Do you apply as a U.K. student or foreign one if you live abroad for a long time?

[yellowbutterflies]

Just wondering as I ponder if to work abroad will this result in dc registering as U.K. or foreign students.

www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Fees-and-Money/England-HE-fee-status

Thanks @jgw1 I'm still fairly confused but will read through again tomorrow. Seems there are quite particular rules around it.

Hi OP, I work abroad, & yes, it's basically disqualified my dc from UK student loans as they've spent their secondary years at school overseas.

Not a problem for us as the dc are heading for non UK unis, but a definite consideration if you think they might want to do UG courses in the UK.

Basically, if they've not been 'ordinarily resident' in the UK for 3 years, they won't be eligible.

Options to get round this, which my colleagues have tried:

• return to the UK as a family for sixth form, add a gap year = 3 year requirement

• as above, but just the dc returns, either attending boarding school, or living with UK based family/friends/professional student landlords whilst attending day school

• own property in the UK & claim parental overseas contract is 'temporary' - not reliable but I do know families who've got away with it. Depends which university/course.

• one divorced parent is still in UK - claim dc has been 'resident' with that parent. Unreliable, as above.

In the last two examples, bear in mind that relying on IB or A levels from a school in Foreign Parts is likely to derail the dc's claim that they were UK residents despite mum/dad working abroad. A gap year seems to make it easier to 'disconnect', anecdotally.

Oh sorry - & of course it's both fees & eligibility for student finance, so a double whammy!

We are looking at more bang for their buck studying outside the UK, but it's a definite consideration.

My ds was born outside the uk and returned when he was 18 to go to university. We did get home fees because dh was on a secondment from the uk, although the secondment had lasted over 10 years. The university wanted a copy of all dh’ s employment contracts to confirm home fees status. We did not have a house in the uk and had been overseas for 23 years (13 years in Europe and 10 in Asia when ds applied to university. We paid his fees (9250) per year and all costs.

Thanks @CorvusPurpureus and @ShanghaiDiva very helpful information. We would probably be in a similar situation to you @CorvusPurpureus and will be looking at alternatives to U.K. universities as well just in case.