Moving abroad but DD wants to study in the UK

[User112]

DH's job is being moved abroad. Its a highly specialized niche, so it has been extremely difficult to find another job here unfortunately. DD is in Y10 and has her heart set on studying medicine. If she comes back to study here, she'll have to pay international fees - won't she?

We are not sure if this'll be a permanent move as DH's mum is alone here. Also, DD has special needs, so we cannot leave her with grandma.

Are there any medical schools in the UK/Ireland that have reasonable fees for returning residents ?

I believe that if you are on a visa and can show the 'temporary' nature of the move abroad (whether you consider it temporary or not) then the university will consider it and do not penalize students who have been moved because of a parents job. If you check with the universities she may be interested in, they will give you more details of their fees policies. We qualified for UK fees (as UK citizens) 6 years after the children left the UK, because of this - but we did have to provide evidence of visa dates, UK ties (family/property etc.)
DM me if my experience can help you!

I agree. I think you’ll need to ask some universities. Eg
www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/policies-and-guidance/fee-status

Looks hopeful.

It depends on a few different things.
This guide might help
www.ukcisa.org.uk/uploads/files/1/england_he_who_pays__home_fees_public_version2_28.5.21.pdf

Could she board in the UK? There are state boarding schools if you don’t want to go full private.

Then you could cobble a mixture of Air bnb / family for holidays for two years.
It seems harsh to move her for the two years, especially as she will have to build up her CV and prepare for the process of applying for medicine.

Same as PP above. DD came abroad with us in Y10 but went to university in the UK as a home student. We had to demonstrate ties to the UK - we’d still got our house in UK, also details of flights home for holidays. Intention to return etc etc.

To add, we'll not have visas as we are dual nationals :(

Might be worth looking at Scottish unis as their financial rules differ. Is it an EU country as reciprocal arrangements still exist in Scotland.

Boarding school in the UK

The Government are currently saying UK passport holders will qualify for home fees until Sept 2028
www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-europe#uk-nationals-in-the-eu

You should be ok
^You continue to be eligible for home fee status (the fee rate that students who live in the UK are charged), as well access to Student Finance or Further Education 19+ funding, if:

you were living in the EU before 1 January 2021, and you lived in the EU, EEA, EFTA countries, Switzerland, the UK and Gibraltar for at least the 3 years before starting a course in the UK

you have lived continuously in the EU, EEA, EFTA States, Switzerland, the UK and Gibraltar between 31 December 2020 and the start of your course, and

the course starts before 1 January 2028^

Boarding in uk is not usually recognised for SF purposes

DB has successfully sent his kids to uni here as home students despite living abroad for several years. They still pay UK tax, own a property and have British passports ( also DC have another nationality passport too).

I think it was quite difficult but they managed it. DC weren’t in UK schools.

Could she live with her grandma with support? Might be cheaper than boarding school and she could fly out to you in the holidays.
“Wanting to be a Dr” is a fairly common idea for high flyers in gcse years. She may change her mind and only a very few get in even with exceptional grades. Is it worth missing the last bit of having her at home to save ££s?

@LIZS

Boarding in uk is not usually recognised for SF purposes

No, but she'll get excellent teaching and advice.

Does this mean physical not intellectual disability that would prevent securing a medicine place?

"DD has special needs, so we cannot leave her with grandma."

Sorry, I realise you didn't specify it was in the EU...

Are you thinking of moving her abroad for year 11? That’s going to have massive impact on her. It’s not possible to transfer usually as gcse courses are 2 years. I know some move unavoidable reasons but it’s usually a try and scrape a few GCSEs scenario not for an academic child. Can you stay with her and DH go?

If DD’s special needs are so severe that she cannot live with her grandmother, is it actually practical or sensible to consider a gruelling career in medicine, requiring long hours, night shifts, prolonged training and having to study for postgrad specialist qualifications while simultaneously working up to 60 hours a week?

Dh goes for a year without you both?

If the family are permanently resident in UK and moving abroad for temporary work reasons she will still be eligible for home fees. There is a lot of misunderstanding about this - including among some of the universities. . The ukcisa link cited above covers your scenario.

I would not move my DCs at tha stage of their education unless there was no alternative
Particularly if they want to do a competitive course like medicine

Oh I really wouldn’t move your DD at this stage unless there was literally no other option.

Couldn’t you and DD stay out and your husband move away for work? Flay back for long weekends and you can spend holidays together.

It’s such a short period of time.

As others say, I might be less concerned at this time about university fees, and more about the effect on your DD's immediate learning. When are you planning to move? Is there any way she could at least stay another 11 months and finish GCSEs?

You say she has SEN, if this is severe enough to make living with grandma impossible, yes, will it impact on her ability to study medicine? DS1 has SEN and there is no way he could have considered anything like that, because of his SEN.

I am no expert on med school, but I gather it is v competitive, needing the highest GCSE and A level grades plus lots of outside work experience. How feasible is this in the country you are moving to?

That's a terrible time to change schools let alone countries. Can you split the family between two areas and perhaps your DH can work 7 day weeks and get a week a month at home that the company pays for? Often there are such offers under relocation packages

@Babdoc

If DD’s special needs are so severe that she cannot live with her grandmother, is it actually practical or sensible to consider a gruelling career in medicine, requiring long hours, night shifts, prolonged training and having to study for postgrad specialist qualifications while simultaneously working up to 60 hours a week?

This is a very valid question

I agree with previous posters who have said their concerns would be less focused on university and more focused on her actually getting any gcses if she's moving half way through her courses.

I'd also be concerned as a PP pointed out if she is cut out for a medical degree if her needs are so severe she cannot be left with her gran?