Can I get funding if I’ve been living outside the UK or the EEA?
Answer
With the exception of refugees, you must qualify for student funding based on how long you have lived in the UK (as well as your immigration status). For UK and Irish nationals or other ‘settled’ students, there is a lawful 3-year UK residency requirement, which also means not breaking ‘ordinary residency’ in the UK during that time. For other EU and EEA nationals this period is 5 years unless they can qualify as migrant workers. So, this residency qualifying period runs for either 3 or 5 years, for example, from 1 September 2017 to September 2020 for UK or Irish national new students. However, do note that there are some exceptions which can often revolve around a recent change in immigration status. There is also a ‘long residency’ qualification route for some students who are not settled in the UK.
It is highly recommended that non-UK nationals consult UKCISA under the Info and Advice section covering fee status. There are a few different qualifying categories for non-UK nationals not covered here, and the site gives full information on all of the current qualifying categories. It also covers Brexit.