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Secondary education

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Original poster

Scottish unis free for european students???

55 replies

horseygin · 15/01/2014 20:52

Does anybody know if it is true that our european counterparts can study fee free in scottish universities ... and yet we have to pay full fees? That surely cant be right? Tell me they have to pay too... please?

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 15/01/2014 20:58

Free for EU students, as they have to be treated the same as locals.

But don't blame us - it was the UK government that changed it for England, we just stayed the same as it used to be.

FannyFifer · 15/01/2014 21:00

What she said. ^ Grin

PortofinoRevisited · 15/01/2014 21:00

You could also go to say Maastricht and study a course in English with hardly any fees.

RawCoconutMacaroon · 15/01/2014 21:00

That depends who you mean by "we" Smile.
Scottish residents don't pay fees, rest of UK students do... Eu students also pay no fees due To eu laws.

Scottish students at "rest of Uk" universities pay full fees btw.

RawCoconutMacaroon · 15/01/2014 21:02

Porto is correct - any eu uni has to charge uk students the same as their home students.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 15/01/2014 21:03

However, if we vote yes, English students will be able to study free, too. Right until rUK vote to leave the EU in 2017...

Original poster
horseygin · 15/01/2014 21:06

I googled this... if they are independant from us they cant discriminate against us... as it is... we and the rest of the uk are the only ones paying fees in scottish unis. £7500 per year. Great.News from 14/01/2014.

OP posts:
AgentProvocateur · 15/01/2014 21:08

Er, not everyone here is English you know. By your use of "they" and "us" you seem to think you're only posting amongst other English people.

FannyFifer · 15/01/2014 21:12

Scotland is not discriminating, we have a separate education system and the rest of the UK charges for Uni.

AMumInScotland · 15/01/2014 21:16

Scotland choose to use some of their money on paying fees for Scottish universities. England choose not to. Who should you blame for that?

RawCoconutMacaroon · 15/01/2014 22:15

Tbh I think if we win independence we will have to charge fees. As it is, the "no fees" thing is causing a lot of issues for Scottish resident students - caps on numbers of Scottish resident students are a way of limiting the number if free EU students (eu count as Scottish resident students), so not only are there (almost) no places available to Scottish resident students through clearing due to that numbers cap, but Scottish students are often having to achieve higher grades than the RUK students to get on the same course... The "free" fees thing is not necessarily a positive thing for Scottish resident students!

RawCoconutMacaroon · 15/01/2014 22:19

And horsy, an English resident student at an English uni would typically be paying more than if they were at a Scottish uni... And it's a free choice to apply or not.

My DS pays fees at his English university, we are not complaining, we knew the fee situation when he applied (could have gone to a Scottish uni, no fees).

scarlettsmummy2 · 15/01/2014 22:42

If you are northern Irish you can get out of paying fees in Scotland by opting to have a republic of Ireland passport as far as I am aware!

Original poster
horseygin · 15/01/2014 22:47

Im not making this into a them and us thing... we are all british? But why the disparity?? You camt ask me who has the blame here... Im not a politician. Im just a parent to 2 children that are both hoping to go to university... and I dont think the system is fair... going right down to some people paying for prescriptions ... and some not etc, but if the welsh ,irish and english would be the ONLY nations who would have to pay fees in SCOTLAND in the whole of the european union how can that be fair or legal? As a previous comment notes, if they were to go to any other european country they would have to be treated as a national of that country. How is scotland different?Is it a loophole in the smallprint?

OP posts:
RawCoconutMacaroon · 15/01/2014 22:52

It's because the "free" places in Scotland are funded out of Scotland money (the tax take that's returned to Scotland), Scottish parliament decided to distribute it in a certain way - in England they decided to charge fees instead.

AgentProvocateur · 15/01/2014 23:05

England spends education money on new academies.
Scotland spends education money on free university places.
England spends health money on shorter waiting times.
Scotland spends health money on free prescriptions.
Etc, etc..

Each country decides how to spend its budget.

RustyBear · 15/01/2014 23:05

Apparently the EU has rules about member countries discriminating against other member countries, but not about discrimination against different areas of the same member country, which is why the current situation doesn't break EU regulations.

if Scotland votes for independence and then becomes a separate member state within the EU, charging for English Welsh and NI students could then be discrimination and against EU rules.

However it seems the Scottish Government doesn't agree - the White Paper on independence proposes keeping the situation on fees as it is now - they think they can make an 'objective justification' for doing this - story on BBC website here

Scarletbanner · 15/01/2014 23:06

Horsey, Scotland can charge fees to students from England, Wales and NI because they are NOT from another EU country. The UK is (for now ) all one EU country, and it's not against the law to treat people less favourably within one country. In fact, like prescription charges and social care, it's just a consequence of devolution.

By the way, I don't think the Irish passport thing works - there are rules about dual nationals, so I think NI residents with Irish passports still have to pay fees.

FannyFifer · 15/01/2014 23:51

Scotland also has a separate NHS, education & law system.

If you want no Uni fees and free prescriptions vote for a party that makes that a priority.

BadgerB · 16/01/2014 05:42

There are unis in the EU which charge small or no fees to local and EU students, and teach some courses in English. Malta is a good example, lovely climate and all courses in English. The downside? The govt will not permit loans or grants for English students studying abroad - so only useful for those who can support their children fully.

motherstongue · 16/01/2014 08:00

Horsey - we live in Scotland and DS wants to attend Uni in England. We will have to pay!! There is an arguement that "it's not fair" that we are resident Scots,where University education is free ( allegedly) but we don't get DS's fees paid for by the government. Like so many other things, we just need to suck it up. It comes down to our choices. He knows he could attend Uni here in Scotland for free but still chooses to go elsewhere to do the course that he specifically wants even if it means paying for the privilege.

RawCoconutMacaroon · 16/01/2014 10:43

We are in the same situation motherstongue, DS1 attending an English uni (and DS3 likely to apply to an English Uni later this year).

It's just something to factor in to the application in the "-" column, never thought to complain about it. Those complaining that their DC will be charged fees if attending a Scottish uni are overlooking the fact they would also have to pay fees at any university outside of Scotland... So I guess the anger is at being denied an avenue to "cheat the system" in terms of avoiding those fees.

RawCoconutMacaroon · 16/01/2014 10:46

Oh, and your DC, if attending an English uni WILL be able to apply to the SAAS for a loan to cover the fees, and separately, a loan for living costs.

funnyossity · 16/01/2014 10:46

Can Scottish students get the loans availalbe to English students, if attending an English university?

funnyossity · 16/01/2014 10:46

Question answered!