Scottish University for Expats

[Expatmum123]

Apologies for the name change.
Can British expats still get free University education in Scotland? I thought this loophole was closed last year?

If you mean the EU connection route, that's unfortunately no longer possible. 2020 was the last year.

If you are a British Citizen living in the EU, (and were for 3 years prior to the Brexit legislation being formalised) you are considered a Home Student for fees/loans if that's any help?

That does help, thanks. So that means is you're British and live in Spain, you can be regarded as a 'Home' student in Scotland and pay no tuition fees?
Are loans for maintenance through The Students Loans Finance Company the same as an English student?
I assume that ex pats are more likely to study in Scotland as a result?

Apologies, this is a bit confusing. I looked here www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Fees-and-Money/Scotland-fee-status

It seems to be saying that from 21/22, guidance was changed so that expats pay RUK rate not home rate (so the same as a student from England, not the same rate as students from Scotland).

But then it goes on to say that
We are seeking confirmation from the Scottish Government as to whether these provisions remain, despite the guidance now being a year old and not having obviously been revised for 2022/23.
UK nationals and their family members living in the EEA or Switzerland on 31 December 2020 (or living in the UK immediately following a period of residence in the EEA or Switzerland), who lived in another part of the UK before moving there, and who have lived in the EEA or Switzerland for the 3 years prior to the relevant date. They must be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date.

If you are an expat applying to an English University, I assume you pay at the international rate?

A British student living in Spain will pay rUK fees of £9,250 per year in Scotland.

If you're British and were living in the EU at the time of the withdrawal agreement, and are still there, you get home fees in the UK. That means the RUK fee in Scotland, which is the same as uni fees in England, Wales and N. Ireland. You are also eligible for student loans.

If you are socttish and are in the EU, you can try and get Scottish fees (basically free) by claiming you're still resident in Scotland but are temporarily overseas. That's harder to prove, though.

Thanks for helping me understand this.

So it does look as though there is a discrepancy between Scotland an England.

England regards those living in Europe for the previous 3 years as 'resident' overseas so they pay the International rate for English Universities, whereas Scotland regards then as RUK so they pay the same as English students.

This means that if you are English, but reside & pay tax in Europe, Scotland will provide discounted fees but England wont.

I may have got this wrong though.

No! Any uni in the UK will regard you as a home student, if you meet the criteria I mentioned above. This stands for 7 years since the withdrawal agreement.

As above:
British Citizens, who can prove they were EU/EEA resident for 3 years prior to the Brexit moment, will be home students for tuition/maintenance until 2028. No difference whether that is a university in England or Scotland.
We are British but in Italy and DD will be going to Bath in 2 weeks as a home student. It was St. Andrews who first confirmed it to me last year before the info on the SLC website was updated to take into account the new clause.

OP expats aren't permanently abroad. That's immigrants. So are you on a temporary posting in Spain (you/partner work for a company that moves you every 3-5 years) after which you move elsewhere or back to UK, or have you stopped living in the UK?

I know people in the expat category who have kept their UK a home because they will need it when they come back and that has assisted the university situation.

Reported above badly written incoherent post advertising an illegal essay mill.

Why do these people think poorly worded, incorrect, poor grammar and inarticulate posts are showcasing their essays?

In Scotland it is also down to each university to determine the fee status. We had not been in Scotland for the required 3 year period but our children have got home fee status (free). We had to provide a lot of additional information (dates of all trips home, clarify the fact we were on a temporary overseas contract, were not permanent residents overseas, classed as a UK employee by employer, retained house in Scotland etc). But unfortunately you will not know the decision at the time of application.

Learning is a very important thing and it would have been worthwhile to keep learning even though 2020 was the last year. Perhaps you should look at universities that are closer to you and try to apply there. I think you'll find it useful too. It is a good idea to take a year off to find out if you need it or if you would rather go to another university. But if you are going to work and study without wasting time I think my advice would be very useful to you. Good luck!

Hello this is an old thread but just checking in as we live in the EU and my children are applying for UK universities. We have had no problem getting home fee status from English universities but the vast majority of Scottish ones are still only offering them international fees. Anyone had any experience of this?