§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial support is available for UK citizens attending UK universities whose parents are overseas as(a) civilians working in the European Union in the private sector, (b) civilians working in the European Union on behalf of the (i) UK Government, (ii) other UK public body and (iii) the EU, (c) civilians working in the private sector in a non-EU country, (d) civilians working on behalf of the (1) UK Government and (2) other UK public body in a non-EU country, (e) a member of HM armed forces based in a European Union country and (f) a member of HM armed forces based in a non-EU country. [3688]
§ Margaret HodgeIt has been the policy of successive Governments that eligibility for student support should be based on residence in the UK, or in the case of tuition fee support the EU or European Economic Area (EEA). To receive a student loan, tuition fee support and other supplementary grants, a student (and not their parents)240W must normally be able to satisfy three requirements relating to their residence and immigration status on the first day of the first academic year of their course. They must:
be settled in the UK, in other words ordinarily resident here without being subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on the period for which they may stay:be ordinarily resident in England or Wales;have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands throughout the three year period preceding that date other than wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.Where a local education authority (LEA) is satisfied that a student (or their spouse or parent) is, or was, temporarily employed outside the United Kingdom and Islands, and the student meets the other eligibility criteria, they will exceptionally be eligible for support, whether or not they travel with their parents (or spouse) or stay in the UK. Where a parent's absence is not of a temporary nature and the student has remained in the UK throughout the period of the employment abroad, not wholly for the purpose of education, it may be possible for the student to establish ordinary residence in their own right. We urge LEAs to be as flexible as possible in their use of their discretion in interpreting the temporary absence provisions.A specific exception is made for members of the armed forces serving abroad, and their children and spouses, who are considered to satisfy the temporary employment provision because of the nature of their postings. This exception does not include MOD employees or other staff who are abroad catering for or serving the armed forces (i.e. teachers at forces schools overseas or reservists), nor does it include Government employees working abroad as they are not under the same degree of compulsion to work abroad as a member of the armed forces.
Students who are not eligible for full student support under the normal criteria and whose LEA is satisfied that they do not qualify on the basis of temporary absence provisions may nevertheless qualify for assistance with their tuition fees. All EU nationals, including UK nationals, who have been resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) throughout the last three years are eligible to apply for income-assessed assistance with their tuition fees.
My Department has produced a guide for students and their parents who are or have been temporarily employed overseas which is available from our website at www.dfee.gov.uk/student support.