advised to seek independent immigration advice if you require further advice and guidance on remaining in the UK.
Once your Student visa expiry date has passed you will be considered to have overstayed in the UK if you have not applied for appropriate alternate immigration permission.
Overstay is illegal and may have serious implications for future visa applications.
Identification and Visa Conditions
How can I prove my identity in the UK if I don’t want to carry my passport?
One of the easiest ways to prove your ID in the UK is to apply for a PASS Card, which is accepted by most age restricted retailers and venues:
You may also be able to apply for a UK driving license or provisional driving license. However, this process is typically more expensive and involved.
What should I do if I think that I may have broken the conditions of my visa or overstayed in the UK?
Norwich University of the Arts is a Student visa sponsor and must must therefore fulfill certain duties regarding sponsored students.
If the University becomes aware that you have breached the conditions of your Student visa, it is required to report this to UK Visas and Immigration.
If you are concerned that you have broken the conditions of your Student visa, you may wish to seek independent advice.
UKCISA has a Student Advice Line:
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/About-UKCISA/Contact-us
You can find an independent Immigration Adviser:
https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser
Graduate Visa FAQs
The Graduate visa, a post-study visa which current Student visa holders may be eligible to apply for after completing their studies at Norwich University of the Arts.
You can find out more about this here: