Brexit rule change means British teens in EU face soaring student fees for UK degrees | Student finance

B.British teenagers living in the EU could be locked out of UK universities within two years as the Brexit rule change means they face the double whammy of paying more expensive international fees while losing access to student finance.

British passport holders living in the EU are still entitled to “house fee” status at UK universities. But once the grace period ends in 2028, that will no longer be the case; This means the first wave to be affected will start A levels or equivalent this autumn.

Although domestic fees for UK universities are capped at £9,790 for 2026 intake, universities can set their own rates for overseas students and these are often at least three times higher.

For example, overseas students studying economics at the University of Warwick will pay £35,530 per year in 2026, while studying law at the University of Leeds will cost £26,750 per year.

“This essentially means the end of the post-Brexit ‘grace period’ and means that UK citizens and their families living in the EU but wishing to study in the UK will be classed as international students,” says Julie Moktadir, partner and head of immigration law at Stone King. “They will also no longer be able to take advantage of UK government student loans to help with tuition fees and maintenance costs on which many people depend.”

For courses starting in 2028, To be eligible for home fees, students must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years prior to the first day of their degree course.

Moktadir says the changes will apply across the whole of the UK, but eligibility requirements may be different in each of the four countries: “There are differences in how fees are determined and how strictly the rules are enforced in the devolved countries. Scotland, for example, has a more complex fee structure.”

Individual universities may also exercise some discretion; This means that in some cases students returning from the EU may be considered eligible for home tuition. But importantly, these people will not be able to borrow money to fund their courses, as student loan providers are bound by the rules.

For some families, this has led to some difficult decisions. Getting an education where they live can be difficult or even impossible, depending on the subject, local eligibility rules and language levels..

“Apart from moving to the UK at least three years before the start of their chosen university course, there is little parents and prospective students can do other than get used to the new rules,” says Moktadir. He adds that some institutions may offer scholarships and awards to reduce some of the cost, but for most people, that won’t be enough.

This also applies to James and Amy Thompson and their children Isla and Bertie, who moved to Germany in 2021 on a two-year contract with James’ employer BMW. The family loved it so much they extended their stay and have now been there for five years.

They could have stayed longer but Isla is now 16 and they realized extending her stay meant she would be eligible for international tuition fees.

“We originally moved for two years for work and the kids were nine and 11, so higher education wasn’t involved,” says Amy.

“We’ve now realized that the fee situation makes this very difficult. Isla won’t struggle to get into a good British university, but we can’t afford it if we have to pay international fees.”

It’s too late for Isla to qualify for housing allowance, so she may need to take a year off before applying to university. His dream is to study natural sciences at Cambridge University. Tuition fees for the course are £9,250 for home students, but international students pay £44,214 plus university fees, which start at £11,500 and vary by university.

Universities UK says: “The post-Brexit home fee provision was always an interim clause providing temporary protection for UK expatriates in the EU.”

The changes bring this group into line with the rules that apply to UK citizens living in other parts of the world.

It is technically possible for a person to “normally reside in more than one country”, but Moktadir says they must be able to “show this with physical evidence such as bank statements, utility bills and tax contributions”.

It adds: “Therefore, whether an individual can continue to benefit from home fees at a UK university after 2028 will depend largely on their personal circumstances.”

Plans to allow under-30s to work and study in each other’s territory and a return to pre-Brexit rules entitling EU students to a UK housing allowance – which should reintroduce the same rules for British passport holders – were among the issues to be discussed at a summit between EU and UK leaders this month. However, it was postponed after Keir Starmer announced his decision to step down as prime minister.

The Thompsons’ move to Germany was always temporary; but they did not expect their return date to be determined by university tuition. “How fair is this for a teenager who moves in with their parents for a job?” Thompson says.