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University & College Sickness Certificate
£49.00
Our doctors can provide you with a medical letter, within 1-2 hours, that will confirm your health condition and related absences, as well as whether this condition is ongoing or resolved.
In stock
About this medical letter
University, college and school sickness letter
A doctor’s note for university is an official document from a GMC-registered UK doctor confirming your illness or health condition and its impact on your academic studies. UK universities require this specific document for absences, missed exams, coursework extensions, deadline deferrals, and mitigating circumstances submissions. It is not the same as a general sick note for work – it must include an explicit statement of how your condition has affected your ability to study, attend, or complete assessments.
ZoomDoc issues university doctor’s notes entirely online, with an average turnaround of 1-2 hours. No GP appointment needed. Upload your evidence, our doctors review it, and your letter arrives by email the same day – signed by a UK GMC-registered doctor, with a QR code for instant verification by your university or college.
When do you need a doctor’s note for university?
Most UK universities allow students to self-certify short absences of up to seven consecutive days without a doctor’s note. Beyond that threshold – or for any academically significant event – a signed medical certificate from a GMC-registered doctor is typically required. The specific situations where you will need one include:
Absence from lectures, seminars, or placements
If your illness has kept you away from university for more than seven consecutive days, your institution will require a GP-signed medical certificate rather than self-certification. ZoomDoc’s letter confirms your condition, the dates your illness started, whether it is ongoing, and why it prevented your attendance.
Missed exams or assessments
Missing an exam due to illness is one of the most common reasons students need a doctor’s note. Many universities require a medical certificate for any missed exam regardless of duration. ZoomDoc’s letter can confirm your condition affected your ability to attend or sit the exam, supporting your request for rescheduling, deferral, or special consideration.
Coursework extensions and deadline deferrals
If illness has prevented you from completing an assignment or meeting a coursework deadline, a medical letter from ZoomDoc can support a formal extension request. The letter will confirm when your symptoms began and how your condition affected your ability to work – the specific evidence most university systems require for an extension to be granted.
Mitigating circumstances submissions
If your health has affected your academic performance more broadly – impacting exam results, attendance records, or your ability to complete the year – a ZoomDoc medical letter can support a formal mitigating circumstances submission. The letter includes an explicit academic impact statement describing how your condition has affected your studies, which is what most mitigating circumstances panels require.
Mental health conditions affecting studies
Mental health conditions – including anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout – are treated with the same clinical rigour as physical illness. If a mental health condition has affected your attendance, exam performance, or ability to submit work, our doctors can issue a letter describing the impact on your studies and, where appropriate, recommending a period of rest or academic adjustment.
Can I use a private doctor’s note for university instead of an NHS GP letter?
Yes. UK universities accept medical certificates from any doctor on the GMC register – not only your registered NHS GP. This is a common source of confusion for students.
NHS GPs issue Med3 fit notes, which are designed for workplace absence and Statutory Sick Pay – not university submissions. Many NHS GPs will not provide a separate letter for university purposes, or will charge a private fee and have a waiting time of days or weeks. A private medical certificate from a ZoomDoc GMC-registered doctor serves exactly the same evidential purpose and carries equal weight with your institution.
Common questions about NHS vs private doctor’s notes for university:
- My GP won’t provide a letter for university – can I use ZoomDoc instead?
- Is an online doctor’s note as valid as an NHS sick note for university?
- Do universities accept private medical certificates?
- Can I get a same-day doctor’s note for university without an NHS appointment?
Who needs a doctor’s note for university?
The situations below reflect the most common queries ZoomDoc’s doctors receive from students, and the specific evidence universities and colleges typically ask for in each case.
Ill during exam season
Falling ill during exam season is one of the most stressful situations for any student. If you are too unwell to sit an exam, your university will require a medical certificate confirming your condition and the dates your symptoms prevented you from attending. ZoomDoc can issue this the same day – upload your evidence before 9pm and your letter will be with you that evening, ready to submit to your department or student services.
Common questions in this situation:
- Can I get a same-day doctor’s note if I missed an exam this morning?
- What do I need to submit to defer an exam due to illness?
- Will my university accept an online medical certificate for a missed exam?
Long-term illness or chronic condition affecting attendance
A long-term condition – whether physical or mental – that has affected your attendance or academic performance across a term or academic year may require a medical letter for a formal mitigating circumstances submission or academic progress review. ZoomDoc’s doctors can issue a letter describing your condition, its duration, and how it has impacted your studies.
Common questions in this situation:
- Can I get a medical letter for mitigating circumstances covering the whole term?
- My anxiety has affected my grades – can I get a doctor’s note for that?
- What medical evidence do I need for a mitigating circumstances panel?
International student needing UK medical documentation
International students enrolled at UK universities can use ZoomDoc’s service from anywhere – you do not need to be registered with a UK NHS GP. The process is entirely online and requires only a short video, a health questionnaire, and photo ID. The certificate is in English and complies with UK medical standards, making it accepted across UK institutions regardless of your nationality or home country.
