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Fee Status Assessment

Hello everyone!

So, this is basically something I'd definitely have to refer to UCAS for, but I wanted to get some insight on here first.

I want to do an MBBS Medicine degree in England, but I currently live in Pakistan. My family and I, however, have decided to move back to England in the summer of 2019 as my dad has received his old job at his old hospital in London back, and I've just finished my international GCE A Level this summer(2018).

Some background knowledge: I was born in, and lived in Ireland for 10.5 years, then moved to London and lived there for 2.5 years. Then, moved to Pakistan and have been living there since and it's been 5 years. Nationality wise, I'm Irish and have an Irish passport so I am an EU citizen/national. While living in England, my father worked full time as a doctor. He still has his registration to practice here and Barclays bank account open even after moving to Pakistan. After I left England at the end of Year 8 with my family, I did my GCE O Level (4A*4As) and GCE A Level (ABB) here. If it matters, I have visited Ireland and England on holidays in the 5 years I've been living in Pakistan thus far. So yes, I have lived in England before and English is my native language.

Whew. So my problem is that I want do undergrad MBBS when I move back to England next summer, but before even thinking about applying, checking the websites for many London unis offering medicine (St. George's etc) - I realised the International fees are crazy high, because I'm honestly not sure if I'm classified as a Home/EU student because I haven't spent the past 3 out of 5 years in England. I did read the classification for deciding whether you are an International fee receiver or a Home/EU fee receiver, and I'm still quite unsure. I've heard it depends from uni to uni whether you qualify as an EU fee student or not. One of my friends who's an Irish national like me, but hasn't lived in England before managed to apply for a uni in England and get accepted as a Home/EU fee student and I'm baffled.

Can I qualify as a Home/EU fee student if I'm living in England as a resident with my family at the time my course starts, but living here in Pakistan while applying, am an EU national, but haven't spent the last 3 out of 5 years living here?

So, TSR, is there anything I can do to make sure I qualify as a Home/EU fee student? My family can't pay 32k a year.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you so much in advance! And omg sorry this is so long. xxx
Original post by quiteclueless
Hello everyone!

So, this is basically something I'd definitely have to refer to UCAS for, but I wanted to get some insight on here first.

I want to do an MBBS Medicine degree in England, but I currently live in Pakistan. My family and I, however, have decided to move back to England in the summer of 2019 as my dad has received his old job at his old hospital in London back, and I've just finished my international GCE A Level this summer(2018).

Some background knowledge: I was born in, and lived in Ireland for 10.5 years, then moved to London and lived there for 2.5 years. Then, moved to Pakistan and have been living there since and it's been 5 years. Nationality wise, I'm Irish and have an Irish passport so I am an EU citizen/national. While living in England, my father worked full time as a doctor. He still has his registration to practice here and Barclays bank account open even after moving to Pakistan. After I left England at the end of Year 8 with my family, I did my GCE O Level (4A*4As) and GCE A Level (ABB) here. If it matters, I have visited Ireland and England on holidays in the 5 years I've been living in Pakistan thus far. So yes, I have lived in England before and English is my native language.

Whew. So my problem is that I want do undergrad MBBS when I move back to England next summer, but before even thinking about applying, checking the websites for many London unis offering medicine (St. George's etc) - I realised the International fees are crazy high, because I'm honestly not sure if I'm classified as a Home/EU student because I haven't spent the past 3 out of 5 years in England. I did read the classification for deciding whether you are an International fee receiver or a Home/EU fee receiver, and I'm still quite unsure. I've heard it depends from uni to uni whether you qualify as an EU fee student or not. One of my friends who's an Irish national like me, but hasn't lived in England before managed to apply for a uni in England and get accepted as a Home/EU fee student and I'm baffled.

Can I qualify as a Home/EU fee student if I'm living in England as a resident with my family at the time my course starts, but living here in Pakistan while applying, am an EU national, but haven't spent the last 3 out of 5 years living here?

So, TSR, is there anything I can do to make sure I qualify as a Home/EU fee student? My family can't pay 32k a year.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you so much in advance! And omg sorry this is so long. xxx

Fee status is complex and as you say it’s decided by each university individually (and will be assessed after you apply). All universities follow the guidance of UKCISA on determining fee status. I would recommend that you call their advice line and talk to them about your situation and the sort of evidence that might help your case https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/About-UKCISA/Contact-us
Fee status is complex and as you say it’s decided by each university individually (and will be assessed after you apply). All universities follow the guidance of UKCISA on determining fee status. I would recommend that you call their advice line and talk to them about your situation and the sort of evidence that might help your case https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/About-UKCISA/Contact-us


I was just wondering if there was any way for sure to confirm I'm eligible for Home/EU fee status even before applying though. Because I'd rather find out before if I am considered for a Home/EU fee or not before applying.

Also is there ANY other way to get into medicine in England without the super high international fees? Whether it be doing another degree or anything else, I'm desperate. And can I get loans or pay off my fees in the future?

And is there a chance of my fee status changing throughout my course?
Thank you
Also I've heard if you can show you still have close ties to the UK and intend to return, they may reassess your fee status.

But how do we prove it? With what documents? And to whom do we have to do all this?

Are any medical offering unis known to be lenient with this?
Original post by quiteclueless
I was just wondering if there was any way for sure to confirm I'm eligible for Home/EU fee status even before applying though. Because I'd rather find out before if I am considered for a Home/EU fee or not before applying.

Also is there ANY other way to get into medicine in England without the super high international fees? Whether it be doing another degree or anything else, I'm desperate. And can I get loans or pay off my fees in the future?

And is there a chance of my fee status changing throughout my course?
Thank you


Your universities will assess your fee status after you apply. It's only ~£25 to apply though so not a massive loss. If you speak to UKCISA then they'll help you provide the best evidence/information to improve your chances of being assessed as home.

If you do another degree in the UK then that wouldn't be great. Firstly it would use up some of your tuition fee loan allowance (even if you didn't take out a loan or even if you studied another degree outside the UK) and secondly your ordinary residence ignores places where you live for education purposes.

If you're not successful in getting offers with home fees initially then taking a gap year, working as a HCA and reapplying would improve your chances of an offer and your case to be charged home fees.
Your universities will assess your fee status after you apply. It's only ~£25 to apply though so not a massive loss. If you speak to UKCISA then they'll help you provide the best evidence/information to improve your chances of being assessed as home.

If you do another degree in the UK then that wouldn't be great. Firstly it would use up some of your tuition fee loan allowance (even if you didn't take out a loan or even if you studied another degree outside the UK) and secondly your ordinary residence ignores places where you live for education purposes.

If you're not successful in getting offers with home fees initially then taking a gap year, working as a HCA and reapplying would improve your chances of an offer and your case to be charged home fees.


Thanks. What is a HCA? And would it guarantee me being charged home fees? And can you further clarify the second paragraph please?
Original post by quiteclueless
Thanks. What is a HCA? And would it guarantee me being charged home fees? And can you further clarify the second paragraph please?


A HCA is https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/clinical-support-staff/healthcare-assistant

There's no guarantee - you need to speak to UKCISA (and look at their website) - they're the experts in this and can give you advice based on your specific experiences.

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