Support services

Before departing for the UK we advise that you speak with your healthcare provider or doctor to discuss your medication needs and any potential alternatives available in the UK. Different countries have different regulations and availability of medications, so it's important that you check that you can access the right medication whilst at university.

Your doctor can provide guidance on how to manage your medication during your move to the UK and help you explore options for accessing your prescriptions once you are here.

Our healthcare pages provide further information on collecting and paying for prescriptions once you arrive in the UK.

Once you have arrived at the University of Essex, it is essential that you register with a GP as soon as possible, further information on how to register with a local doctor in the UK can be found below.

After your arrival in the UK, you will need to register with a local doctor, also known as a GP (General Practitioner), who will provide you with your NHS number.

There are some services and treatments that are carried out at an NHS hospital that are exempt from charges and are free to everyone, including temporary visitors to the UK.

Read our healthcare web pages for more information about entitlement to free NHS care, this will depend on your arrival date and UK immigration status. If you are not entitled to free treatment by the NHS, then you must take out your health insurance before you leave home.

We understand it can feel daunting to speak with someone about support for your mental health but whatever concerns you might have, we have professionals who provide support on issues concerning mental and emotional health, including assessment and referral for counselling or mentoring.

Find out more about our mental and emotional health services.

Our Colchester Campus has its own health centre offering appointments for a range of NHS services.

If you are living off-campus, this may not be your closest local doctor (known as a General Practitioner, or “GP”). Find your nearest GP using the NHS website.

Find out more about our healthcare services. 

All students should have their MMR jabs and be vaccinated against meningitis. If you're not sure if you're vaccinated, check with your doctor now. 

The Coronavirus vaccination is now available and as university students we want to support you to get vaccinated in order to protect yourself, fellow students and the campus community you live and study within.

If your first language isn’t English, our Skills for Success team will invite you to register for Academic English Support classes. You will receive an email with the details of modules available in the Autumn term and the link to the AES Registration survey where you can identify which modules you would like to be enrolled on to. The Academic English Support classes aim to help you achieve higher marks through improving your English language skills. Further information can be found on the Skills for Success webpages.

Surrounding yourself with native English speakers is a great way to improve your speaking skills and boost your confidence. What better way to do this than by joining one of our Students' Union's 165 sports clubs and societies. From the departmentally-focused and culturally-based to the downright weird and wonderful (Harry Potter Society, anyone?), there's an SU society for everyone. As every Essex student is automatically a member of the University of Essex Students’ Union you can join any of the societies on campus.

Our societies host regular events that promote language learning experiences. You can also ask for 121 sessions with society exec members or group
activities.

Our favourite tip for learning the conversational side of a language – watch movies! Watching movies in English (a.k.a. binge-watching Netflix) can be super helpful, it forces you to learn English and gain skills whilst doing something you actually enjoy.

If the big screen is more your thing then watch the latest blockbusters or timeless classics at our on-campus cinema, Cine10.

Our friendly Security team can be found in the Security and Safety Centre at our Colchester Campus where they provide 24-hour, face-to-face and phone support.

The team can help with a variety of issues including reporting emergencies as well as non-emergencies such as first aid and lost property.

In an emergency you should telephone the UK emergency services (Ambulance, Fire Service and Police) by dialling 999. The emergency operator will ask for your name, address and the type of emergency.

Only use the 999 number to call the emergency services when, for example, a life is at risk, a crime is in progress or to report a fire.

The British Council has created a downloadable guide titled Creating Confidence (.pdf) to help international students prepare for their time in the UK. It highlights some safety and security issues that international students should be aware of and lists helpful contact information.