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 ?

It is a terrible time to even consider moving your DD. She is halfway through her GCSEs. She needs to be allowed to stay and finish them or she could be totally screwed over.

DH goes alone. You and DD stay at home so that she can stay settled in school. Visits can be made in school holidays.

Don't do it to her.

Medicine is a highly competitive course to be accepted onto. She’ll need straight As in her GCSEs and A Levels. This disruption is not ideal. Also, if her special needs are so severe she cannot live with her grandma, is she really cut out for a medical degree?

I presume she can’t go to university where the new job is?
You’d still have the disruption of GCSEs, but depending on how that country does it’s qualifications that may be a non issue.

@LIVS everything I've read says no home feed for new EU students unless they have settled status or have already started their courses in or before 2020. I haven't seen anywhere saying new students in 2021 will have Home fee status but i havent looked everywhere. This is from Edinburgh Uni:

" If you live in the EU (excluding if you are from the Republic of Ireland) and do not have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, your fee status will be ‘EU’ and you will be charged an international tuition fee rate."

You're surely not going to move her at the end of year 10, mid way through her GCSEs? That would be awful parenting! I think DH goes without you for at least the first year, then you've got a bit more time to think.

@Topseyt

It is a terrible time to even consider moving your DD. She is halfway through her GCSEs. She needs to be allowed to stay and finish them or she could be totally screwed over.

DH goes alone. You and DD stay at home so that she can stay settled in school. Visits can be made in school holidays.

Don't do it to her.

This!

In your situation I would be telling dh to pack his bags and go it alone.
Dd would be my priority, no question.

The residency is not that much of an issue. Many Medicine candidates don't get in the first year of application whilst others opt to take a year out. Your DD could come back for a year, work to gain experience, and start the following year. She will have gained residency again. That is if she is not considered a resident in the first place anyway.

As for getting a place in Medicine. Only about 10% of applications get a place, so it's very competitive. GCSEs matter a lot, however odd it is. You can't get 4 A* a A levels, if you don't have at least 7 8s or 9s, she won't even get an interview at most schools. If she is genuinely keen on Medicine after understanding the implications of a career in that field and the competitiveness of entrance, then I'd made sure not to mess about with her schooling. Saying that, if she has a diagnosed disability, she is likely to be given some consideration. Most commonly that is lower A levels results, but different school will have different approaches and not sure what this would translate to with international qualifications.

State boarding - grammar school - my DS wanted to board here and at the time we lived within walking distance of the school...😂

Great school and would definitely support her planned medicine degree.

www.ripongrammar.co.uk

@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?

Yes I thought this too!

You do not need straight 8/9s to get into medical school, nor A stars at A level. Some offer AAB and most AAA. As long as have 7-9 in science and maths and Eng Lang then a few 6s will not be an issue at most places. Every Uni looks at different things (which change annually so need to be on the ball). What you definitely need is a strong UCAT and/or BMAT.
Moving at end of year 10 is not a good idea. Schools teach in different orders, even if doing the same exam board. Would be v hard to catch up.

Is there no way DH could go alone while you stay here with DD until she finishes school/A-levels?

I teach secondary and honestly, moving mid GCSEs, even in the same country would be hugely disruptive. Unless it was a life and death situation, there's no way I'd do it.

Whether she applies for medicine or not, I would look for ways to remain in the UK with her until after her A-levels.

Careful with the ‘residency’ advice as some universities require you to have lived in the U.K. for the three years preceding application. It might be fine, but you need to check.

hello - the government advice seems to say that up until 2028, British people living in the EEA are eligible for home fees - have I misunderstood this?
www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-nationals-in-the-eea-and-switzerland-access-to-higher-education-and-19-further-education

It says:
'For courses starting from 1 August 2021, you will continue to be eligible for home fee status and be able to access HE and FE student finance or be funded for a 19+ FE course as long as:

you were living in the EEA or Switzerland on 31 December 2020, and either:
you lived in England immediately before moving there, and you have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the last 3 years before starting a course in the UK
you did not live in the UK immediately before living there, and have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least 3 years before starting a course in England
you have lived continuously in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar between 31 December 2020 and the start of your course
the course starts before 1 January 2028'

Could you stay in the UK with her until she starts university?