The International Office
Online Handbook
Before you leave home
Medical Requirements
A Doctor's Report
If you are having any medical treatment or you have had any serious illness in the past, please bring a doctor's report with you, in English. The report should give details of the illness, any medicines you are still taking and any future treatment needed.
Chest X-Rays / International Red Book
If you are entering the UK from the Indian Subcontinent, Africa or countries that have Tuberculosis, it's best to bring an up-to-date chest X-Ray certificate and medical report. If you don't, you may have to have a chest X-Ray and medical examination before you are allowed to pass through immigration. If you have an International Red Book, this could also be very useful.
Vaccinations
We advise you to have the vaccinations listed below before you leave home. If you don't, then you may have to pay for them in the UK. Bring evidence of any vaccinations that you have with you, such as an International Vaccination Book.
If you are unable to have the following vaccinations in your country, please contact the medical centre on arrival at Bath.
- Meningitis A very serious condition – can be fatal. The UK advises all first year undergraduate students to have a vaccination against the C strains of meningococcal meningitis. The vaccination does not protect against all strains of meningitis – further information is available from the campus Medical Centre.
- Tuberculosis (TB) Before getting a visa, nationals from Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Sudan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa and Zimbabwe are likely to be tested for TB. You can find out if you need to be tested by using the UKvisas website or by contacting your nearest British Mission. If you need to be tested you can't apply for a visa without a TB Clearance Certificate.
- Mumps Rarely fatal but complications include viral meningitis, inflammation of the ovaries and testicles and profound deafness.
- Others all students should also be immunised against are tetanus, polio, diphtheria, measles and rubella.