EU students to pay ‘home’ fees at English universities for 2020-21

30 May 2019

Students from the European Union (EU) get to keep their “home fee” status and financial support eligibility at English universities for another year.

Universities Minister Chris Skidmore announced they will continue to pay £9,250 like domestic students and remain eligible for Advanced Learner loans, as well as FE and apprenticeships support, whether a deal for leaving the EU is in place or not. Non-EU international students pay much higher fees and are not eligible for financial aid.

“We know that students will be considering their university options for next year already, which is why we are confirming now that eligible EU nationals will continue to benefit from home fee status and can access financial support for the 2020-21 academic year, so they have the certainty they need to make their choice,” he said in Brussels on 28 May, as reported by The Guardian.

While the UK had chosen to leave the EU “we are not leaving Europe and our universities thrive on the diversity of being global institutions”.

EU students will not face Brexit penalty next year https://t.co/2zAS2MySRU

— Guardian Education (@GuardianEdu) May 28, 2019

The announcement follows Universities UK’s request last month for the government to offer clarity over the rates for the 2020-21 academic year. Scotland announced in April that EU students starting next year will still be eligible for home student status.

More than 37,000 EU students have applied for full-time undergraduate courses in England in the latest application cycle.

With Brexit on the horizon – the UK’s EU departure date has been delayed until the end of October – it seemed increasingly likely that EU students would come to face the higher fees charged to those from other countries. Earlier this month, BuzzFeed reported that Education Secretary Damian Hinds is proposing to withdraw home fee status and financial support from EU students starting courses in the 2021/2022 academic year, whether Britain leaves the union with or without a deal.

Today we’re welcoming news that EU students will continue to be treated as ‘home’ students for tuition fees in 2020/21

We must send a signal that the UK continues to be a welcoming place for those wishing to study here

More here 👉 https://t.co/Z3nauvCIBh pic.twitter.com/c6wrwJk5Je

— Universities UK (@UniversitiesUK) May 28, 2019

“Work to determine the future fee status for new EU students after the 2020/21 academic year is ongoing as the Government prepares for a smooth and orderly exit from the EU as soon as possible,” the UK government website states.

“The Government will provide sufficient notice for prospective EU students on fee arrangements ahead of the 2021/2022 academic year and subsequent years in future.”