Our care
New to uni in South London? Here is how to get your NHS care sorted
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By Penrose Health
Every autumn, thousands of students arrive on campuses across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. Most have a long list to work through, and health usually slips to the bottom of it. This year there is one extra reason to move it up: a new, time-limited MenB vaccine is being offered to first-time students, and the window to get it is short.
Here is what is worth sorting in your first week, and how to do it close to your campus.
First, the 2026 MenB vaccine, and why timing matters
Following recent meningitis outbreaks, the NHS has launched a one-off MenB vaccine programme this summer for first-time undergraduates under 25 and Year 13 leavers starting university in autumn 2026. It runs alongside the meningitis vaccines students already know about, because MenB is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK and was not covered by them.
The important part is the timing:
It is a two-dose course. First doses are available over the summer, second doses from late summer.
First doses are available up to 31 December 2026. Second doses up to 31 March 2027.
In England it is being offered through participating community pharmacies, often as a walk-in, so check the latest NHS guidance for how to book near you.
You are most at risk of meningitis in the first weeks of term, when you are living and socialising closely with lots of new people, so this is genuinely worth doing early. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, your GP practice can help once you are registered.
While you are at it, check you have had both MMR doses and your MenACWY vaccine, both recommended for new students. Your practice can catch you up on either.
Get an NHS GP near your campus first
Almost everything else depends on being registered with a local GP, and most students put it off because they assume it is complicated. It is not.
You do not need ID, proof of address, an NHS number or any particular immigration status to register. Registering with a Penrose practice takes about five minutes, all online, and you can do it before term even starts, as soon as you know your address.
There is a Penrose practice next to most of the main student areas in South London:
Elephant & Castle and Walworth Near LSBU, plus Unite Julian Markham House, Dashwood Studios, YourTRIBE Elephant & Castle and Dante Road. Closest practices: Penrose Surgery (SE17) and Penrose Maddock Way (SE17).
New Cross and Deptford Near Goldsmiths, plus AXO New Cross, YourTRIBE Deptford, McMillan Student Village and Ewen Henderson Court. Closest practices: Deptford Surgery (SE14) and Kingfisher Medical Centre (SE8).
Surrey Quays and Canada Water Near Student Castle Landale House and Scape Canada Water. Closest practice: Kingfisher Surrey Docks (SE16).
Lewisham and Lee Near the University of Greenwich, plus Vita Student Lewisham Exchange and Surrey House. Closest practices: Lewisham Medical Centre (SE13) and Nightingale Surgery (SE12).
Find your nearest practice and register. Enter your halls or campus postcode and you will see the closest surgery, with directions.
When you register, use your term-time address, a personal email you will keep after you graduate (not your university one), and your UK mobile. You do not need an NHS number.
The rest of your student health, in one place
Once you are registered, a lot opens up:
Mental health and exam stress. Talk to your practice, or self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies online with no referral or diagnosis needed.
Sexual health and contraception. Confidential advice, plus free STI test kits and contraception by post through Sexual Health London.
Prescriptions and records on your phone. Order repeat prescriptions, view results and see your record any time in the free NHS App.
If you are an international student, you are entitled to register and GP appointments are free. If your course is six months or longer, the Immigration Health Surcharge you pay with your visa covers wider NHS care too.
We have pulled all of this together, with downloadable guides, on our student health hub.
When you are unwell
Routine or ongoing problems: call or email your practice and our care navigators will point you to the right person.
Urgent help when we are closed: call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.
Life-threatening emergencies: always call 999.
Frequently asked questions
Do new students need the MenB vaccine in 2026? A new one-off MenB vaccine is being offered to first-time undergraduates under 25 and Year 13 leavers starting university in autumn 2026. In England it is available through participating pharmacies. It is best taken before or soon after term starts.
Do I need ID or proof of address to register with a GP as a student? No. You can register with just your name, date of birth and current address. A practice cannot refuse you for not having ID, proof of address or an NHS number.
Can I register with a GP near my university if I am registered at home? Yes. Your records transfer automatically and move back when you return home. You do not need to contact your old surgery.
Which Penrose practice is nearest my campus? Use the Find a Practice tool with your halls or campus postcode. Practices sit close to LSBU (Elephant and Castle), Goldsmiths (New Cross), and the Lewisham, Lee, Surrey Quays and Canada Water student areas.
Is GP care free for international students? Yes. GP appointments are free for everyone. On courses of six months or more, the Immigration Health Surcharge covers wider NHS care as well.