University education information

[goldfish123]

We're hoping to emigrate with our three DC (13, 12, 12) early next year. They currently go to a private school, and once we move, they will go to the British School in that country. We are hoping that they will go to university back here in the UK; however, I was told that once you are out of the country for more than three years, your child/children will be considered foreign students and thus, will have to pay foreign student fees. Could anyone tell me whether or not this is true? Thanks much in advance.

Yes, it is often but not invariably true.

If you can demonstrate that you are abroad temporarily for work (will you be paying UK tax and NI? Would your employer be able to supply a letter indicating it is a work posting, not a permanent move?) then your DCs might still qualify. Will you be staying in EU? In which case they should qualify as EU residents and get lower fees than UK residents (grrrrr).

But if you have emigrated permanently, then yes the entitlement will lapse.

there are often hoops to jump through - i think it's about 'resident' status rather than citizenship etc.

i applied to go to uni in the uk having been living abroad serving with HM Forces and was initially told i wasn't eligible for any funding as a UK resident (which i thought was hilarious seeing as it was queen and country that sent me overseas)

so, i suspect there will be drama, yes. sorry.

(i went to the ombudsman and appealed as it was fecking ridiculous, but as you are choosing to emigrate, i suspect you won't have that option)

just curious, where are you going that you feel your children will be better off going back to the uk for post secondary?

Thanks much for the quick replies. Thinking of moving to the a philippines - quality of life and all that. DH used to work there as an expat and we're in love with the country. UK becoming too depressing, and children growing up way too quickly here!
As we're moving on our own volition I suppose we'll just have to bite the bullet and start saving for university fees! Argh.
Madwoman - could you give me more info (perhaps a link?) on education savings plan?
Thanks again.

ours is done through a canadian govt plan, so wouldn't be any use to you - there must be a uk version along the line somewhere, though. this one gets a small grant added to it annually, so not sure there is a direct equivalent...

I've no idea how you'd best go about saving, but flexibility of location for university may be important. Once away from UK you might find your DCs prefer to go to Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore or the US rather than here.

True, true... But eldest has already expressed his desire to go to Cambridge (!) Hopefully the fact that he'll have a different background from the UK applicants (because of the overseas education) will do him well...

If you are emigrating, rather than going on a temporary assignment, you should not get home status fees. Currently, people in your situation very frequently do, but it is a grey area, and with tuition fees rising and money becoming tighter, I would guess this will become more difficult. I have some acquaintances who have no intention of ever returning to the UK. Their first two children were granted home status. Number three, applying to the same university as the older siblings attend(ed) and the same college (Oxbridge) is being refused home status.

It is anyone's guess what the situation will be in future, but fairness suggests that people who are not contributing through the tax system and do not in future intend to, will be examined more closely in this regard, so it would be safer to save up all that extra expat cash, just in case!