HIGHER EDUCATION
What if I have ‘refugee status’, ‘Exceptional Leave to remain’ in the UK or am considered an ‘asylum seeker’?
- If you fall into one of the above groups, the funding issues around Higher Education can be highly complicated
- If you have been accepted as having ‘refugee status’, you should be treated as a Home Student and be eligible for all Student Loans and Grants
- If you have ‘Exceptional Leave to Remain’ in the UK, you can be treated as a Home Student but only if you meet the 3 year ordinary residence rule
- As an asylum seeker, you are usually treated as an ‘overseas student’ for higher education funding purposes – fees can be much higher than for UK [home] students and you are not usually entitled to Student Loans or Grants
- Often universities themselves are unclear and you may need the support of outside agencies to ensure that you are treated appropriately.