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Brexit rule change will raise UK tuition for Britons living in EU

newsJul 4, 202622167

The UK’s post-Brexit grace period for British nationals living in EU countries ends in 2028, meaning those students will be classed as international for fee purposes and will no longer qualify for UK government student loans, the Guardian reports. Domestic tuition is capped, for the 2026 intake the cap is £9,790, but universities set international rates that are often at least three times higher; Warwick lists economics at £35,530 a year in 2026 and Leeds lists law at £26,750. For courses starting in 2028, students must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years before the first day of their degree to qualify for home fees. Julie Moktadir, partner and head of immigration law at Stone King, warned that student loan providers are bound by the rules so returning families cannot borrow to fund tuition even if a university might exercise discretion on fees. The change will apply across the UK though eligibility details vary between the four nations, with Scotland’s system described as more complex. Families already settled in the EU say the rule forces hard choices, relocate to the UK three years early, face much higher fees, or forgo studying certain subjects where local options or language make studying at home impractical. The first cohort affected includes pupils starting A-levels or equivalent this autumn who plan to begin UK degrees in 2028.

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