Common questions in this situation:
- Can international students get a UK doctor’s note for university?
- I don’t have an NHS GP – can I still get a sick note for university?
- Does ZoomDoc issue medical letters for international students in the UK?
Deadline extension due to illness
If illness has prevented you from completing an assignment on time, a ZoomDoc medical letter can support your extension request. The letter confirms when your symptoms began, whether you were too unwell to work, and whether the condition is ongoing or resolved – the three pieces of information most extension request forms ask for.
Common questions in this situation:
- Can I get a doctor’s note for a university essay extension?
- What evidence do I need to request a coursework deadline extension?
- Will a medical letter from ZoomDoc be accepted for a deadline extension?
How to get a University, college and school sickness letter online with ZoomDoc
Upload a video
Upload by 9pm for same-day service. This should be a 30 second – 1 minute video describing your symptoms or condition.
Doctor validates evidence
Our doctors will look over the evidence you provide.
Receive your letter, within a few hours
You’ll receive an email with your letter, with a QR code so they can be verified and accepted worldwide.
What will I receive?
You will receive a verifiable digital PDF letter signed by a medical professional and sent directly to your inbox, containing:
- Your name, date of birth and details of your university, college or school.
- Your sickness or health condition and its impact on your studies.
- When symptoms started, if they are ongoing or if you are now recovered.
- Signature and authorisation by one of our GMC-registered UK doctors.
- Contact details of ZoomDoc Health with a QR code enabling a verification check.
- An explicit academic impact statement describing how your condition has affected your attendance, exam performance, or ability to complete coursework – the specific wording required by most university absence panels and mitigating circumstances processes.
- The GMC registration number of the issuing doctor, enabling your university to verify the certificate’s authenticity directly with the General Medical Council.
What will I need to supply?
To allow us to assess your condition and issue a medical letter, we will require the following information:
- A photo of your university or college ID, or passport
- Confirmation of when your sickness or condition started
- Whether your sickness is ongoing, or you are now recovered
- A 30-second to 1-minute video describing your symptoms
- The name of your university, college or school
- Details of your regular Doctor (if you have one)
Supporting students
Being ill during term time is stressful – getting the right support shouldn’t be.
Our experienced medical team supports thousands of students every year, that attend every University, College, and School across the UK. From King’s College London and University College London to London School of Economics, University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, University of Liverpool, to University of Edinburgh – these are just a few of the Universities where the students we support are based.
Our University and College Sickness certificates are widely accepted and trusted due to our strong clinical governance, thorough medical assessment, and follow-up care. We work closely alongside NHS GP surgeries, many of whom recommend our service because of our rigorous review standards and responsible approach.
All medical evidence is assessed by UK NHS GMC-registered doctors. If there is insufficient clinical justification, we will not issue a certificate – a key reason why universities trust our service. With your consent, we can also update your regular GP, helping to maintain continuity of care while you focus on your studies.
We support students with short-term illnesses, ongoing medical conditions, and mental health concerns, providing reliable medical advice and certification when you genuinely need time to recover.
Simple. Secure. Built around students.
Recognised and accepted by Universities
A sick note for university
A sick note for university is an official document from a GP confirming your illness and justifying absence from classes or exams. ZoomDoc provides fast, online GP-signed sick notes tailored for university students-delivered the same day without needing an in-person appointment.
Some of our Doctors
Experienced UK GMC-Registered doctors – caring, supportive, and dedicated to providing exceptional care.
Trusted, regulated and secure
We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and all our doctors are General Medical Council registered
Symptoms
When to test
Biomarkers
Accepted by my University
This was excellent. I had asked for a letter for my University to extend my assignments as I’ve been suffering from mental illnesses (depression/anxiety). I provided them with details from my GP as well as my wellbeing advisor and they had the certificate ready for me within the same day. It has been accepted by my Uni for my EC claim and I couldn’t be more grateful as my GP would’ve taken much longer to have one written
Date of experience: January 20, 2025
Hannah, GB
Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen after I purchase a university, college and school sickness certificate?
After purchase, you’ll receive a unique booking reference to upload your medical evidence.
Our doctors review submissions daily (9am–9pm GMT) and may contact you if needed.
Once approved, your sickness certificate will be sent to you by email and SMS.
What medical evidence do I require?
We will require you to:
✓ Upload a photo of your university or college ID, or passport
✓ Complete a medical questionnaire
✓ Upload a short video (on your mobile) explaining why you need a university, college and school sickness certificate
Why are there QR codes on medical letters?
Each medical letter includes a QR code for instant verification.
When scanned, it opens your secure online results portal — where the letter can be viewed and your details confirmed.
Do you provide refunds?
We can only issue a full refund if we are unable to provide a medical letter.
