https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/access-to-student-finance-from-academic-year-2021-22-faqs/
Access to Student Finance from Academic Year 2021/22: FAQs
[Updated on 9 December 2022].
What access to higher education and further education support will EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals have in the UK from 2021/22 onwards?
- Eligibility rules changed for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members, who wanted to commence courses in England in the academic year starting in August 2021 or after. This did not affect students who started their course in academic year 2020/21 (or before), as they remain eligible for student finance for the duration of their course.
- EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals not covered by the citizens’ rights provisions in the Withdrawal Agreements are not eligible for home fee status, undergraduate, postgraduate and advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting in academic year 2021/22 and after.
- EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members, lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 who are covered by the citizens’ rights provisions, remain eligible in England for student support on broadly the same basis that was in place prior to 31 December 2020, subject to meeting the usual residency requirements.
- Those who have been granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) are generally eligible for home fee status, tuition fee and maintenance support after three years’ residence in the UK and Islands.
- In practice, the Student Loans Company (SLC) accepts proof of pre-settled status, or a valid and current certificate of application (CoA) to the EUSS where appropriate, from student finance applicants, together with ID documentation, as evidence that EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members are covered by the Withdrawal Agreements. EU nationals with pre-settled status, for example, will generally be able to access tuition fee support after three years’ residence in the UK, EEA, Switzerland and the overseas territories specified in the Regulations. We anticipate that providers will take the same approach when awarding home fee status where the student has three years’ residence in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the British/EU overseas territories.
- This change also applies to Further Education funding for those aged 19+, and funding for apprenticeships.
- This change does not apply to students from Ireland living in the UK, Islands and Ireland whose right to study and to access benefits and services is preserved on a reciprocal basis under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
- Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/studying-in-the-uk-guidance-for-eu-students.
EEA and Swiss Nationals Living in the UK
I am an EEA or Swiss national living in England and have been granted settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- As an EU, other EEA or Swiss national with settled status, you will continue to have access to home fee status, a tuition fee loan and maintenance support for study in the UK, on the same basis as domestic students, subject to meeting the usual residency requirements.
- You will need to give the SLC evidence of your status by providing your digital share code and proof of your identity. This could be an original valid passport or valid national identity card.
- You will also need to have lived in the UK and Islands, for at least the last three years before your course starts.
I am an EU national living in England, and I have been granted pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- The SLC will accept your pre-settled status as evidence that you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and are eligible for student support, subject to the usual residency rules. You must have lived in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the overseas territories specified in the regulations for the three years immediately before the start of your course.
- You will need to give the SLC evidence of your status by providing your digital share code and proof of your identity. This could be an original valid passport or valid national identity card.
- We anticipate that providers will take the same approach when awarding home fee status where the student has three years’ residence in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the British/EU overseas territories.
- You may also qualify for maintenance support if you are currently working in the UK. If so, you will need to provide the SLC with financial evidence to confirm you are working such as a P60 or a letter from your employer.
My husband and I are EU nationals and arrived in the UK on 1 January 2017 with our 6-year-old son. We are intending to stay in the UK. Will our son be eligible for financial support at an English university when he reaches 18, now the UK has left the EU?
- As EU nationals, you should have been able to apply for settled or pre-settled status for your son under the EU Settlement Scheme, subject to meeting the criteria for that scheme. This should mean you were able to continue living in the UK after December 2020.
- If your son has settled status under the EUSS when he starts his course, he will have access to student financial support on a similar basis to domestic students, subject to meeting the usual residency requirements.
I am a non-EU national who arrived in the UK in November 2020, and my EU national spouse has been granted settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- As a family member of an EU national with pre-settled or settled status, you can apply to the EUSS for pre-settled status yourself. If granted you will need to provide to the SLC evidence of that status, or a valid and current Certificate of Application from the Home Office where relevant, identity evidence for you and your family member, and evidence of your relationship with your family member. You must have lived in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the overseas territories specified in the regulations for at least the last three years before your course starts.
- If your spouse is working in the UK and provides the necessary evidence to the SLC, you may additionally qualify for maintenance support. You must have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for at least the last three years before your course starts.
I am a EEA or Swiss citizen living and working in England, and have been granted pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- The SLC will accept your pre-settled status as evidence that you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreements and are eligible for student support, subject to the usual residency rules.
- You will need to provide proof of your identity, and financial evidence to confirm you are working, have worked or are looking for work, for example, your P60 or a letter from your employer.
