International Students
FAQs for International Students
Frequently Asked Question for International Students
I have an existing medical condition/illness. Should I bring my medical records with me?
Yes, it is wise to bring a PDF soft-copy of your medical records in full or in summarised format, with details of your condition(s), including what treatment you have had previously, especially if your own doctor in your country of origin advises that you continue on a course of treatment/medication whilst you are in Ireland. Contact details for your home doctor(s) should also be included.
My doctor advises that I need to be followed up/attend a Specialist whilst in Ireland. How is this arranged?
Attendance at a Specialist/Consultant (the term “Consultant” is more commonly used in Ireland to denote a doctor with expertise in a particular area of medicine) is arranged usually by attending a General Practitioner in Ireland who then decides which Specialist/Consultant best suits your needs. The GP then writes to the Specialist/Consultant requesting that an appointment be sent to you for the Specialist/Consultant. Please note that the waiting time for Specialists/Consultants in some specialities/disciplines can be very long indeed, sometimes many months or even years. Occasionally, and particularly if you have a complex condition or serious illness this appointment may be arranged prior to your arrival in Ireland. Please ask your own Doctor to contact the Student Health Department if you feel you have particular health needs.
Can I attend UCC Student Health to arrange a Specialist referral on arrival in Ireland?
Yes, you can attend one of our Student Health Doctors who will discuss with you what options are available in terms of Specialist referral. Waiting time for Specialists/Consultants in some specialities/disciplines can be very long indeed. If the Student Health Doctor Doctor determines your case as urgent then this can be reflected in the letter of referral. UCC Student Health has no direct influence over your place on waiting lists in other services.
What Private Hospitals and Private Specialist Clinics are there in the Cork region?
There are a number of Private Hospitals and Private Specialist Clinics in the Cork region- check out their websites for more details:
https://www.bonsecours.ie/cork
What vaccinations are recommended for students coming to University in Ireland?
All visiting students are advised to ensure that they have received completed courses of all vaccinations appropriate to their age that are recommended for their home country. If not already included in this list the following immunisations are also recommended: MMR and Meningitis C and COVID-19. Ideally you should avail of these vaccinations at least 8 weeks prior to your arrival in Ireland.
As UCC has a Student Health Department, why do I need to register with a local doctor?
UCC Student Health Department does not operate as a General Practitioner Service, and does not undertake emergency or routine home visits, and is not in a position to be responsible for your health care out of hours, at night time or week-ends. It is important therefore, particularly if you have an ongoing illness or medical problem that you register with a local General Practitioner for the duration of your time in UCC.
How do I register with a local General Practitioner?
You can search the list of General Practitioners by location (area where you intend to live whilst attending UCC) at https://www2.hse.ie/services/find-a-gp Contact one of the GP Practices listed and enquire as to how to register as a patient. Practices may differ in how they accept or register new patients, and some Practices may not be accepting new patients onto their list. Practices usually will only accept you as a patient upon arrival in Ireland, and are unlikely to register you prior to your arrival.
What should I do if I become ill out of hours, at night time or week-ends, or before I have managed to register with a GP?
You should contact your General Practitioner in Cork to determine what arrangements are in place for out of hour emergency cover. For any student not yet registered with a General Practitioner, an arrangement is in place with a local General Practice to provide cover in the interim period. Details of how to contact this service may vary, so students are advised to telephone the Student Health Department 4902311 and follow the instructions in the recorded telephone message.
You can also read of other options available to you in seeking medical help at https://www.ucc.ie/en/studenthealth/about/
How do I call an ambulance in an emergency situation?
Telephone the emergency response number 112 or 999. The operator will request details of which service you require and an emergency ambulance will be dispatched to the location. Emergency services should only be requested in urgent and life threatening situations.
What services are available at the Student Health Department?
Details of the services available at the Student Health Department can be found on our website. Note there is a reduced service available out of term in the months of June to September inclusive. During this period there is no Physiotherapy or Specialist Psychiatry service on-site
How can family members/ my own doctor communicate with/contact the Student Health Department?
Details of how to contact the Student Health Department are available on our website . Please note that for reasons of data security and patient confidentiality, the Student Health Department does not use e-mail for receipt or transmission of clinical information. Once you have registered as a UCC Student and been given your UCC student email address you can upload medical documents to us via our secure Portal Please allow for time difference in making telephone contact during our usual office hours.
Am I entitled to free medical care in Ireland?
Details of your entitlements and liability to pay are available on the Entitlements page of our website. You are advised to consider taking out Health Insurance for your stay in Ireland.
What category of students are required to have private medical insurance?
