The Student Room Group

Are we eligible for student finance

Hi! My partner and I are currently living in Germany for work (since the end of July) and now we want to come back to the uk for study PGCEs. I’ve lived in England my whole life before July, and have my uk passport. My partner was born in Australia but has a uk passport because his dad was born in England and moved to Australia when he was 6. My partner lived in England for 1.5years before moving to Germany last July.

We want to check if either of us would be eligible for student finance to cover our tuition and maintenance while we do a 1 year PGCE course. It said on a website that you must have lived in the uk for the 3 years before your course starts but there are circumstances where it hey could allow us?


Any help and advice would be appreciated. Thank you!
Hi there,
We would require to review the residency criteria for both yourself and your partner independently, as there are several routes that may apply in each case. Is the employment in Germany of a temporary nature? Would you be able to provide evidence of this? (temp contract, temp visa etc.)

Thanks, Stephen.
Reply 2
Original post by Stephen SLC
Hi there,
We would require to review the residency criteria for both yourself and your partner independently, as there are several routes that may apply in each case. Is the employment in Germany of a temporary nature? Would you be able to provide evidence of this? (temp contract, temp visa etc.)
Thanks, Stephen.

Hi Stephen,

Thank you for the quick reply. Yes they’re temporary visas which run until July 25. The contracts also run until July 25

The work in Germany is working in a school so we’d hope that would go in our favour when applying for PGCE courses

Thank you
Original post by Thecoolkid111
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for the quick reply. Yes they’re temporary visas which run until July 25. The contracts also run until July 25
The work in Germany is working in a school so we’d hope that would go in our favour when applying for PGCE courses
Thank you

Thanks - this sounds like it should be fine. Time spent abroad is fine in the three years prior to the start of the course, so long as it's temporary.

Do you know when your course will begin?

Thanks, Graeme
Reply 4
Original post by Graeme SFE
Thanks - this sounds like it should be fine. Time spent abroad is fine in the three years prior to the start of the course, so long as it's temporary.
Do you know when your course will begin?
Thanks, Graeme

Hi Graeme! The course starts in September 2025. And I would be back in England in July after spending a year temporarily working and living in Germany
Original post by Thecoolkid111
Hi Graeme! The course starts in September 2025. And I would be back in England in July after spending a year temporarily working and living in Germany

Thank you. For a September 2025 start the applications are expected to launch around Spring time of 2025. When you apply, you would then be asked to provide evidence of the temporary break if required and they will outline what you need to send in. Thanks again, David

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