Changes for EU students in the UK: FAQs on fees, immigration, Erasmus+

The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020. The subsequent transition period, during which the future relationship between the UK and the EU was negotiated, ended on 31 December 2020.

While arrangements for EU students remained the same during the transition period, as of 1 January 2021, there are changes for EU students who wish to study in the UK. These FAQs contain information about the transitional and future arrangements between the UK and the EU.

There has been no change to the rights of Irish citizens at the end of the transition period, as their residence and right to study and to access benefits and services will be preserved under the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements. References to ‘EU students’ therefore exclude Irish citizens.

There is a range of scenarios for EU students, depending on when they arrive in the UK and the academic year that their course starts. More details can be found further down in these FAQs, but to summarise, the scenarios are:

1. EU students who have started a full degree course in 2020-21 and beyond, and have arrived in the UK before 31 December 2020, are:

• Eligible for home fee status in all nations and the tuition fee loan in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Eligible to apply for the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme, allowing them to continue studying in the UK without a visa after the transition period has ended and remain in the UK after studying, provided they have applied by 30 June 2021.

2. EU students who have started a full degree course in 2020-21 and arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020:

• Are eligible for home fee status and tuition fee loan.
• Will need to apply for a Student visa through the new Student route.
• Will be eligible to apply for the Graduate route.

3. EU students starting a full degree course in 2021-22 and arrived or will arrive in the UK after 31 December 2020:

• Will not be eligible for home fee status or tuition fee loans in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• Will need to apply for a Student visa through the new Student route
• Will be eligible to apply for the Graduate route.

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement will continue to have access to home fee status and tuition fee support on generally the same basis as now. Broadly, this means, those with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme who meet residency criteria will be eligible for home fee status and tuition fee loan in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check here for full details in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

EU student fees

2020-21 Academic year

EU students who started a course in the UK during the 2020-21 academic year are eligible for UK home student fees and financial support, in the form of the tuition fee loan in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Nothing will change for them throughout their degree.

2021-22 Academic year and onwards

EU students not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement who start a course in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales during the 2021-22 academic year, and the following years, will no longer be eligible for home fee status and tuition fee loans.

In England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and who meet the relevant eligibility requirements in force at the time of course commencement, will have access to home fee status and student financial support in the 2021-22 academic year. Broadly, this applies to students with settled or pre-settled status and three years’ residence in the UK, EEA, or Switzerland. Further details can be found here for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For those subject to international fees, the amount will depend on the type of degree and will vary between institutions. We advise EU students to reach out to the universities they are interested in with specific questions on international fee levels for the degree they have in mind.

Will I have to apply for a visa?

Short-term study: Up to six months

Arrival in the UK on or before 31 December 2020

You can study a course of up to six months, at an accredited institution, as a visitor, which means you will not need to apply for a visa.  

Arrival in the UK after 31 December 2020

EU students will be able to study for up to six months in the UK without applying for a visa through the new Visitor route rules (see Appendix V: Visitor). They will be able to apply for leave at the border using their e-passport and will not need to pay an application fee. There are different arrangements for visa nationals (see Appendix 2).

Long-term study: More than six months

Arrival in the UK on or before 31 December 2020

You will not need a visa if you already live in the UK or if you have arrived in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, but you should apply for ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme. You have until 30 June 2021 to make an application. More information about the EU Settlement Scheme can be found here.

Arrival in the UK after 31 December 2020

If you arrive in the UK after 31 December 2020, you will need to apply for a visa under the Student route as part of the new points-based system. Applications can be made up to six months in advance and you will need to demonstrate that you meet specific requirements. UK universities offer help to guide their students through the application process. You can find out more information here and apply to the Student route here.

Erasmus+ and short-term work placements (up to 12 months):

From 1 January 2021, some Erasmus+ participants coming to the UK may require a visa under the Tier 5 Temporary Worker, Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) scheme. The Tier 5 GAE visa is available to those looking to come to the UK for a short time (usually between 12-24 months) for work experience or to do training, research, or a fellowship but this must be done through an approved government authorised exchange scheme. A list of approved government schemes, which includes Erasmus+, is available here.

UUK are aware that this does not cover all EU students wanting to come to the UK to do work placements or internships and we are keen to work with the government to develop additional immigration routes to cover short-term work or clinical placements. These FAQs will be updated when we have further information.

Will I be able to stay in the UK after graduating?

Arrival in the UK on or before 31 December 2020

Any student who has arrived in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 should apply for ‘pre-settled status’ as part of the EU Settlement Scheme. This will allow you to continue to travel between the UK and EU without having to apply via the Student route even after 1 January 2021, and allow you to stay in the UK for five years and then apply for ‘settled status’ if desired. Once you have settled status, you will be able to remain in the UK indefinitely. If you have already been in the country for five years, you can apply for settled status straight away.

Once you are in the UK, you can apply for pre-settled status or settled status for free here.

Arrival in the UK after 31 December 2020

If you arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020 to start your course, you will have had to make an application under the Student route under the new points-based system. This allows you to stay in the UK for the duration of your course. After graduation you will be eligible to apply for the Graduate route (provided you meet the other eligibility requirements of the route). The Graduate route, launching in summer 2021, will allow those who have completed a degree at a UK higher education provider with a track record of compliance to stay in the UK for two years (three years for PhD graduates) to work at any skill level after graduation. You may switch into a work routes if you find a suitable job.

For more information about the Graduate route, please see here.

Can I still come to the UK with Erasmus+?

Any mobility funding obtained from the previous Erasmus+ programme (2014 – 2020) can still be used by universities to send their students to the UK. This interim period in which this is possible lasts until May 2023. This is subject to the individual arrangements at each sending university. From 1 January 2021, EU students will be subject to immigration and visa requirements as outlined above.

The UK will not participate in the new Erasmus+ programme (which officially started on 1 January 2021). Instead, the Turing scheme will continue to provide opportunities for UK students to study abroad. Opportunities for EU students to participate in exchange programmes in the UK may be agreed between individual universities, subject to the immigration and visa requirements set out above.

Will my UK degree still be recognised in the EU?

UK degrees are recognised in many countries around the world, and there are several agreements between different countries that support this. Some of these agreements are not related to the European Union which means that most UK academic qualifications will still be recognised in the EU now that the UK has left.

From 1 January 2021 onwards, a few professional qualifications will need to be recognised by the appropriate regulator for your profession in each country where you intend to work. If, prior to 31 December 2020, your qualification has already been recognised by the relevant regulator in the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you do not need to do anything. This also applies if you have submitted your request for recognition by 31 December 2020. Refer to this page for further details.  

You can find out if your chosen subject is academic or professional by speaking to your university. 

Can I still apply for research council funding for my PhD?

In line with the change in fee status for EU and EEA students at all levels of study, UKRI has confirmed that EU students who are recruited and start in the 2021-22 academic year onwards will no longer qualify for home student postgraduate support. You will in future be treated as an international student.

Instead, UKRI have increased the proportion of their PhD scholarships which may be awarded to international students, including EU and EEA student.

For more information about these changes, please visit the UKRI website.