Student loans for Brits living in France 2021

honeymichelle

My two daughters wish to study in the UK when they complete their secondary school education. Eldest daughter will start university in 2021 and youngest in 2023. They both have British and Republic of Ireland passports as I am from Northern Ireland and their Dad is from Kent. My husband's job meant that we relocated to Europe in 2008. We live in France and the girls attend an international school across the border in neighbouring Geneva, Switzerland. All of the students in the school have been following the British curriculum until Y12 when they take the IB Diploma. Students in the school mainly end up studying in the UK.

We, like many students and parents, were shocked when we learned that the British government decided to abolish the same fee status for students from the EU and Switzerland in June. Scotland then followed suit in September. My daughters  will be expected to pay £25,000 p.a. instead of  £9,250in fees . They feel that all of their hopes and dreams have been shattered.  My husband and I are also none too pleased as we have both been British taxpayers for many years before relocating to Europe. My husband has a British passport; my daughters and and I have dual nationality / passports for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Our situation is further complicated as my husband is now based in Ireland as his company relocated its European HQ in July 2019.

We would really appreciate if anyone could clarify the fees status for our daughters :

1. Will they be eligible for a student loan from the UK government in 2021?

2. Will the repayment conditions be similar to those of students with UK loans?

3. The fact that my husband will have lived in Ireland for 2 years before the eldest starts university, would that make her eligible for a UK student loan? (assuming some reciprocal agreement with the R.o.I and the UK)

4. If my daughter took a year out and lived in the UK in 2021 (hopefully getting some type of employment / internship)…would she be able to apply as a UK home student in  2022?

5. If my daughter took a year out and lived in the the Republic of Ireland in 2021 (hopefully getting some type of employment / internship)…would she be able to apply as a UK home student in  2022?

Thank you

[Deleted User]

honeymichelle said:

My two daughters wish to study in the UK when they complete their secondary school education. Eldest daughter will start university in 2021 and youngest in 2023. They both have British and Republic of Ireland passports as I am from Northern Ireland and their Dad is from Kent. My husband's job meant that we relocated to Europe in 2008. We live in France and the girls attend an international school across the border in neighbouring Geneva, Switzerland. All of the students in the school have been following the British curriculum until Y12 when they take the IB Diploma. Students in the school mainly end up studying in the UK.

We, like many students and parents, were shocked when we learned that the British government decided to abolish the same fee status for students from the EU and Switzerland in June. Scotland then followed suit in September. My daughters  will be expected to pay £25,000 p.a. instead of  £9,250in fees . They feel that all of their hopes and dreams have been shattered.  My husband and I are also none too pleased as we have both been British taxpayers for many years before relocating to Europe. My husband has a British passport; my daughters and and I have dual nationality / passports for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Our situation is further complicated as my husband is now based in Ireland as his company relocated its European HQ in July 2019.

We would really appreciate if anyone could clarify the fees status for our daughters :

1. Will they be eligible for a student loan from the UK government in 2021?

2. Will the repayment conditions be similar to those of students with UK loans?

3. The fact that my husband will have lived in Ireland for 2 years before the eldest starts university, would that make her eligible for a UK student loan? (assuming some reciprocal agreement with the R.o.I and the UK)

4. If my daughter took a year out and lived in the UK in 2021 (hopefully getting some type of employment / internship)…would she be able to apply as a UK home student in  2022?

5. If my daughter took a year out and lived in the the Republic of Ireland in 2021 (hopefully getting some type of employment / internship)…would she be able to apply as a UK home student in  2022?

Thank you

 She wont get a uk student loan next year. 

 Have you looked into Irelands student loans provision? 

MinuteNoodles

honeymichelle said:

We would really appreciate if anyone could clarify the fees status for our daughters :

1. Will they be eligible for a student loan from the UK government in 2021?

2. Will the repayment conditions be similar to those of students with UK loans?

3. The fact that my husband will have lived in Ireland for 2 years before the eldest starts university, would that make her eligible for a UK student loan? (assuming some reciprocal agreement with the R.o.I and the UK)

4. If my daughter took a year out and lived in the UK in 2021 (hopefully getting some type of employment / internship)…would she be able to apply as a UK home student in  2022?

5. If my daughter took a year out and lived in the the Republic of Ireland in 2021 (hopefully getting some type of employment / internship)…would she be able to apply as a UK home student in  2022?

Thank you

1. No
2. No
3. No. Merely having passports for various nations doesn't give you the right. It's about residency and you've not lived here for almost a decade and a half by the time they want to start. They were 3 and 5 years old when they left.
4. No. 

From the Government website:

Your nationality or residency status

You can apply if all of the following apply:

• you’re a UK national or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay)
• you normally live in England
• you’ve been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 years before starting your course

So no, even the youngest won't meet the criteria. 

[Deleted User]

 To add any time in the uk for the purpose of education doesn't count towards the 3 years residence

DCFC79

Why did you not check the Government website eg gov.uk as pointed out by MinuteNoodles.

gfplux

I know I am late to the party.
There is a compelling financial reason to study in Europe as EU citizens. I assume you are aware that to study for a batchelors in Europe will probably cost less than £500 per year for three years and a little more for a Masters per year for two years.
Many European Universities run many degree course in English.

fewcloudy

gfplux said:

I know I am late to the party.
There is a compelling financial reason to study in Europe as EU citizens. I assume you are aware that to study for a batchelors in Europe will probably cost less than £500 per year for three years and a little more for a Masters per year for two years.
Many European Universities run many degree course in English.

I don't think you needed to bother coming to the party if this is all you could bring with you...

brewthebear

Why do people always quote the :I paid uk taxes for many years: You have not lived here for also many years ?? Why should the drain be on Uk You are not classed as UK citizens having lived so long elsewhere. There are no loopholes 

Voyager2002

brewthebear said:

Why do people always quote the :I paid uk taxes for many years: You have not lived here for also many years ?? Why should the drain be on Uk You are not classed as UK citizens having lived so long elsewhere. There are no loopholes 

What a nasty comment! And just for the record, of course people in this situation are and always will be British citizens.

There is a moral argument that someone who has made a significant contribution to the UK by paying taxes for many years ought to enjoy the rights that this normally brings, such as student finance and access to the NHS. If it makes the OP feel better to make this point then that is their privilege, just so long as no-one imagines that it will somehow give their offspring the right to be treated as 'home' students. 

brewthebear

Voyager 2002 There is nothing nasty about stating the obvious !!
Am just pointing out the facts, how is that construed as nasty ??