UK Higher Education Institutions have some of the most internationally diverse student bodies in the world. They value the contribution that international students make to their student communities, and welcome students from the EU and the rest of the world.

Update from UK government

  • EU nationals studying in England, Scotland, Wales and NI from academic year 2021/22 onwards (from July 2021) will no longer be able to access UK student finance support (tuition fee loans) or be eligible for ‘home-fee status’ (being charged the same tuition fees as UK students). More information is available from the website of the UK government. 
  • EU nationals will be treated in the same way as other international students and will be charged ‘international’ fees which are set by individual HE providers. We recommend contacting your institution directly to find about costs for your specific course. 
  • EU nationals can still access student finance in academic year 2020/21 for the full duration of their course. 
  • For more information, please see our Education FAQs and the UK government’s official statement.  

Visas

  • If you arrive in the UK before 1 January 2021, you will not need a visa. Nevertheless, you will need to apply online for the EU Settlement Scheme if you plan to stay in the UK after 1 January 2021 (for example, to complete your full course). The scheme is free of charge. You should apply as soon as possible after you’ve arrived in the UK, and by 30 June 2021. 
  • If you plan to arrive in the UK from 1 January 2021 onwards, you will need to apply for a student visa ('The Student Route') if you are studying a course which is longer than six months in length. 

COSTS AND APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A VISA

  • To get a visa, you will need to complete an application, pay an application fee (£348 for students), and have a current passport or other valid travel document.
  • To gain access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), you will be required to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of your visa application fee. Full-time students in UK higher education holding a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can claim a refund of the immigration health surcharge payment. To be eligible for the refund, students must not work during their studies. More information is available on the following website: https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/refunds
  • You will be able to apply for a student visa up to six months before your course starts. 
  • For more information, please check the Study UK website. 

 

Erasmus

  • EU students studying in the UK under the Erasmus programme: their immigration status has not changed, and they continue to be eligible for their Erasmus grant until as long as the UK remains a member of the EU and could well be extended beyond this. UUK is liaising with the British Council as National Agency for Erasmus+ and institutions are advised to check the Erasmus+ websites regularly for updates including student-focused communications. 
  • The UK Government has stated publicly that the United Kingdom is committed to continuing full participation in the Erasmus+ programme up until the UK leaves the European Union. The UK will continue to benefit from all EU programmes, including Erasmus+, until the end of the current budget plan (2014-2020). 
  • The UK government has also announced that it would extend the guarantee to cover all successful collaborative bids to the EU Horizon 2020 funding programme involving UK entities (including institutional partners) in a "no deal" scenario up until the end of the programme. This is a post-exit extension of the ‘underwrite guarantee’ from August 2016 and will cover the lifetime of all Horizon 2020 projects, even where they last beyond 2020. 

UK Study: More information 

The UK has some of the best universities and researchers in the world, and international students, academics and researchers play a significant part in that success. If you've applied to study in the UK and are concerned about what the latest announcements mean for you, here are some things you can do to find out more information:

Universities UK (UUK), which is the representative organisation for the UK's universities, has more information on the impact of the UK government's Immigration White Paper (19 December 2018) on international students: What does the immigration white paper mean for international students?

Click here to read the FAQ section from Universities UK. Further information is also available on the Study UK website.

Email us with specific questions or queries

We are here for you if you have a question or query about UK study. Please email us at studyuk.germany@britishcouncil.org   

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

I am an EU student already studying in the UK – what does this mean for my student support arrangements?

EU citizens and their family members, starting courses in the UK in the 2020/21 academic year or before will remain eligible for undergraduate and postgraduate financial support for the full duration of their course provided they meet the residency requirements.

I am an EU national living in Germany, and want to study in the UK in academic year 2021/22 or after, how much will this cost?

EU nationals will no longer be eligible for home-fee status or student support in England, Scotland Wales and NI. Higher Education Providers set their own fee rate for international students, and you should check with the individual provider that you wish to study at for their course-fee. 

 

I am an EU national already living in the UK and I have successfully applied for the EU settlement scheme. What does this mean for my student support arrangements?

As an EU national covered by citizens’ rights, you will retain access to home fee status and student support for courses starting in 2021/22 and beyond, provided you meet the residency requirements. 

I am a UK National living in the EU. If I want to commence studies in the UK will I be eligible for home fee status and access to finance?

Yes, the UK Government has extended this right for seven years after the end of the transition period (1 Jan 2021), UK nationals living in the EEA or Switzerland and who return to England, Scotland, Wales or NI to study will continue to be eligible for student support, home fee status, Further Education 19+ and apprenticeship funding provided they meet the existing published eligibility requirements.  

The devolved administrations have made similar commitments.  Education and skills funding is devolved and the exact entitlements and eligibility may vary between the separate parts of the UK.

 

We are UK nationals resident in the EU for six years, with a young child who may wish to attend an English University in the future. Will our child be eligible for home tuition fees or will they be subject to overseas student fees?

UK nationals living in the EEA or Switzerland and who return to England, Scotland, Wales or NI to study will continue to be eligible for student support, home fee status, Further Education 19+ and apprenticeship funding, providing they meet the published eligibility requirements for courses in starting within seven years of the end of the transition period. 

The devolved administrations have made similar commitments. Education is devolved and the exact entitlements and eligibility may vary between the separate parts of the UK.

 

I will be studying in the UK for less than six months. Do I need a visa?

EU students who are coming to study in the UK for less than 6 months do not require a visa and will not be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge – they can access medically necessary healthcare in the UK using their EU-issued EHIC

 

How many students are currently studying in the UK?

There are currently over 500,000 international students from over 80 countries studying in the UK. We recognise that these students make a significant contribution to the diversity and intellectual vitality of UK education, making a critical contribution to UK research capacity and standing in the globalised knowledge economy.

 

Last updated: February 2021
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