Brexit: UK nationals and university costs

[Epiphany52]

I live in Switzerland. Have done for 7 years. Last night I went to an Embassy event about Brexit and the impact on UK nationals living here.
One question was about whether UK nationals going to University will pay home fees (eg a UK citizen who lives in the UK or in the current situation for UK nationals abroad) or international fees.
To give perspective at Cambridge studying a language at degree level is £9,000 a year for a home student and £20,000 a year for international students.
Apparently the Department for Education is looking into it.
It would be very annoying and costly if fees for UK passport holders go up just because of not living in UK

[SheWoreBlueVelvet]

I thought fees were about residency rather than passort per se. So I have a friend with a UK passport who has been resident abroad for 10 years. Uni fees are treated as “ foreign” until they live here 3 years.

[SheWoreBlueVelvet]

This is now, obviously. Not sure Brexit will make any difference if fees are based on the time spent in the country you want to Uni in.

[freezinguplands]

I have the same understanding as bluevelvet
I know some people have property, pay council tax and demonstrate residency that way. I'm not sure that is totally legit though.

[HotInWinter]

EU students are classed as home students for Uni fees.
For those living outside the EU and UK, the 3 year thing comes in.

[blueskiesandforests]

Presumably Epiphany52 's point is about whether EU residents with UK citizenships will be treated as foreign students if Brexit happens, or whether EU residents will still get a special deal.

Presumably also, as with all things Brexit, is nobody, knows - nobody at all, not one living soul, because it's a gigantic, chaotic, unthought out mess.

Why not use the universities of the country you live in though Epiphany52 ?

[Abricot1993]

This is a good article. Blueskies the reason for choosing a uk university maybe so that the language of tuition is English
www.ukstudyoptions.com/ukeu-expats-dont-lose-eligibility-home-fees/

[Racecardriver]

Presumably you will be in the same boat as all other nonresidents?

[SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed]

This link is part of an email sent out by my university, not sure if it is useful for you, but in case it is:
www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-agreements-with-the-eea-efta-states-and-switzerland

[Epiphany52]

Thanks for the replies. And the links etc.
Never thought we would be here for so long. Just trying to figure out the option.
Thanks again 😊

[lifeisunjust]

Indeed for public UK universities, the fees depend on RESIDENCY not NATIONALITY.

EU fees = also Swiss and EEA ie Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, so EU 28 + 4 non EU = 32 countries of residence.

There have been no decisions yet regarding 2020-21 entry, but for 2019-20 entry, the EU fees remain.

Therefore from 2020-21, a Swiss resident may or not be paying EU fees, may or not be paying FOREIGN residency fees.

The only non UK and outside the EU fees area for residency who can still get the EU fees are crown servants, military, working outside the UK on government service, presumably same applies to a French government employee sent to work say in USA, they being normally a French resident, would be classed as if they still are.

[Lunde]

When it comes to British citizens living in Sweden - the Swedish government recently guaranteed British citizens' EU rights for one year after a hard Brexit. However, after a year British citizens would have to apply for residence and work permits on the same terms as non-EU citizens. The right to free University tuition would also remain for one year but after this British citizens would have to pay non-EU University fees.
www.dn.se/ekonomi/britter-i-sverige-far-ett-ars-respit-vid-en-hard-brexit/

[MariaNovella]

This issue has not been settled. It is ultimately for the Deoartment for Education to decide whether UK citizens resident in the EU will be charged Home or International fees post-Brexit. All the relevant people are aware of the issue.

[Gfplux]

We live in Luxembourg. My daughter went to a UK Uni just a few years ago. Actually her first year was the last year before the fees jumped from +/-£3500 to £9000 so did her English Bachelors and Masters at those levels. This was very fortunate as here the help from the state towards fees was not too much below the £3500 level.

HOWEVER MORE IMPORTANT is the recognition of qualifications. Within the EU28 there is “the will” for all qualifications gained in one country to be recognised by all the others. This is moving slowly in some countries and faster in others.
With Britain out of the EU the question is will the EU27 recognise qualifications gained in the future in the UK.

If my daughter were to be starting over I don’t know wether we as a family would decide easily for the U.K.

[williteverend99]

www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Fees-and-Money/England-fee-status

Fee status for UK nationals is more complicated than some of the posters here imply. Much depends on WHY the family is overseas. In many cases if the family can show that they are overseas for work reasons - ie they are expats not emigrants - they qualify for home fees. This is NOT limited to Covil Service and Armed Forces.
This applies currently to British families located outside the EU, and it would be logical to assume it would apply to those in the EU post Brexit.
The booklet above is very useful.