TB tests, vaccinations, medical exams โ requirements vary by where you're from and where you're going. Select your countries and see exactly what applies to you.
Required for a UK student visa if you're from one of ~100 listed countries. Must be done at a UK-approved clinic. Results valid 6 months. Cost: roughly $20โ$80 depending on country.
Most universities require proof of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella (chickenpox), hepatitis B, and meningococcal vaccination. Many countries mandate these as a condition of campus registration โ not just the visa.
Required at the border if you're arriving FROM a yellow fever endemic zone (parts of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America). Some countries require it regardless of symptoms.
Required for long-stay student visas to Canada (medical surveillance) and some others. The UK and USA do not require a medical exam for standard student visas โ but universities may require a health screening on arrival.
UK: covered by the NHS via the Immigration Health Surcharge (paid with visa application). USA: required by all universities; typically $1,500โ$3,000/year. Canada and Australia: provincial health coverage with some gaps for new arrivals.
Bring your vaccination history (physical record, not just memory), any prescription medication documentation, current eyeglass/contact lens prescription, and dental records if you have ongoing treatment.
At least 8โ12 weeks before your departure date. Some vaccines require multiple doses spread over weeks (hepatitis B, HPV). A TB test takes up to 3 days for results. If you're applying for a UK visa, the TB test must be completed before submitting your visa application โ not after.
For most vaccines, yes โ you can get them at your university's student health centre after arrival. However, some documentation (like the UK TB test) must be obtained in your home country before your visa application. Check the specific requirements for your destination country carefully.
If you've lost your vaccination records, your GP or national health authority may have copies. Alternatively, your university's health centre can usually do blood titre tests to check your immunity levels โ if immunity is confirmed, you won't need to re-vaccinate. Budget for this taking 2โ4 weeks and costing $50โ$150 depending on the tests.
These are different things. Student health insurance (often mandatory, university-provided) covers medical care during your studies. Travel insurance covers the journey itself โ trip cancellation, lost luggage, medical emergencies in transit. If you're travelling with expensive equipment (laptop, camera), travel insurance for the journey is worth having even if not required.
Also useful:
Our international student health insurance guide has country-by-country coverage details and what to look for in a policy. The pre-departure checklist covers what medical documents and medications to bring. If you're heading to the UK, our UK student visa guide explains exactly how the TB test fits into the application process.