The Student Room Group

Can you pay international tuition fees with a student finance loan?

Hey

My husband is from the US and has been living with me for the past 2.5 years or so.

On the government website, it states that you are eligible for Student Finance if you are a spouse of a UK citizen and have lived in the UK for 3 years before the start day of your course. This will be the case for him, so we're expecting to be able to receive student finance.

He's applied to university this coming academic year and has received some offers. These offers suggest he will be paying international fees.

This is where I'm confused, because if he is eligible to receive student finance, would he have to pay international fees? Is it possible to pay international fees using student finance?

So basically, my three questions:
* If he has lived here as my husband for 3 years before the start of his course, is he definitely eligible for student finance?
* Would he pay home or international tuition fees?
* Can you pay international fees using a student finance loan?

Thank you
Original post by usignolarosa
Hey
My husband is from the US and has been living with me for the past 2.5 years or so.
On the government website, it states that you are eligible for Student Finance if you are a spouse of a UK citizen and have lived in the UK for 3 years before the start day of your course. This will be the case for him, so we're expecting to be able to receive student finance.
He's applied to university this coming academic year and has received some offers. These offers suggest he will be paying international fees.
This is where I'm confused, because if he is eligible to receive student finance, would he have to pay international fees? Is it possible to pay international fees using student finance?
So basically, my three questions:
* If he has lived here as my husband for 3 years before the start of his course, is he definitely eligible for student finance?
* Would he pay home or international tuition fees?
* Can you pay international fees using a student finance loan?
Thank you

Hi there,

When is he looking to begin his course? Thanks, Jason
Original post by SFE Jason
Hi there,
When is he looking to begin his course? Thanks, Jason

The courses he's applying for start in September/October. I believe this means that his academic year technically starts on the 1st of September. He arrived here on the 11th of September 2022, so he's only 10 days out on qualifying for home fees and student finance, is that right?

If that is the case, is there any way we can get an exception as not to either defer yet another year or pay £18,000 out of pocket?
Hi there,

We do not make the decision on if a student will be classed as a home student or an international student. It is the university who make that decision. Also he would not have been here for 3 years prior to the 1st day of the 1st academic year if he moved here on the 11th of September as he would have to have been living here on or before the 1st of September.

Thanks, Drew
Original post by Drew SLC
Hi there,
We do not make the decision on if a student will be classed as a home student or an international student. It is the university who make that decision. Also he would not have been here for 3 years prior to the 1st day of the 1st academic year if he moved here on the 11th of September as he would have to have been living here on or before the 1st of September.
Thanks, Drew

Would it be possible for SFE to make an exception due to the short time frame between qualifying and not qualifying for student finance?
Hi there,

Unfortunately not the policy is strict and he would have to have been living here on or before the 1st of September to be eligible. He would become eligible to apply for a course starting in the January 2026 intake.

Thanks, Drew
Original post by Drew SLC
Hi there,
Unfortunately not the policy is strict and he would have to have been living here on or before the 1st of September to be eligible. He would become eligible to apply for a course starting in the January 2026 intake.
Thanks, Drew

Okay, thank you
This might be a silly question, but can we apply for terms/semesters to be funded instead of the whole year?
In other words, can he apply for funding from January onwards instead of September onwards?

I'm not sure we can afford 18,000 straight out of pocket!
Original post by usignolarosa
Okay, thank you
This might be a silly question, but can we apply for terms/semesters to be funded instead of the whole year?
In other words, can he apply for funding from January onwards instead of September onwards?
I'm not sure we can afford 18,000 straight out of pocket!

Hi there,

His academic year would need to start later so then he meets the 3 years residency. He can speak to his university to see if they have a different intake i.e October/January.

Thanks,
Claire

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