University Fees

Mrsmoneypenny

This may sound simple, but I find nothing is simple when dealing with money!

My son hopes to go to Uni in Wales this September, he will study for two years.

He has been at UK English boaring school for the past 4 years, stays with his sister when not in school as we are working/living overseas.

Question 1 is will we be able to apply for any grants/loans as we are outside of UK, although we are British citizens/passport holders but due to work have lived outside UK for quite a few years? Our son would be classed as Home Student because he would be living/working in UK if he did not continue with his education. We have a home there.


I have worked out that with fees, accommodation, living expenses and a little bit extra for the unexpected, it should cost around 11,000 per year. Of course, times that by two, so 22,000 on completion.

Question 2 is if we are eligible for a loan/grant is it true that no matter where the money comes from, government loan, student bank loan, the full amount will be due for repayment? The only difference would be when it becomes due for repayment and the interest rates? Is there a maximum that can be applied for?

Thanks in advance
MrsMoneyPenny:beer:

melancholly

so is he at boarding school in the UK then? actually i should say ask where as there are different rules for england/scotland/wales/northern ireland depending on where he lives and where he is planning to go.

Mrsmoneypenny

Thanks for asking, I have now updaated my question to show he is at UK English boarding school and will be (hopefully) going to Uni in Wales.

Oldernotwiser

Do you live the EU or further afield? For how long have you been abroad? I don't mean to worry you but if your son is considered an overseas student the fees will be considerably higher than you're thinking!

melancholly

so he is a british subject and is currently resident in england? with that, i see no reason why he shouldn't be considered as a standard home student.

http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/faqs/showFaq.asp?ID=4
http://www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=53,1259548&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
these websites should be able to take you through all the relevant info.

Oldernotwiser

melancholly wrote: »

so he is a british subject and is currently resident in england? with that, i see no reason why he shouldn't be considered as a standard home student.

I'm afraid that it's not always as simple as that. Residency in the UK "solely for the purposes of education" doesn't count. Also, a lot depends on whether the parents are living abroad temporarily or permanently and whether or not in the EU. I can't give chapter and verse on this or be 100% accurate as I'm having IT problems but I do know that this sort of situation needs to be looked at very carefully. You can't give any financial advice until it's definitely established whether he's a Home, EU or International student.

melancholly

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm afraid that it's not always as simple as that. Residency in the UK "solely for the purposes of education" doesn't count. Also, a lot depends on whether the parents are living abroad temporarily or permanently and whether or not in the EU. I can't give chapter and verse on this or be 100% accurate as I'm having IT problems but I do know that this sort of situation needs to be looked at very carefully. You can't give any financial advice until it's definitely established whether he's a Home, EU or International student.

interesting - i only know of friends who are american, but lived in the UK to go to school. parents were abroad and they still counted as a home student.... guess they were quite lucky then!! i think the british nationality may have been the clincher.

Oldernotwiser

Finally found the relevant definition;

"For a student to be eligible for home fee status, he or she must have been ordinarily resident in the UK or elsewhere in the European Union, EEA (= EU + Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland for the last three years preceding 1st September, 1st January or 1st April closest to the beginning of the first term of their course before the start of the course. Ordinary residence in the UK is defined as settled here without being subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on the period of stay. It specifically excludes residence wholly or mainly for the purposes of education, for example attendance at boarding school. Certain categories of immigrants to the UK, typically refugees, are excluded from this residential rule. In the case of those students who have been ordinarily resident in EU/EEA countries other than the UK, or Switzerland, for at least the last three years, they must be nationals of an EU country. There is no nationality restriction in the case of those who have satisfied the residential requirements within Britain.

British and other EU citizens may still be able to claim home fee status if they, or their parents, etc., can prove that their residence outside the EU during this three year period is temporary. To do this they will need to show that this absence is due to temporary employment abroad, that the employment itself is temporary and that but for that employment the person would be ordinarily resident in the UK/EU. A person may be resident in two or more countries at any one time. Property in the UK/EU may help to establish residence in the area in doubtful cases, but this will only be one factor among many taken into consideration."

As I said, it's more complicated than just being a case of a British citizen living in the UK. The OP needs to make more formal enquiries first, via the LEA or universities.

MayaJ_2

I have similar problems trying to work out if my daughter will be regarded as a 'home' student so any advice will be most appreciated.

We moved to Spain 6 years ago but my daughter always intended to return to Uni in the UK so at age 16 we applied for her National Insurance number and then when she was 17 we paid for her provisional driving license and driving theory test. Eventually she wants to be a secondary school teacher in the UK.

However, she has now applied for a deferred place to start in September 2011. She has been accepted as volunteer by a charity organisation so will be spending a 'gap' year overseas.

Although we live in Spain we're by no means wealthy! We have an annual income of around €15k and 2 younger sons who will still be living at home. Does anyone know if my daughter will be eligible for full UK maintenance loans, grants, etc? It seems so unfair that she had no choice but to move here with us and always planned to return but may have to miss out. We're feeling rather terrible that we may have messed up her entire future as we have no spare funds to pay her way through Uni although she is prepared to get part time work.

olly300

MayaJ wrote: »

I have similar problems trying to work out if my daughter will be regarded as a 'home' student so any advice will be most appreciated.

We moved to Spain 6 years ago but my daughter always intended to return to Uni in the UK so at age 16 we applied for her National Insurance number and then when she was 17 we paid for her provisional driving license and driving theory test. Eventually she wants to be a secondary school teacher in the UK.

However, she has now applied for a deferred place to start in September 2011. She has been accepted as volunteer by a charity organisation so will be spending a 'gap' year overseas.

Although we live in Spain we're by no means wealthy! We have an annual income of around €15k and 2 younger sons who will still be living at home. Does anyone know if my daughter will be eligible for full UK maintenance loans, grants, etc? It seems so unfair that she had no choice but to move here with us and always planned to return but may have to miss out. We're feeling rather terrible that we may have messed up her entire future as we have no spare funds to pay her way through Uni although she is prepared to get part time work.

At no point in your post have you stated that your daughter has lived in the UK for the past 3 years. As previously suggested contact the universities concerned and the LEA.

Oldernotwiser

MayaJ wrote: »

I have similar problems trying to work out if my daughter will be regarded as a 'home' student so any advice will be most appreciated.

We moved to Spain 6 years ago but my daughter always intended to return to Uni in the UK so at age 16 we applied for her National Insurance number and then when she was 17 we paid for her provisional driving license and driving theory test. Eventually she wants to be a secondary school teacher in the UK.

However, she has now applied for a deferred place to start in September 2011. She has been accepted as volunteer by a charity organisation so will be spending a 'gap' year overseas.

Although we live in Spain we're by no means wealthy! We have an annual income of around €15k and 2 younger sons who will still be living at home. Does anyone know if my daughter will be eligible for full UK maintenance loans, grants, etc? It seems so unfair that she had no choice but to move here with us and always planned to return but may have to miss out. We're feeling rather terrible that we may have messed up her entire future as we have no spare funds to pay her way through Uni although she is prepared to get part time work.

I would think it unlikely that she would be considered a UK student for her maintenance finance, I'm afraid, although always worth checking in case the situation has changed.

Can't she do her degree in Spain and return to the UK after that to train as a teacher?