Question
I am HIV positive. Can I study in America and Europe?
17 January 2012. Related: All topics.
I am HIV positive and I want to further my studies abroad in Europe or US.
Is it possible?
I am from the Chinese mainland.
Answer
The best thing for you to do is to contact the Embassies of the different countries you are interested in going to. They will be able to provide you with more detailed information. This will include whether you can study there as well as important information about what, as a student, you will be eligible for, in terms of access to health care.
Best wishes
Hi Ed,
Congratulations on getting this 2 year internship. It’s good that you’ve got enough meds to cover you with the 2 months extra supply.
But I’m still not able to answer because we are based in the UK and we don’t know what regulations the US and Canada have for this.
Perhaps trying to find out anonymously is a good idea.
Hi Roy Trevelion.
I can get myself a doctor’s note indicating that my medicines are for personal use only and probably the note will also include the amount of medicines required for the duration of my stay. I am based from the Philippines. I hope someone can answer me regarding the amount of medicines that i will be bringing ( 26 months supply of arv ). The internship program will last for 2 years and i intended to bring extra 2 month supply just in case something bad happened.
Hi Ed,
Unfortunately, as i-Base is an HIV treatment information resource, we don’t know about customs rules and regulations. Is it possible to get some kind of doctor’s note that says the ARVs are for your personal use for the duration of your visit?
However, perhaps you could contact the embassies anonymously to see if you can find out more.
What country are you coming from? We are based in the UK, and here it’s unusual to have more than 6 months meds provided by the health service.
Hi, is there anyone here who can help me?
I’ve been wanting to go to either Canada or U.S.A. for my internship. I am HIV positive but currently undetected. I am planning to put 26 months supply of meds (ARVs) in my luggage. Will the authorities call my attention for bringing huge amount of meds with me? I’ve been searching the net ; in Canada it is a bit more finicky when it comes to my case. Can someone clarify me this? I hope someone will answer me.
Hi Mia,
Please see this link to HIV travel.
As it says here, there are no specific entry or residence regulations to the UK for people living with HIV. There’s more info on the link above.
Will it be possible for i to study in London if i have HIV and will embasies have inquiry for my ARV treatment?
Hi Van,
We are based in the UK and provide information to the public. It is difficult for us to advise you properly because access to treatment in the US is specific and complicated. You could try contacting your local HIV organisation in your state or try Project Inform and poz.com. The link are listed below.
http://www.projectinform.org/
http://www.poz.com/
Most people in the US try to pay with insurance and this is a very complex system. You can also try contacting Medicare and ADAP (AIDS Drugs Assistance Programmes). ADAP focuses on the quality and efficacy of programs that serve low-income, uninsured and under insured people, who do not have medical insurance for HIV. Their link is listed below.
http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/aids/adap.htm
This information was taken from a previous Q&A here.
How about my medication if I were study in US..How can I get my health insuance
Hi Aldy,
There are no entry or residence regulations in France for people living with HIV. Please see this page on HIV Travel for contacts for HIV information.
Hi, does ARV medication can be access free for student or foreigner in France? And if not how much it will cost to access it per bottle?
Thank you,
F