BBritish youngsters living in the EU could be kicked out of UK universities in two years’ time as Brexit rule changes mean they face the double whammy of paying expensive international fees, while losing access to student finance.
British passport holders living in the EU are still eligible for “home fee” status at UK universities. But that will no longer be the case when the grace period ends in 2028, meaning the first wave of affected are starting their A-levels or equivalent this autumn.
While there is a domestic fee cap for UK universities – £9,790 for 2026 – 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 a year in 2026, while studying law at the University of Leeds will cost £26,750 a year.
“This is essentially the end of the post-Brexit ‘ghost period’ and means that UK citizens and their families who live in the EU, but want to study in the UK, will be classed as international students,” says Julie Moqtadir, a partner and head of immigration law at Stone King. “They will also no longer be eligible for UK government student loans, which many rely on, to help with tuition fees and maintenance costs.”
For courses starting in 2028, To be eligible for home fees students must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years before the first day of their degree course.
The changes will apply across the UK, but eligibility requirements may differ in each of the four countries, Moqtadir says: “There are differences in how fees are set, and how strict the rules are in devolved countries. For example, the fee structure in Scotland is more complex.”
Individual universities can also apply some discretion, meaning that, in some cases, students returning from the EU may be considered eligible for home fees. However, the important thing is that student loan providers are bound by the rules, so these individuals will not be able to borrow funds for their course.
For some families, this has led to some tough decisions. Studying where they live can be difficult, or even impossible, depending on the subject, local rules of competence and language level..
“Having moved to the UK at least three years before starting your chosen university course, parents and prospective students can do little other than familiarize themselves with the new rules,” says Moqtadir. She adds that, while some institutions may offer scholarships and awards to offset some of the cost, for many it won’t be enough.
This is the case of 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 that they extended their stay, and have now been there for five years.
They might have stayed longer, but now that Isla is 16, they have realized that an extended stay will mean she will be eligible for international tuition fees.
“We initially moved for two years for work, and the kids were nine and eleven, so higher education didn’t come into it,” Amy says.
“Now we realize that the fee situation makes it 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.”
As Isla is too late to qualify for house fees, she may be obliged to take a year out before applying to university. Her dream is to study natural sciences at Cambridge University. Course tuition fees are £9,250 for domestic students, but international students pay £44,214, in addition to college fees which start at £11,500 and vary by college.
Universities UK says: “The post-Brexit Home Fee provision was always a temporary provision providing transitional protection for UK migrants in the EU.”
The changes bring the 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 be “ordinarily resident” in more than one country, but, Moqtadir says, he “must be able to demonstrate this through physical evidence such as bank statements, utility bills and tax contributions”.
She adds: “As such, whether an individual will still be eligible for house fees at a UK university after 2028 will depend on their personal circumstances.”
Plans to allow under-30s to work and study in each other’s territories, and the return of pre-Brexit rules that entitled EU students to UK home fees – with the same rules for those holding British passports – were among the areas to be discussed at a summit between EU and UK leaders this month. However, it was postponed after Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister.
For the Thompsons, moving to Germany was always temporary – but they didn’t expect their return date to be dictated by university fees. “How is this fair to a young man who went to work with his parents?” Thompson says.
