UK Tuition Fees for EU and EEA Students

How does this affect international students currently in the UK?

EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens studying in the UK whose course began before 31 December 2020 will still be eligible for home fee status in the UK. These EU, EEA, and Swiss students will also be eligible to receive a tuition fee loan in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland until they complete their course.

These EU, EEA, and Swiss students currently in the UK will be eligible to the EU Settlement Scheme which will allow them to remain and work in the UK after their studies without the need for sponsorship. The EU Settlement Scheme is only open to those EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who were in the UK before 31 December 2020 AND applied to the scheme before 30 June 2021.

As of 31 December 2020, EU, EEA, and Swiss students arriving in the UK must apply for a student visa under the student visa route. If these students wish to remain in the UK after they finish their course then they will have to apply to switch their immigration status under the Graduate Route Visa upon completion of their studies.

How does this affect international students studying in the UK after 31 December 2020?

EU, EEA, and Swiss students who are starting a full degree course in the academic year 2021/22 and are arriving in the UK after 31 December 2020 won’t be eligible for home fee status or a tuition fee. Therefore, these students will be charged an international fee which is usually considerably higher and varies by university.

EU, EEA, and Swiss students who are looking to study in the UK must also apply for a student visa. Should these students wish to stay in the UK after they complete their studies then they must apply to switch their visa to the Graduate Route Visa.

As an EU, EEA and Swiss student in the UK, how much will my tuition fees be?

• EU, EEA, and Swiss students in the UK before December 31 2020 will be charged the home fee status of £9,000-£9,250 until their course finishes.

• EU, EEA, and Swiss students who started studying in the UK in the 2021/22 academic year will likely have to pay between £12,000 and £20,000 per year (the cost may be lower or higher depending on the university, course, and degree level).

Which students aren't affected by this?

In summary, the new tuition fees won’t affect the following groups:

• EU, EEA, and Swiss students studying in the UK before 31 December 2020.

• EU, EEA, and Swiss students who arrive in the UK after 1 January 2021 and start studying before 31 July 2021 won’t be affected by higher tuition fees, but will see a change to their immigration status.

• Irish students who either live in the UK or Ireland.

• EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who benefit from Citizens’ Rights under either the:

• EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement,

• EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or, 

• Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreements.