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Original poster

Confusion over fees?

31 replies

Eden27 · 02/08/2015 03:28

DD is a year away from final exams and thinking about university entry.
We live overseas and have for the past several years.
This seems to mean that although DD was born in the UK to British parents and obviously is a British citizen she is sill classed as an international student!
It seems like a very silly rule, and DD is very annoyed about it, especially as her British cousins can pay home fees here.

Is this information correct or are we confused?
Thanks!

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mummytime · 05/08/2015 12:12

cegnutter - have you read the thread? I don't see anything that would indicate her daughter could be considered a home student in the UK - except that they still have British citizenship - which is not enough on its own.

cegnutter · 04/08/2015 19:17

It's complicated and frustratingly you won't know if a university will classify your daughter as a home or overseas student until she is made an offer or even later. However, it is not simple to assess a student's fee status. It can depend on whether the parent(s) are on a temporary or permanent contract, how links have been maintained to the UK such as through regular visits, and a range of other things.

It may be worth your daughter applying to universities in the UK and seeing what happens. It's also worth contacting student finance as there decision about the provision on loans is made independently from the university's decision about fee status. I've seen the odd case of a student paying home fees but not able to access student loans.

Good luck.

mummytime · 04/08/2015 11:15

Why not study in Australia? Its one of the most expensive places for foreign students to study - but as residents you'd pay local rates.

I do think you were very naive to think you'd have a hope of local rates in the UK - that has never been the case (at least 30+ years) unless you count as a "Crown Servant". Its certainly something that I have been aware of for the last 20 years while my DC were growing up.

Another European Country might be cheaper?

Original poster
Eden27 · 04/08/2015 08:27

Sorry, I mean we live in the UK for 40 years and payed tax all our adult lives

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Original poster
Eden27 · 04/08/2015 08:24

homebythesea - we did pay taxes for close to 40 years though

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homebythesea · 03/08/2015 19:34

Why should your child get state support when you have not supported the state in the form of paying taxes??

notquitegrownup2 · 03/08/2015 14:56

No help to you OP, but could you explain how her British Cousins get Home Status in Australia - do they have Australian parents? DS (English) would love to study in Australia instead of the UK - his Uncle and Aunt are Australian, if that helps . . .

Original poster
Eden27 · 03/08/2015 14:51

floggingmolly - would have expected British citizens born in Britain to British parents to pay home fees I suppose.
Maybe I just expected that because that's the system here and didn't consider it wouldn't be when we left the UK

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Decorhate · 03/08/2015 14:28

Actually the whole resident/taxpayer thing is a bit of a red herring IMO. Eg EU residents don't pay fees in Scotland but English residents do. And obv EU residents don't pay UK tax.

titchy · 03/08/2015 14:25

Check out the financial assistance for students provided by all the channel island (and Isle of Man) governments - you won't feel sorry for their fee status then - you'll be wanting to move there!

Floggingmolly · 03/08/2015 13:42

She's a non resident... What on earth did you expect?

scatterthenuns · 03/08/2015 13:39

Correct and not silly at all!

Eastpoint · 03/08/2015 13:33

Channel Islanders were treated as non UK in the 70s & 80s, that isn't new. No tax is paid to the UK government by CI residents.

Decorhate · 03/08/2015 13:29

Oh I know that's why. But they feel part of the UK (though are not I think?) iyswim

AtiaoftheJulii · 03/08/2015 13:25

But Channel Islanders don't, as someone said above, pay much in the way of UK taxes.

Decorhate · 03/08/2015 10:59

I met a student on an open day who was from one of the Channel Islands & was being charged as an overseas student. Thought that was harsh.

Bonsoir · 03/08/2015 10:05

In Australia there are excellent universities (ANU) and less illustrious ones, on a spectrum.

Millymollymama · 03/08/2015 09:53

Is there anything wrong with Australian universities? My DD met several students from Australia on her year abroad in Europe and they were excellent people.

Bonsoir · 03/08/2015 09:31

There are government regulations on fee status for university but each university makes its own decision based on the regulations and without reference to the decisions made by other universities.

Needmoresleep · 03/08/2015 09:15

My understanding is that decisions around status are made by Universities and that some take a more flexible approach than others. Five years ago but we know one girl who was able to get home country status despite leaving the UK aged six. I think it was a case of asking different Universities till she found one that did.

Original poster
Eden27 · 03/08/2015 08:04

Overseasmum - we're based in Australia. I'm not sure that would work for us to be honest because we've been here for all of DDs high school life and her school isn't international. Worth a try I suppose, do you know how we would go about doing that though?

OP posts:
Happy36 · 02/08/2015 23:46

Sorry, Eden, I missed where you had already stated you´re outside the EU. Apologies.

Happy36 · 02/08/2015 23:45

I believe if you are outside the UK for 3 years (or more) you are classed as overseas. However if you are in the EU then your daughter would pay the same fees as a UK student if she chooses university in England or Wales and no fees if she chooses university in Scotland.
I would say, ring UCAS, and get their advice. They are really helpful and will clear up any confusion.

0verseasmum · 02/08/2015 20:29

Hi Eden
Do you intend to come back to the UK to live are you just working abroad as an expat because if you are your DC can claim it's not their fault their parents job took them abroad and try for home status. Tax paid or not. This is what children from our international schools do. Where are you based

senua · 02/08/2015 20:09

I believe that she can earn back her 'home student' status if she is resident here for three years before applying.