Scotland and University fees

[Chavvytastic]

Please can someone talk to me about Scottish Universities? Fees? etc etc.

Please excuse my total ignorance in this matter but DH has come home tonight with a job proposition (in Scotland) which has thrown a lot of spanners in the works as well as a few amazing opportunities.

What Uni fees are Scottish residents subject to under current legislation? Is there any advantage over English residents? Is there any difference?

We are currently in Wales and have been for 3 years and were hoping to take advantage of the lower Uni fees when DD hopefully goes to uni in a couple of years time. DD1 is currently at Boarding School so her current education would not be affected. DD2 may well transfer to the Scottish school system if we move.

We spent 8 years living in Scotland 10 or so years back and loved it so would be keen to go and we always said we may go back one day but finances are tight and Uni fees is a big consideration for us.

So if you are able to tell me anything at all I would be grateful.

[AgentProvocateur]

Fees are paid for Scottish students, BUT there's a condition; you need to have been ordinarily resident for some years - either three or six. You'll need to look it up on the SAAS website.

Next year the non means tested maintenance loan rises to £4k-ish I think. A larger maintenance loan is available depending on parental income.

[Chavvytastic]

Thank you Agent.

Is that for students that attend Scottish Universities only or all UK Unis?

[AgentProvocateur]

Just Scottish universities (and perhaps European?) Scottish students pay the full fees in England. Not sure about Wales

[Chavvytastic]

Thanks for your help.

Its anyones guess what will happen by the time DD gets to Uni I suppose anyway but its good to have an idea of whats what.

[ArbitraryUsername]

You have to have been resident in the uk for 3 years and ordinarily resident in Scotland a specified date before the course starts (usually 1st August of the year the course starts) to be counted as a Scottish student. If your whole family moves to Scotland because your dad got a job there, you will be 'ordinarily resident' (because all it means is that you didn't move just for the university education).

OP: check the SAAS website.

[ArbitraryUsername]

From the website:

To meet the general residence conditions, you must have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before the first day of the first academic year of the course (the relevant date). For the majority of students who start their course in the autumn term, the relevant date is 1 August. [...]

You must also be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date [...]

Ordinarily resident has been defined in the courts as 'habitual and normal residence in one place'. It basically means that you, your parents or your husband, wife or civil partner live in a country year after year by choice throughout a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident.

We will not treat you as being ordinarily resident in Scotland if your main purpose in coming here has been to receive full-time education and that you would have otherwise been living elsewhere.

So your DD's would both be ordinarily resident in Scotland because your family would be living there for your DH's work.

[Chavvytastic]

Thank you for finding that piece and putting it in plain English for me Arbitrary. My mind is in a spin after this evenings unexpected revelations.

I love it here in Wales but will love to go back to Scotland just kind of regret ever selling our house up there now.