You might not be planning to return but.....
 

When you're looking to move overseas, you don't often plan to return - but the reality is that many do for a variety of reasons. It's then when you discover that once you've been out of Britain for a couple of years, you lose a lot of rights. One of those is university education for your kids...or yourself.

We're running a petition to bring this to no.10's attention. Hopefully they can in part address this situation and reduce fees for returning British citizens (currently having to pay full overseas fees!).

Please, whack your signature down at this site: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Unfair-Uni-Fees/

We need 201 signatures to get it considered...just 41 to go. Please take a moment and just a couple of clicks to help get this petition considered.
Thanks so much.

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

How long do you need to be back in the UK before you regain those lost rights?

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

I'm pretty sure its 3 years.

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

What 'rights' exactly does a person lose?

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

Right to NHS treatment is one, in addition to that above.

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

That is recovered immediately upon resuming residence in the U.K.

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

Thanks for putting me straight JAJ, and my mind at rest a little.

If you don't mind me asking, how is it determined that residence has been resumed?

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

No specific procedure, unless and until a healthcare card system like in Canada and Australia has been developed.

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

So just to clarify. If you leave the UK and take up permanent residency in Australia you lose the right to a free University Education in the UK ?

Do Australian's going to England to study have to pay these fee's as well ?

Al

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

As far as I know 'free' only exists in Scotland for Scottish students and those from the EU (excluding England and Wales). Non EU residents pay overseas fees.

In England and Wales, students are liable for fees dependent on where they are normally resident.

But be warned, as others have already noted, I may be talking utter bull.

That, in part, explains the unusually high ratio of overseas students in UK (and also Australian) universities. Its a very good money earner.

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

I try to avoid utter bull so I will ignore your response ;) :D

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

If I were you I probably would also.;)

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

What the petition is about is not 'free' university, UK and australians in their own country still pay uni fees. , but they are heavily subsidised by the gov.

The petition is about mum and dad UK citizens immigrating to australia/canada etc, then after 3 years returning to the UK and their UK born children are then classed as OVERSEAS students and attract the overseas fees which can be around 12,000 GBP per year.

In other words any family on this forum emigrating to OZ etc, then returns to the UK after 3 years or more will attract a bill for their kids uni education at the overseas student rate :eek: despite the fact they were born in UK.

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

Thanks for clearing that up. A couple of further questions.

If the fees for overseas students are ~£12,000/pa, what is the figure for British Citizens resident in the UK ? i.e. what is the subsidy from the UK Government ?

Does this apply only to those who are Permanent Residents in Australia or those on Temporary Residency and work sponsored visas as well ? There is a distinct difference between someone intending to work here for a couple of years (even three) and someone with a PR visa intending to live out here for ever and then changing their mind.

What is the situation if you are the same student trying to get a University education in Australia ? Are there any fees to pay? Are the fees different if you're not a citizen/PR ? Does the visa you are on make a difference to the fee structure (if any) ?

Al

Re: You might not be planning to return but.....
 

As far as I know university fees in the UK are similar to OZ at the subsidised rate, in OZ that is from $4200 to $8000 per year depending on the course, that is for australians and uk people with PR.

My knowledge of visas is basically nil:D maybe jaj can answer that.

Brother did university in the UK recently the fees as a UK citizen I think he said 3800 GBP so the difference is huge. compared to OS fees of 12000 GBP.