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Fee Status

 
  • UK universities are legally required to assess your fee status on the basis of three main criteria: nationality, UK immigration status and country of ordinary residence throughout the three years leading up to your course start date. Holding a British or an EU passport does not automatically qualify you for Home fee status or student finance support from the SLC, or Islands student finance provider.
  • If your fee status isn't clear from your original application, your College or the central University will send you a 'Fee Status Assessment Questionnaire' to complete when they offer you a place. You'll need to complete and return this questionnaire along with the requested documents for an accurate assessment.  
  • Don't be concerned if your initial fee status assessment seems incorrect. Admissions Offices can update your fee status if you can provide sufficient evidence to support your claim. 
  • If your UK immigration status has changed during the three years before your course start date, please send us copies of all your UK immigration documents from this period. This may include a share code, multiple passport vignettes, residence permits, and/or a naturalisation certificate. If you don't have one of your immigration documents, please provide the corresponding Home Office grant of leave letter. We'll let you know if further documents are needed.
  • You won't be considered ordinarily resident in a country if you live there 'wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education'. An undergraduate applicant will typically be considered ordinarily resident in the same country as their parent(s), even if they study in a different country. Exceptions can be made for students who are self-sufficient or estranged from their parent(s) - please inform fee assessors if this applies to you.  
  • Universities are advised to discount short periods of 'temporary absence' from your normal country of residence when assessing ordinary residence. This applies only if the absence was clearly temporary - see 'Temporary Absence' in the Glossary. Examples include a gap year, a summer internship, attending school in a different country, or a temporary relocation due to a parent's fixed-term overseas assignment..
  • The Glossary lists some documents that help us determine your country of ordinary residence. If you are dependent upon your partner/spouse/parents, we understand that household bills may be in their name - just inform us and demonstrate the bill payer's relationship to you.
  • If you've been living in a different country temporarily, due to your or a family member's overseas employment, please send us copies of all employment contracts (including assignment agreements and contract extension letters) covering the three years leading up to your course start date. 
  • Keep these documents handy, as you may need to submit them as part of a student finance application.