NHS funded courses and UK residency

[JessieMcJessie]

I have been looking at a postgraduate diploma in a health profession and I understand that the NHS pays tuition fees for the course.

I have just contacted the University, who told me that to be eligible for NHS funding I must have been resident in the UK for 3 years as at the date the course begins. Trouble is that I currently live in Hong Kong, where I have been working for the last 5 years. I am British and we will be returning permanently. I am fortunate in that I have savings that I'd gladly spend on the fees so am not bothered about not getting NHS funding. However from what I can work out, if you are British you can't self-fund the course so I won't be able to apply for 3 years, which is sadly too late for me. Has anyone encountered this before; what would be the reason for this residency requirement? They allow international students to self fund.

You should count as an international student. Nationality doesn't come into it, only residency.

University have confirmed categorically that "unfortunately as a British national you will not be able to self-fund the vourse a an international student". Also, by the time I apply I will be UK resident, but jut not for the requisite 3 years.

Sorry, typos "self-fund the course as an international student"

Is there a course in Hong Kong you can stay and do there?

Try contacting another UK institution with the same course to see if they give the same information about fees. It's a bit bonkers. You're usually classed as a Home/EU or Overseas student and pay fees accordingly. It sounds like you should be classed as Overseas for the purpose of paying fees.

If it helps bolton university are doing a nursing degree that isn't nhs funded at all

It's about having paid into the system, I think. Otherwise, anyone with British citizenship eligible by having one grandparent born here, could apply for a 'free' well not any more place at a UK university.

I think it was Mrs THatcher who introduced that gem.

Unfortunately, living outside the UK and/or EU does place restrictions on eligibility for some educational courses in the UK.

Back to my first question then - is there a course you can do in Hong Kong if you've lived and paid into the system there?

You might be better asking contracts in HK about that. Or posting in one of the Living Abroad sections?

contacts, I mean