- You will need to have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for the three years immediately before the start of your course to qualify for full support. If you lived in a British or EU overseas territory specified in the regulations for all or part of the preceding three years, you will qualify for a tuition fee loan but not maintenance support.
I am an EU national and have appealed against a Home Office decision to turn me down for pre-settled status under the EUSS. Am I still eligible for support from Student Finance England?
- If you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreements and have an ongoing appeal against a Home Office decision on a valid application under EU Settlement Scheme, or where the Home Office has not reached a determination, you will be treated as having the applicable EUSS status until your application is finally decided. You will therefore still be eligible for a tuition fee loan if you provide the SLC with evidence of your application or appeal, and identity evidence. You will need to have lived in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the overseas territories for the three years immediately before the start of your course.
- You must notify the SLC of the outcome as soon as you have a final decision from the Home Office on your status.
I submitted a late application for the EU Settlement Scheme (after 30 June 2021). Am I still eligible for support from Student Finance England?
- You will not be eligible for home fee status or student finance from Student Finance England unless the Home Office considers you have reasonable grounds for your late application and provides you with a Certificate of Application in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreements. You may then apply to Student Finance England for support if that Certificate of Application remains valid and current. Non-exhaustive guidance on what constitutes reasonable grounds for missing the EUSS deadline has been published here: EU Settlement Scheme: information for late applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- You must notify the SLC of the outcome of your EUSS application as soon as you have been issued a final decision from the Home Office on your status.
I am an EU national living in England since September 2020 and want to start a course in England in January 2023. What should I do?
- The SLC will accept your ID documentation, and your pre-settled status or valid and current Certificate of Application as evidence that you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and are eligible for student support, subject to the usual residency rules.
- You must have lived in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the overseas territories specified in the regulations for at least the last three years before your course starts, and you should be prepared to evidence this if required.
- If you have been granted pre-settled status and are eligible for maintenance support by working in the UK, you will need to provide financial evidence to confirm you are working, have worked, or are looking for work, for example, your P60 or a letter from your employer. You must have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for at least the last three years before your course starts.
- We anticipate that providers will take the same approach when awarding home fee status where the student has three years’ residence in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the British/EU overseas territories.
I am an EU or Swiss, Icelandic, Norwegian or Liechtenstein national living in England and have successfully applied for settled status under the EUSS. What do I need to do?
- Apply for student finance from Student Finance England as soon as possible.
- In assessing your application the SLC will accept your ID documentation, and your settled status as evidence that you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreements and are eligible for student support, subject to the usual residency rules.
- You must have lived in the UK and Islands for the three years immediately before the start of your course to be eligible for home fee status, tuition fee support and maintenance support.
Family members of persons settled in the UK
I am a family member of a British citizen living in the UK and wish to study in England in academic year 2022/23. Will I qualify for student finance?
- If you are a family member of a person who is settled in the UK and you are living in the UK, you will be eligible for home fee status and a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England, subject to meeting the residency requirements.
- You must have lived in the UK and Islands for the three years immediately before the start of your course and be undertaking a designated course in England.
Irish citizens
I am an Irish citizen living in the Republic of Ireland and wish to study in England in academic year 2022/23. Will I qualify for student finance?
- If you are living in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, you will continue to be eligible for home fee status and a tuition fee loan on the same basis as domestic students, subject to meeting the residency requirements. You must have lived in the Common Travel Area of the UK, Islands or Ireland for the three years immediately before the start of your course.
- If coming from the Republic of Ireland, you will be eligible for support if you arrive in the UK on or before the day on which the first term of the first academic year actually begins.
- If you have lived in the UK or Islands for three years immediately before the start of your course, you may also be eligible for maintenance support.
I am an Irish citizen living in the UK or the Republic of Ireland on 31 December 2020, and plan to study in England in 2022/23. What should I do?
- Apply for student finance from Student Finance England as soon as possible, providing evidence that you have lived in the Republic of Ireland or the United Kingdom and Islands for at least three years immediately before the start of your course.
- If you wish to apply for maintenance support, you will need to provide evidence of living in the UK or Islands for three years immediately before the start of your course.
Am I eligible for home fee status and access to student finance if I am an Irish citizen living in France since 31 December 2020?
