What is “Home Fee” status?

A common question we recieve from applicants is whether we accept applications from overseas (i.e., people who are not British citizens) applicants. We certainly do, however our funder limits us to only using 30% of our studentships towards overseas fees studentships. That means 70% have to be allocated to what is referred to as “home fee” students. At certain times, this may result in us readvertising only for home fee eligible applicants, to ensure these places are filled.

We use UKRI’s guidance to define what makes an applicant count as home fee status. This guidance can be found here (see page 12) – but we copy it below:

“To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria and the associated residency requirements:

  • Be a UK National, or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status, or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter
  • Be an Irish National*

*Irish Nationals eligibility is derived from the UK Ireland Common Travel Area Agreement: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area-guidance/common-travel-area-guidance

UK National

The UK includes the United Kingdom and Islands (i.e. the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). In terms of residency requirements for UK and Irish nationals, for courses starting from 1 August 2021, candidates will continue to be eligible for home fee status as long as:

  • they were living in the EEA or Switzerland on 31 December 2020, and have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the last 3 years before starting a course in the UK
  • have lived continuously in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar between 31 December 2020 and the start of the course
  • the course starts before 1 January 2028

Eligibility on these grounds will only be available for courses starting up to seven years from the last day of the transition period (i.e. on 31 December 2027 at the latest).

Children of UK nationals will also be eligible for support on the same terms, even if they are not themselves UK nationals, as long as both the UK national and the child meet the conditions listed above.

EU Settlement Scheme

EU, EEA or Swiss citizens can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. If successful, applicants will get either settled or pre-settled status. Those with pre-settled status will qualify as a home student if they have 3 years residency in the UK/EEA/Gibraltar/Switzerland immediately before the start of their course.

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or Indefinite leave to enter (ILE)

Candidates with ILR or ILE can continue to live in the UK without applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.