EU undergraduate funding

The rules for EU nationals changed following the UK's departure from the EU. What funding you may be eligible from Student Finance will depend on how long you have been living in the UK and whether you have protected rights under the EU withdrawal agreement.

Gov.uk have published guidance for EU students considering study in the UK. The information below provides a summary of the changes and details on funding that may be available.

These changes will not affect you if you started your course on or before 31 July 2021 (the 2020/21 academic year). If you were assessed as eligible under the rules in place at that time, you remain eligible under those rules for the duration of your course. If you undertake a separate follow-on course, the new rules will apply to the new course.

If you have completed your course and are considering further study then do seek advice. If you are considering a transfer of study, please contact a UWE Bristol Money Adviser. 

If you need advice on the EU Settlement Scheme, please contact the UWE Immigration Advice Service.

For information on how the changes have affected Student Finance Wales, Student Awards Agency for Scotland and Student Finance Northern Ireland, please contact your funding provider directly.

New students arriving after 31 December 2020 – without 'settled'/'pre-settled' status

If you were not living in the UK by 31 December 2020 you may find that you are unable to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. In such cases you will need to apply for a visa.

For further information see immigration permissions, deadlines and new requirements.

If you do not have citizens' rights under the withdrawal agreement (EU 'settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status), you will not be be eligible for home fee status or student finance funding in your own rights.

New students with ‘settled’ status

Those who have been granted ‘settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) will generally be eligible for home fee status, tuition fee and maintenance support if they meet the conditions below.

Irish citizens are automatically treated as ‘settled’ in the UK and do not need to apply to the EUSS to benefit from these rights.

It is important to note that alongside holding a status from the EUSS there are additional requirements that need to be met.

In addition to holding ‘settled’ status you must be:

• ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of the course*, and
• be ordinarily resident in the home domicile on the first day of the first academic year of your course** .

If you hold ‘settled’ status and meet all of the above you can apply for full student support. Student Finance England will ask you to provide evidence in order to be awarded undergraduate or postgraduate financial support.

New students with 'pre-settled' status

EU nationals, and their family members, will generally be eligible for home fee status and awarded tuition fee support by the SLC where the student has ‘pre-settled’ status and has three years’ residence in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA and Switzerland (unless that residence was wholly or mainly for the purpose of education).

If you hold ‘pre-settled’ status the student funding you may be eligible for differs depending on where you study and your funding provider. Students with ‘pre-settled’ status, studying in England, will generally be eligible to apply for tuition fee support and postgraduate loans from Student Finance England.

You must be ordinarily resident in either the UK, EU or EEA for the three-year period prior to the first day of the first academic year of your course.*

*the three-year period prior to the 1st day of the 1st academic year of your course is the three years before 1 September for September starters.

**the first day of the first academic year of your course, refers to 1 September for September starters.

The rules regarding family member eligibility can be complex. Please contact a UWE Bristol Money Adviser for advice.

If you have 'pre-settled’ status and meet the conditions below, you may qualify for tuition fee and maintenance support under the migrant worker route. Under this category you may receive full funding providing you continue to meet the requirements of this status throughout your studies.

To meet this category, you must:

• have ‘pre-settled’ status
• meet the definition of ‘worker’ in the UK (or be the relevant family member of an EEA Worker)
• be ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the first academic year of your course (the first academic year of your course, which refers to 1 September for September starting courses)
• have been ordinarily resident in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA or Switzerland for the three years prior to the first day of the first day of your course (for September starters this is classed as 1 September).

Student finance will ask for financial evidence to confirm you are working, have worked or are looking for work, for example your P60 or a letter from an employer.

There are other qualifying categories (including frontier workers, overseas territories and UK nationals outside of the UK for example) and it is important to check all the qualifying categories when reviewing your funding entitlements. Further details can be found at UKCISA and Gov.uk.

You should contact your funding body to check eligibility for support if you’re studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If you have ‘pre-settled’ status and become eligible for 'settled' status you can apply to have your status changed.

If this happens student finance can consider this change as an ‘event’ and re-assess your funding entitlements. In some cases, this may result in eligibility for both maintenance and tuition fee support. Seek advice from a UWE Bristol Money Adviser if you change status during your course.

Irish citizens are automatically treated as settled in the UK and do not need to apply to the EUSS to benefit from these rights.

Irish citizens who have resided in the UK and Islands for three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of the course are eligible for home fee status, maintenance and tuition fee support.

Irish citizens who have resided in the UK for less than three years but have resided between the UK and islands and Republic of Ireland, for three years prior to the start of the course are eligible for home fee status and tuition fee support.

Apply for student finance on Gov.uk