- Irish citizens living in the EEA or Switzerland at the end of the transition period, will generally be eligible for home fee status and tuition fee support from Student Finance England for courses starting on or after 1 August 2021 and before 1 January 2028 if you meet the following conditions:
- you are living in the EEA or Switzerland on 31 December 2020 (or have moved to the UK immediately after living in the EEA or Switzerland); and
- you have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the last three years; and
- you have lived continuously in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar between 31 December 2020 and the start of the course.
EU Nationals Living in the Republic of Ireland
Am I eligible for home fee status and access to student finance, if I am a French national living in the Republic of Ireland?
- EU nationals, other than Irish citizens, living in the EEA or Switzerland are no longer eligible for home fee status or student financial support if starting courses in academic year 2021/22 onwards.
Living in the EU
My parents are EU nationals and have been granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme. I joined them in the UK in September 2022. What does this mean for my student support arrangements if I want to start a course in September 2023?
- As a family member of an EU national with pre-settled or settled status, you would have been eligible to apply for pre-settled status on coming to the UK. The SLC will award support if you provide evidence of your relationship with your family member, identity evidence for you and your family member evidence of their EUSS status and your own valid and current certificate of application to the EUSS or evidence of pre-settled status. You must have lived in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the overseas territories specified in the regulations for at least the last three years before your course starts.
- We anticipate that providers will take the same approach when awarding home fee status where the student has three years’ residence in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the British/EU overseas territories.
- If one or both of your parents are working in the UK, you may additionally qualify for maintenance support. You must have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for at least the last three years before your course starts.
- EEA and Swiss citizens, resident in the UK by the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, can be joined in the UK at any point in the future by their existing close family members (a spouse or civil partner, durable partner, dependent parent and child, including one born or adopted after 31 December 2020) who live overseas at the end of the transition period. Provided the relationship began by 31 December 2020 and continues to exist when that family member seeks to come to the UK, that family member will be able to apply for status under the EUSS.
I am an EEA/Swiss national living in the EEA or Switzerland and want to study in the UK in academic year 2022/23 or after. How much will this cost?
- As an EEA/Swiss national who is not lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, and not covered by citizens’ rights provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement, you will not be eligible for home-fee status or student finance support in England from academic year 2021/22 and beyond.
- You should check with the Higher Education Provider that you wish to study at for their course-fee, as they set their own fee rate for international students.
I am a UK national living in the EU at the end of the transition period, and who has continued to live there. If I want to commence studies in the UK in academic year 2023/24, will I be eligible for home fee status and access to finance?
- Yes, UK nationals and their family members living in the EEA or Switzerland at the end of the transition period, will generally be eligible for home fee status, tuition fee and maintenance support from Student Finance England for courses starting on or after 1 August 2021 and before 1 January 2028 if you meet the following conditions:
- you are living in the EEA or Switzerland on 31 December 2020 (or have moved back to the UK immediately after living in the EEA or Switzerland); and
- you have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the last three years; and
- you have lived continuously in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar between 31 December 2020 and the start of the course.
Other EEA and Swiss Nationals
I am a non-EEA national living in Iceland, and my Icelandic parent is working in the UK and has been granted pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. I plan to come to the UK in August 2023 to start a course in September. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- As a dependent family member of an Icelandic national with pre-settled status working in the UK, you will be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme for pre-settled status.
- The SLC may award financial support if you provide evidence of your relationship with your family member, identity evidence for you and your family member, evidence of their EUSS status and where possible your own valid and current certificate of application to the EUSS or evidence of pre-settled status.
- You will need to provide financial evidence to confirm your parent is working, has worked or is looking for work, for example, their P60 or a letter from their employer.
- You will also need to have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for the three years immediately before the start of your course.
- If you do not have three years residency in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland prior to the start of your course because you spent part of that time in an overseas territory, you may still be eligible for a tuition fee loan.
I am a non-EEA national living in the UK before 31 December 2020, and my Norwegian parent is working in the UK and has been granted pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- As a dependent family member of a Norwegian national with pre-settled status working in the UK, you will have been able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme for pre-settled status. If you too were granted this status, you will need provide The Student Loans Company evidence of your pre-settled status by providing your digital share code and proof of your identity. This could be an original valid passport or valid national identity card.
- If you missed the deadline of 30 June 2021, the Home Office will consider whether you have reasonable grounds for a late application. If so, they will provide you with a Certificate of Application. You may then use this to apply to Student Finance England for support. Non-exhaustive guidance on what constitutes reasonable grounds for missing the EUSS deadline has been published here EU Settlement Scheme: information for late applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- You will need to provide financial evidence to confirm your parent is working, has worked, or is looking for work, for example, their P60 or a letter from their employer.
