Student Finance - Living Abroad

Hi all,
I'm a little concerned regarding how my status will be considered.

I have visited the www.ukcisa.org.uk website and done my best to understand the meaning of 'ordinarily resident'. It makes reference to temporarily working outside the EU being ignored but I'm guessing this isn't for 12 months.

Here is my situation:

I am 29 and up until September 2009 had lived and worked in the UK all my life. I have never been to university and am strongly considering the option in September 2011. I moved to Sydney just six months ago on a working holiday visa and am likely to return on expiry. I will have been out of the country and the EU for 12 months.

Will I seriously be thought of as an international student because of my 12 month break in Australia? It would seem incredibly harsh.

Reply 1

theronkinator

17

It's not much different to a working gap year so I'd imagine it would be ok but would ring and check.

Reply 2

cpj1987

15

Unfortunately, most probably yes. You need to have been living in the UK (or EU) for the three years prior to the start of your course to be considered a home student.

You could attempt top argue how long 'temporary' can stretch, but that might be optimistic. Still, if you can prove that you've been in Sydney to work, that'll help your case.

Reply 3

Lsmiles

OP

If you could put yourself in my shoes would it be worth while not mentioning my trip abroad at all? Is it possible to withhold this sort of information from Student Finance, how thorough are they with their checks on applicants and what are the potential repercussions? Waiting a further 3 years will almost certainly rule out studying for a degree whilst paying international student fees is nothing short of a joke.

Reply 4

heidigirl

17

cpj1987

Unfortunately, most probably yes. You need to have been living in the UK (or EU) for the three years prior to the start of your course to be considered a home student.

You could attempt top argue how long 'temporary' can stretch, but that might be optimistic. Still, if you can prove that you've been in Sydney to work, that'll help your case.

But it's a working holiday visa (the idea that you're there for a holiday, and work just to top up your funds), as far as immigration is concerned she wasn't ordinarily resident in Australia and neither was she there to work, she was on holiday; just because it was a year long trip doesn't make it any less of a holiday. The OP should technically still be ordinarily resident in the UK (assuming she still has an address in the UK-I imagine she has not completely upped sticks with all her possessions, just packed a suitcase.)

It is the same as people who go on gap year trips. I cannot imagine why it would be a problem for the OP when it isn't a problem for thousands of people who go on year long gap year trips abroad.

Reply 5

cpj1987

15

heidigirl

But it's a working holiday visa (the idea that you're there for a holiday, and work just to top up your funds), so she wasn't ordinarily resident in Australia, she was on holiday; just because it was a year long trip doesn't make it any less of a holiday. The OP should technically still be ordinarily resident in the UK (assuming she still has an address in the UK-I imagine she has not completely upped sticks with all her possessions, just packed a suitcase.)

It is the same as people who go on gap year trips.

True, apologies. I missed the word 'holiday' in there. :p:

Reply 6

Taiko

11

Right, I got your email about this. Firstly though, I do not use the site any longer since I stepped down as the moderator for Money & Finance, due to issues with a few other mods, one in particular.

That said, I can't ignore a request when it's residency grounds, or from a student in need of help. It's not what I'm trained to do and known for.

Part of The Student Support Regulations allows for temporary absence, and having the working holiday visa will show it to be pretty much a gap year. You will therefore be ok for support, provided your course meets the normal criteria to be eligible for funding.

Reply 7

Lsmiles

OP

Thanks for the help, really puts my mind at rest. I will still give student finance a call just to confirm and will post their response here.

Reply 8

g.bradley

Original post by Lsmiles

Thanks for the help, really puts my mind at rest. I will still give student finance a call just to confirm and will post their response here.

Did you ever receive a result? I'm in the same situation now, I was on a working holiday visa in Canada for 2 years (2 separate 1 year visas) i just got accepted to uni and now i'm worrying I wont be able to get finance!

Student Finance - Living Abroad

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