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Do I qualify for SFE and home status?

I was wondering if anyone had some advice. I'm a British citizen same with my father and I have been visiting the UK for my dad from 2016 - 2021. In November 2021 I came to permanently stay with my dad and tried to integrate with the UK year 11 system and attended a UK school for about 2 weeks and dropped out to be home-schooled online by my non EU school because I was 6 months behind as I was coming from an October/November system and the UK is a May/June system so I had to come back to my non EU country and sit my GCSEs in Sept 2022.After that I decided to enrol physically in the Non EU country for my a levels because if I hadn't, I would have taken a gap year between November 2022 and September 2023 to enter the UK system. So from January 2023 to November 2024 I finished my a levels in the non EU country and I just came back in May of 2025. Will this be considered as a temporary absence? I have NHS documents, bank account, phone number(probably deactivated) from the November 2021 - Sept 2022 period when I was in the UK.

Reply 1

Original post
by frenzflu
I was wondering if anyone had some advice. I'm a British citizen same with my father and I have been visiting the UK for my dad from 2016 - 2021. In November 2021 I came to permanently stay with my dad and tried to integrate with the UK year 11 system and attended a UK school for about 2 weeks and dropped out to be home-schooled online by my non EU school because I was 6 months behind as I was coming from an October/November system and the UK is a May/June system so I had to come back to my non EU country and sit my GCSEs in Sept 2022.After that I decided to enrol physically in the Non EU country for my a levels because if I hadn't, I would have taken a gap year between November 2022 and September 2023 to enter the UK system. So from January 2023 to November 2024 I finished my a levels in the non EU country and I just came back in May of 2025. Will this be considered as a temporary absence? I have NHS documents, bank account, phone number(probably deactivated) from the November 2021 - Sept 2022 period when I was in the UK.

Hi there. Can you please list the countries that you lived in for the last 5 years and the dates you lived in these countries? Thanks, David

Reply 2

Original post
by David SLC
Hi there. Can you please list the countries that you lived in for the last 5 years and the dates you lived in these countries? Thanks, David

2020 - November 2021 Uganda, November 2021 - September 2022 United Kingdom , September 2022 - May 2025 Uganda
Just noting that SFE can only advise as to your funding eligibility, not your fee status.

Home/International fee status is determined by the unis you receive offers from. There is guidance on the criteria on the UKCISA website.

Reply 4

Original post
by Admit-One
Just noting that SFE can only advise as to your funding eligibility, not your fee status.
Home/International fee status is determined by the unis you receive offers from. There is guidance on the criteria on the UKCISA website.

Okay thanks

Reply 5

Thank you. Finally just to check, have you already submitted your application? Thanks again, David

Reply 6

Original post
by David SLC
Thank you. Finally just to check, have you already submitted your application? Thanks again, David

Not yet

Reply 7

Okay thank you. Temporary Absence applications are worked on a case by case basis. It sounds like from your situation you may be eligible in this case under temporary break. You will need to apply as soon as possible. You will then be emailed with the dates required to be covered and informed of what evidence to send to cover these dates. Thanks, David

Reply 8

Original post
by David SLC
Okay thank you. Temporary Absence applications are worked on a case by case basis. It sounds like from your situation you may be eligible in this case under temporary break. You will need to apply as soon as possible. You will then be emailed with the dates required to be covered and informed of what evidence to send to cover these dates. Thanks, David

Thanks do you know what documents I should get to prove it was temporary?

Reply 9

Original post
by frenzflu
Thanks do you know what documents I should get to prove it was temporary?

Acceptable Evidence

A letter from HEP confirming gap year

A letter from the employer on headed paper confirming temporary employment including dates

A contract from your employer that clearly shows the employment is of a temporary nature

A letter from HM armed services/Commanding Officer etc

Temporary visas or work permits

Where evidence has been requested to show that you maintained a connection to the UK documents such as bank statements and utility bills can be reviewed


Dependent on your situation, they may not have any of the evidence above (e.g. you went abroad, self-funded, no employment etc.). In these circumstances you should be advised to send any evidence of the break (e.g. copies of ticket receipts, accommodation lease, etc.) with a covering letter. This evidence will be deemed acceptable on a 'case-by-case' basis. Thanks, Jason

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