Student finance eligibility for people from the British overseas territories for the 2022 to 2023 academic year
Updated 15 January 2024
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/student-finance-eligibility-2021-to-2022-academic-year/student-finance-eligibility-for-people-from-the-british-overseas-territories-for-the-2022-to-2023-academic-year
These changes will not affect students starting courses on or before 31 July 2022.
If they are already eligible under the current system, they will remain eligible under the current system for the duration of their course.
Eligibility
Students will be eligible for tuition fee loans in England if they:
- have settled status on arrival in the UK
- come to the UK from specified British overseas territories
- are starting full-time and part-time undergraduate courses in the academic year 2022 to 2023
UK nationals and their family members in the British overseas territories already benefit from access to home fee status if they meet the residency requirement of 3 years in the UK, Islands and specified British overseas territories immediately before the start of the course. Family members of all persons settled when in the UK will now have access to home fee status.
Residency requirements
To qualify, they will need to satisfy the 3-year ordinary residence requirement in the UK, Islands or specified British overseas territories.
In addition, UK nationals and their family members resident in Gibraltar, and EU nationals and their family members who have a right to reside there arising from the Withdrawal Agreement, may continue to count residence in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland to qualify for student support for courses starting on or before 31 December 2027.
Students with citizens’ rights in the UK under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement will be able to count periods of residence in EU and British overseas territories as part of the normal 3-year qualifying period for eligibility for tuition fee loans.
Changes for the 2022 to 2023 academic year
These changes will apply to students who are starting:
- postgraduate master’s degree courses and postgraduate doctoral degree courses in 2022 to 2023 who will qualify for postgraduate loans
- further education courses in 2022 to 2023 who will qualify for advanced learner loans
The changes demonstrate our commitment to supporting economic development in the British overseas territories and enabling those who wish to study at one of our world-class education providers to be able to do so.