Once a medical letter has been issued by our doctors, refunds cannot be processed.
When will I receive my medical letter?
Our team will review your evidence and issue your letter — typically within 1–2 hours of upload (9am–9pm GMT, 7 days a week).
Who signs the university, college and school sickness certificate?
Your university, college or school sickness certificate is signed by UK-registered ZoomDoc Health doctors.
We are a UK-regulated healthcare provider, and all of our doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC).
What can I use this medical letter for?
Our medical letters can be submitted to any university, college or school as evidence of a health condition.
They outline the reason for your absence, or any mitigating circumstances that may have affected your studies, exams or coursework.
A doctor’s note for university
A doctor’s note for university is an official medical letter confirming your illness or health condition, which can support requests for extensions, absences, or special considerations. ZoomDoc provides fast online GP consultations to issue authentic doctor’s notes tailored for university requirements-making it easier to get the documentation you need without visiting a clinic in person.
Disabled Student Allowance and Student Finance England
Some UK government organisations that oversee the disabled student allowance (DSA) and Student Finance England (SFE) have recently stopped accepting online medical certificates from any private online healthcare service. If your certificate is for this purpose - we would advise that you to check with them before requesting a medical certificate.
Trusted by NHS GP Practices
ZoomDoc Health works in partnership with NHS GP practices nationwide, enabling them to provide medical certificates directly — or via our team of doctors.
We are a recognised, regulated and trusted UK medical service, used by NHS GP practices and healthcare providers across the country.
More information is available at zoomdocpro.com.
Can I get a doctor's note for university for mental health reasons?
Yes. ZoomDoc doctors can issue medical letters for mental health conditions including stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout, where these have impacted your coursework, attendance, or exams. The letter will describe how your condition has affected your academic performance and may recommend a period of rest or adjustments. Mental health is treated with the same clinical rigour as physical illness.
Can I get a doctor's note for a missed exam?
Yes. Missing an exam due to illness is one of the most common reasons students need a doctor's note. ZoomDoc can issue a certificate confirming that your condition affected your ability to attend or sit the exam, supporting your request for rescheduling, deferral, or special consideration. Upload your evidence before 9pm for same-day issue.
Can I get a doctor's note for a university extension or mitigating circumstances?
Yes. If your health has affected your ability to submit coursework on time or perform to your usual standard, a ZoomDoc medical letter can support a formal request for a deadline extension or a mitigating circumstances submission. The letter will confirm your condition, when symptoms began, and how your health has impacted your studies - the specific evidence most university panels require.
My NHS GP won't provide a letter for university - can I use ZoomDoc?
Yes. NHS GPs are not obligated to provide medical letters for university purposes, and many will decline or have waiting times that make same-day documentation impossible. ZoomDoc's GMC-registered doctors issue university medical letters entirely online, with no appointment needed. Our certificates carry the same legal and academic weight as an NHS GP letter, as both are signed by doctors on the GMC register.
Can I get a doctor's note for university without leaving home?
Yes. The entire ZoomDoc process is online. You upload a short video, complete a health questionnaire, and provide a photo ID. Our doctors review your evidence and issue your certificate by email - typically within 1-2 hours. There is no in-person appointment, no waiting room, and no need to visit a clinic.
Does the doctor's note include an academic impact statement?
Yes. ZoomDoc's university medical letters confirm your health condition and explicitly describe its impact on your studies - including absences, inability to attend exams, or effect on academic performance. This is the specific wording most universities and mitigating circumstances panels require. A general sick note without an academic impact statement may not be accepted for these purposes.
How long does it take to get a doctor's note for university?
ZoomDoc's average turnaround is 1-2 hours from the time you upload your evidence. Our doctors operate 7 days a week between 9am and 9pm GMT. Upload your evidence before 9pm and you will receive your certificate the same day.
Can I get a backdated doctor's note for university?
Our doctors can issue a certificate covering the dates your illness occurred, provided you can supply credible evidence of your symptoms during that period - such as a video account, pharmacy records, or any other supporting documentation. Our doctors will assess each case on its clinical merits. We are unable to issue certificates for periods where no clinical justification exists.
Get in touch
We’re happy to help
If you have any queries please check our list of frequently asked questions or get in touch with one of our experts who will be happy to help.
” Our team at ZoomDoc have simplified the process of accessing medical letters to support students who have been unwell and require proof of illness or a medical condition.
Having provided thousands of letters for students across both the UK and abroad, our team of doctors are here to help. Our doctors will often follow up with a call and some further advice, so that you hopefully get better quicker.
Students should not be impacted by an episode of ill health, especially when it comes to their future. A simple doctor’s note can provide proof to universities and colleges if you feel that you have not performed to the best of your abilities due a medical condition or illness.
All our medical letters have QR codes on them, so they can be verified when provided to your university, college or school.“
Dr Kenny Livingstone. GP & ZoomDoc Chief Medical Officer.