Guidance

Student finance after Brexit

What students studying or planning to study in the EU (including Erasmus+ students) need to know if there's a no-deal Brexit.

This guidance was withdrawn on

This page is out of date.

For current information, read:

You can also read about the transition period.

Erasmus+ students studying in the EU

Your student finance arrangements will not be affected if you’ve already started your Erasmus+ year when the UK leaves the EU, or you’re expecting to start an Erasmus+ study year during the 2019 to 2020 academic year.

If your circumstances change, for example if you do not continue with your overseas placement, contact Student Finance England or your relevant student funding body if you’re from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Ask your UK higher education provider if you have any questions about your Erasmus+ placement.

Other overseas study placements

Your student finance arrangements should not change if you are studying in the EU (not as part of the Erasmus+ scheme) and there’s a no-deal Brexit.

You should speak to your UK higher education provider about arrangements relating to your placement.

Undergraduate students

If you want to return to the UK to complete your studies and you’re funded by Student Finance England, ask your UK higher education provider for information about your tuition fee.

In these circumstances, if there is any increase in your tuition fee, you should be able to apply for an additional fee loan, providing you meet the relevant eligibility criteria.

Once you have returned to the UK, you should inform Student Finance England of your change of address. The amount of maintenance loan that you will receive for the rest of the year will be reassessed based on where you are living and studying.

Contact your relevant student funding body if you’re from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Postgraduate students

If you want to return to the UK, you should discuss your situation with your UK higher education provider and Student Finance England.

Contact your relevant student funding body if you’re from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

EU Erasmus+ students studying in the UK

If you’re an Erasmus+ student from the EU doing a placement in the UK, ask both your home and UK education providers whether your placement will be affected if there’s a no-deal Brexit.

If you’re studying in England you will not be eligible for support from Student Finance England to complete your Erasmus+ placement.

Ask the relevant student funding body if you’re eligible for any support if you’re studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

UK nationals studying in the EU

If you’re doing your entire course in an EU country, you should complete your studies at your current EU higher education provider if possible.

If you need to come back to the UK to complete your studies, you can find out whether you would be eligible for student finance support. Contact the student funding body in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, depending on where you lived before you studied in the EU.

If you have always lived abroad and never lived in the UK, contact the relevant student funding body where you wish to study.

Updates to this page

Published 15 March 2019
Last updated 28 October 2019 + show all updates
  1. Updated with information for the 2019 to 2020 academic year.

  2. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page