EU Nationals and Student Finance in England

Statement from Sam Gyimah, Universities and Science Minister

03 July 2018

The following statement applies to EU students who currently receive student loans and/or grants from Student Finance England (SFE), and to EU nationals applying to start courses in England in the 2019/20 Academic Year.

Under current student finance rules in England, EU nationals (including relevant family members) must meet the following requirements.

For tuition fee loans:

  • EU nationals must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.

For maintenance loans:

  • EU nationals must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
  • EEA/Swiss migrant workers who have resided in the EEA/Switzerland for three years, are also able to apply for maintenance support.

EU nationals are also currently eligible for home fee status, meaning they must be charged the same tuition fees at publically funded institutions as domestic students in England.

Current students including those that will start courses in the 2018/19 academic year or before

As set out in a previous statement dated 21 April 2017, EU nationals (or their family members) currently in higher or further education or starting in the 2018/19 academic year, and who are eligible to receive loans and/or grants from Student Finance England will continue to remain eligible for these loans and grants until they finish their course (even if the course ends after the UK has left the EU). 

Students starting courses in the 2019/20 academic year 

EU nationals, and their family members, starting courses in England in the 2019/20 academic year, will also remain eligible for undergraduate and postgraduate financial support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, providing they meet the existing residency requirement.

Students should consult their institution’s student finance office, or the GOV.UK website, for information on what support they may be able to receive.