Let’s say that your student (or child) is British and has applied to the UK, but is currently living here in the US. The family is wondering, hmm, since we are British, are we eligible to pay Home (domestic) Fees or are we categorized as “international” and pay the International Fees?
Whether you pay “Home” or “International” fees depends on whether you meet certain criteria. Speaking with Falmouth University we were able to clarify. To be classed as a “Home” student, you normally need to meet one of two basic criteria before the first day of the first academic year of the course:
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The student must have “Settled” status in the UK. Meaning, the student will have no time limit on the amount of time they can reside in the UK. That usually means a UK passport or another form of “indefinite leave to remain” granted by the UK government.
OR
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The student must have been a “Resident” in the UK for the three years prior to the start of the course. That means they have been working, studying, and generally living their everyday life in the UK.
There are some exceptions to this, such as, parents owning a property in the UK and paying UK taxes. If you are categorized as a “Home Fee” student, it’s worth noting that it may be more competitive for admissions.
We recommend checking with the university for confirmation. Some universities will offer confirmation before a student applies; however, most will recommend applying first and will review the student’s application before assessing their status.
If you’re interested in learning more about the different policies, you can check UKCISA guidelines to help navigate what your status is. UKCISA also has a useful overview.
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3 Responses
Hello! Thank you for providing such a clear and useful explanation on this topic! I have one further question that may be helpful for others if you could provide clarification…Does the above scenario apply to non UK/British citizens? I am an American citizens who will have over 3 years continuous residence in the UK prior to the start date of my Phd program – does that make me eligible for home status fees? I would greatly appreciate any guidance you may provide!
Hi Annika! Thank you for your message. To answer your question, it depends on the university. Whoever you are interested in studying with, we recommend reaching out to their international office to confirm.
Hi.
We have been living outside the UK for the last two years. In two years’ time, my child will be applying to UK universities (meanign he will have been out of the country for the last fur year prior to applying). We lived together in the UK for 5 years. He and I are both British nationals with passports.
We had a house there but sold it when we left to come overseas two years ago. I have a family house there. We will return for a holiday this summer and my child will hopefully be getting a part-time job. We will also be setting up a bank account for them. He is an extremely high achiever academically.
Is it likely that with this profile he would be accepted for home status fees?
Many thanks.