Does The UK Leaving The European Union Affect Students From The EU?
The United Kingdom had been a member of EU (originally EEC) since 1973. Over the years, UK citizens and politicians became increasingly dissatisfied with their involvement in the EU. Following the UK-wide referendum in 2016, the UK government officially announced its withdrawal from EU in March 2017. The transition period will end on 31 December 2020. Brexit is having an impact on all areas and many people, including EU students in the UK. The complete regulatory effects on EU students aren’t clear yet and they are subject to changes.
What Will Happen To EU Students In The United Kingdom?
Although formal negotiations between the EU and the UK have ended, it remains unclear what will happen to EU students in the United Kingdom. The UK government has officially confirmed that the currents rights of EU students in the UK won’t change until the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. EU students are still able to apply to the EUSS (EU Settlement Scheme). With EUSS, citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein, and Iceland can still access the same services and benefits. They can obtain student financing if their course in the United Kingdom starts in the 2020-21 academic year, provided that they meet all the residency requirements. For EU students who are studying in Northern Ireland, Wales, or Scotland, they need to ask a relevant student body for eligibility.
Eligibility Rules For EU, Other EEA And Swiss Nationals
In a statement from Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Universities, she stated, “EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for home fee status, undergraduate, postgraduate and advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting in academic year 2021/22.”
She continued by saying that, “It will not affect students starting courses in academic year 2020/21, nor those EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals benefitting from Citizens’ Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement, respectively.”
Home Fee Status
At the moment, EU students in the United Kingdom are benefitting from the “home fee status” and it means that European students pay the same fees as UK students. As mentioned above, this won’t change if students have applied for education in the 2020-21 academic year in the United Kingdom and they can continue having the home fee status. There’s still no final decision whether the home fee status is still available for EU students in the 2021-22 academic year in the UK.
If EU students will be treated as regular international students starting from 2021-22 academic year, they will be subjected to higher tuition fees. This means, UK students who study in the EU territory will also need to pay drastically higher tuition fees. But, after the Brexit referendum in 2016, British Pounds is generally weakening against Euro, lessening the possible financial impacts of Brexit for EU students.
Contact EU Students In The UK
To learn more about getting your degree and why you need to apply for a university programme today, contact EU Students In The UK and speak with a University expert today who can answer any questions you might have.
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