All non-EEA students are required to have private medical insurance when coming to and residing in Ireland for the purpose of study. The private medical insurance should provide cover for accident and/or disease and should cover the student for any period of hospitalisation. See here for details of private medical insurance options
Will the Student Health Department contact or speak to parents/relatives or family of a visiting student.
All consultations at the Student Health Department are confidential, and details of your condition and treatment will only be shared with others with your expressed consent. We do recognise families are often very concerned about you when you are overseas, and therefore once you have given consent we will communicate with your family as appropriate.
What if I want to import some of my medication from my home country?
Students coming to Ireland from abroad may be taking medication prescribed by a doctor in their home country. Please see document below for details as to how to import medication in person or via post, or how to obtain a prescription for the medication from a doctor in Ireland.
I am on a course of medication/treatment from my own doctor. Will I be able to get this medication/treatment in Ireland?
Ireland is the world's largest manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and most medications or treatments available to you in your home country are likely to be available in Ireland. A complete list of medications licensed for prescription in Ireland can be searched on the Irish Medicines Board website. Click here. There may still be exceptions however, and the decision to continue to prescribe or advise an ongoing treatment lies with the prescribing/treating doctor in Ireland. For further details as to circumstances where a doctor may decline to continue treatment see the Importation of Medication on this website. If in doubt, you should discuss this with a doctor in Ireland (well in advance of your arrival in Ireland) by forwarding the details of the medication/treatment including the reason you are on the medication and the details of the prescribing/treating doctor in your home country.
Are there particular medications which are known to be unavailable in Ireland?
Yes; some medications for ADHD including Adderal are not available in Ireland . Before coming to Ireland, if you are an international students who is currently prescribed Adderal, you must contact your Consultant Psychiatrist and arrange a transfer to an an alternative ADHD medication that is available and prescribable in Ireland. You should arrange this well in advance of your arrival to ensure you are on an adequate dose that is tolerable to you.
In Ireland, the medications available for prescription (only by a Doctor specialising in ADHD) are Methylphenidate, Lisdexamphetaime and Atomoxetine.
Is there someone I can get further advice on the availability of certain medications?
You can check with the Pharmacist at Johnson's Pharmacy who will be able to advise you if your specific medication is available and prescribable in Ireland, and if there are any particular conditions attached to the prescribing and dispensing of the medication.
I am an incoming healthcare student - are any particular vaccination requirements I should be aware of?
There is a lot of detail for healthcare students on our webpages at https://www.ucc.ie/en/studenthealth/healthcare/
FAQ's about the HPV vaccine for international students:
In Ireland, is the 9-valent HPV vaccine administered as a single dose or in multiple doses? (In China, the 9-valent HPV vaccine usually requires three doses)
In UCC Student Health, we adhere to the NIAC (The National Immunisation Advisory Committee) immunisation guidelines. The School or Department you are joining may also have information on these matters on their websites as well. You should check these out.
HPV9 or 9-valent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine under the trade name Gardasil 9 is the HPV vaccine administered in Ireland.
NIAC recommend administration of the HPV9 vaccine as follows:
- A single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated females and males aged 9-24 years of age.
- Those aged 25 years and older for whom the vaccine is recommended, or who chose to receive it, require two doses of the vaccine given 6 months apart.
- Those who have immunocompromise are recommended to have three doses of the vaccine, regardless of age.
If I want to get the HPV vaccine in UCC Student Health, what do I need to do?
If you are interested in HPV vaccination, you must first make an appointment with a Doctor who will assess if you are suitable for vaccination and decide whether you need one, two, or three doses to complete the vaccination course.
As a registered UCC student, you can do this in the UCC Student Health Department. You will need to telephone the Department in advance on 021-4902311 and make an appointment with one of the UCC Student Health Doctors.
After your appointment with the Student Health Doctor, you may receive the vaccine on the day, or you may be given an appointment to attend the nurse for administration of the vaccine on another day.
Please be aware that there is a charge of €185 per vaccine dose and this is payable in advance of administration of the vaccine. We use an online payment system called Billink whereby you will receive a payment link to your phone, which must be paid before the vaccine will be given.
Where can I get this vaccine in Ireland?
The vaccine is available in the UCC Student Health Department at a cost of €185 per vaccine dose. You can attend another Doctor for this service if you are registered with a General Practitioner elsewhere in Ireland. Costs may vary elsewhere.
Will student insurance cover part of the cost?
The UCC Student Health Department does not accept health insurance as a method of payment for services. Any services where there is an associated cost must be paid for using the Billink payment system as outlined above. Vaccinations must be paid for in advance before the vaccine will be administered. Once payment is received, you will receive a receipt of payment to your registered student email address. It is your own responsibility to check with your relevant insurance provider as regards reimbursements etc.