- You will also need to have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for the three years immediately before the start of your course.
- If you do not have three years residency in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland prior to the start of your course because you spent part of that time in an overseas territory, you may still be eligible for a tuition fee loan.
I am an Icelandic national living in the UK since December 2020, and my Icelandic parent is working in the UK and has been granted pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- As a dependent family member of an Icelandic national with pre-settled status working in the UK, you too will have been able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme for pre-settled status. You will need provide the SLC evidence of your relationship and proof of you and your family member’s identity. This could be an original valid passport or valid national identity card. You should also provide evidence of your pre-settled status by providing your digital share code or, if you have not yet applied to the EUSS, you should do so and provide the SLC with your valid and current CoA.
- You will need to provide financial evidence to confirm your parent is working, has worked, or is looking for work, for example, their P60 or a letter from their employer.
- You will also need to have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for the three years immediately before the start of your course.
- If you do not have three years residency in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland prior to the start of your course because you spent part of that time in an overseas territory, you may still be eligible for a tuition fee loan.
I live in Switzerland and am the child of a Swiss national living in the UK who has been granted pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?
- As the child of a Swiss national living in the UK who has been granted pre-settled status, you will be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme for pre-settled status to join them. The SLC will award financial support if you provide evidence of your relationship with your parent, identity evidence for you and your parent, evidence of their EUSS status and where possible a valid and current certificate of application to the EUSS or evidence of pre-settled status. You must have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA and Switzerland for at least the last three years before your course starts. You may be eligible for a tuition fee loan where part or all of the preceding three years was spent in a British or EU overseas territory.
- We anticipate that providers will take the same approach when awarding home fee status where the student has three years’ residence in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or the overseas territories.
I am a Swiss, Icelandic, Norwegian or Liechtenstein national living in England and have settled status, what evidence will I need to submit to Student Finance England to demonstrate I am eligible for support?
- If you have settled status in the UK, you will be eligible for home fee status, tuition fee and maintenance support on the same basis as domestic students, subject to meeting the usual residency requirements.
- As an EEA or Swiss national with settled status, you will need to give evidence of your settled status by providing your digital share code and your proof of identity. This could be an original valid passport or valid national identity card.
- You will need to have lived in the UK and Islands for the three years immediately before the start of your course.
I am a Swiss, Icelandic, Norwegian or Liechtenstein national living in England and have pre settled status, what evidence will I need to submit to Student Finance England to demonstrate I am eligible for support?
- Swiss, Icelandic, Norwegian or Liechtenstein nationals (and their family members) covered by the Withdrawal Agreements are eligible for home fee status and student support if they have pre-settled status and are working in the UK.
- You will need to provide financial evidence to confirm you are working, have worked or are looking for work, for example, your P60 or a letter from your employer.
- You will need provide evidence of your pre-settled status by providing your digital share code and proof of your identity. This could be an original valid passport or valid national identity card.
- You will also need to have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for the three years immediately before the start of your course. You may be eligible for a tuition fee loan where part or all of the preceding three years was spent in a British or EU overseas territory.
- If you are not working in the UK, you will not be eligible for home fee status nor student finance support, unless you are the family member of an EEA or Swiss migrant or frontier worker or the child of a Swiss national covered by the EEA-EFTA Separation Agreement or the Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement.
Living outside EU
I am a British Citizen living in Gibraltar and want to start a course in academic year 2022/23. Will I get home fee status and student finance?
- As a British Citizen resident in Gibraltar, you will be eligible in England for home fee status and tuition fee support after three years’ residence in the British Overseas Territories, the UK, EEA or Switzerland immediately before the start of your course.
I am a British Citizen living in the British Overseas Territories (other than Gibraltar) and want to start a course in academic year 2022/23. Will I get home fee status?
- As a British Citizen resident in a British Overseas Territory other than Gibraltar, you will continue to be eligible in England for home fee status and will also qualify for courses starting in 2022/23 or after for tuition fee loans after three years’ residence in the British Overseas Territories, the UK and the Islands immediately before the start of your course.
I am a family member of a British Citizen living in the British Overseas Territories and want to start a course in academic year 2022/23. Will I get home fee status and student finance?
- As a family member of a person who is, or would be settled when in the UK, you will be eligible in England for home fee status, but not student financial support, providing you have resided in the UK, Islands or British Overseas Territories for the 3 years prior to the start of your course.