Uni Fees - Loan or not? Help!!!

[MABS]

We are most likely going to be overseas whilst dd does her A levels from Sept 11. Then I imagine she will take a gap year then start uni here in 2014. We will still be overseas but will have a house here always.

Will she be eligible for uk fees then? i am guessing not. But more importantly, no problem if she will need to pay overseas rate fees, but will she be eligible for a uk student loan?

We are so worried about the loan thing, it could mean we are unable to move :(

This page does say you need to be 'ordinarily resident' in the UK for the three years immediately before the course starts, and not just for the purpose of receiving education. But it does say that the advice doesn't cover all circumstances, so it would probably be worth getting in touch to find out more.

thanks, it's a bit grey isn't it?!

Would you be keeping your house in the UK, ordinary UK bank accounts and so on? If yoy can demonstrate your time overseas was temporary and you have maintained links with the UK there is every chance she will be assessed as "home" for fees purposes and qualify for a loan. If you can demonstrate that the work overseas was for a fixed period of time this will also help. Each University makes their own assessment and some are stricter than others so be prepared for there to be variation in what you are asked to provide.

When you get nearer the date some University admissions offices wil help make an initial fees assessment.

If you going to be abroad with HM Forces there are different rules.

thanks, no not HM Forces. yes, house, banks a/c will all be maintained here.

The big problem is that the rules could change between now and then, too. So you really can't plan that well. I imagine that if she took the gap year in the UK that would boost her case, is that possible? Does gap year always = time spent abroad?

i suppose she could, tho i think she planning to go to her aunt in Oz! Thanks for your help

Hi MABS, we had all this with DS. As you know he was abroad for a few years then back to the UK for his A levels. The plan had been a gap year so that he had been in the UK for the required 3 years prior to attending Uni however at the last minute he changed his mind and applied for Uni for this coming year due to the changes in tuition fees.

He contacted a few Unis and asked the question about funding and whether he would be treated as an 'overseas' student and was given a number to contact. He phoned and went through the various questions they asked and was told for the purposes of fees he would not be treated as an overseas student. I will ask him for the details of who he spoke to and the phone number and FB you that info x

please mos, that would be really helpful x