Hi all

We are looking to move back in the next 12mths or so. Our son will have finished high school in Australia and will be looking at starting college, doing a BTEC or similar qualification.

Does anyone know if the 3 year rule for domestic students to get into uni also applies to college entry?

I have tried contact a college, but so far no response.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Does the college website list fees or have a section for international students? The info would likely be there. As far as I understand it, the rules pretty much apply to anything post secondary that is subsidised by the government or eligible for student loans/bursaries.

This was discussed and answered in one of the other student fees threads, but I can't recall the answer. Perhaps the OP could run a search for threads on student fees.

I need to say this in the right order to show our true objectives.

We are returning to the UK later this year as retirees as there is an hiatus in our kid's secondary education which will allow us to make a break from life in the Caribbean and settle elsewhere.

We too intend that he embark upon a BTEC qualification and have been in touch with colleges - by phone initially - regarding this to the point of applying online. Interviews would take place when we actually return, in late August. On the applications we have stipulated that we will indeed be settled in the UK come SEPTEMBER 1st, as required.

Not sure of the age you are talking about in a year from now, but:

SINCE WE ARE also heading UK-wards, he is our dependent as UK citizens with right of abode and there are NO FEES until he reaches the age of 19 (free 16-18).

However, it is likely that he would need to take a gap year after a two year BTEC Level 3 in order to comply with the three year residency rules for Home Fees for Uni etc. etc if he then chose to go that route.

In our experience, the website section for International Students does not address the particular requirements and concerns of Brit returnees with their kids, though the International Student coordinator at our desired college has been a helpful resource for us to (UK equivalent of) quarterback the application process as well as address qualification alignment UKNARIC to the actual GCSE entry requirements for BTECs, if that is necessary.

The reason I said that was because I was under the impression that returnees with British kids were classed as international for 3 years if they have been gone too long. On the whole anyway, I know there are some exceptions to the rule. The OP mentioned that their son would have finished high school, which is what made me think of the post secondary requirements.

I admit that I too wasn't clear what Australian high school ages were either but it seems to depend upon what State you are in .

But it general:

'The year 11 (15/16 YO) and 12 (16/17 YO), are optional but are required to be successfully completed to attain a high school diploma.'

You are correct that returnees with British kids over the age of eighteen are treated just the same as international students, though at college the fees are easier on the wallet at typically around 5,000 pounds per annum.

However, I wanted to get it in that College is free under nineteen for the accompanied kids and this could be an option for some as a feeder to later degree courses there or elsewhere and the option is not talked about much if at all on here. The emphasis on vocational courses in England, with Apprenticeships, HNDs and BTECs can also be attractive for some.

Again, unfortunately, one's status in year one of Uni governs the entire course there so the gap year might still be needed for Home Fees if one goes to college first for a two-year course which gets you the equivalent of three A levels to gain Uni access.

Hi,

Just to add to what you have written. Our son returned alone from New Zealand. He was 18 and had studied year 12 & 13 there. He applied for Uni but was only offered as an International student which was not an option.
So he went to 6th form college at age 19 and did his A levels.
He was living at my sisters and didn't pay any fees for the course.

I'm guessing it's that A Levels and the equivalent are still considered part of secondary education?

All good stuff to know

Hi

We spent nearly 13 years in Perth WA, one son returned home with 4 Tee's and our youngest son came home with ....zilch lol (he was in year 12 studying tee's but wanted to come home in time for September intake at college) so it depends what your son has in terms of qualifications, if you could let us know I could let you know what our youngest decided to do to get into Uni (that is of course if your son wants to attend Uni) Good luck

Hi all
Thanks for the replies. I've looked at the international page on the college website, but that doesn't help us know how he would be classified.
We are in Qld, where it is generally accepted students finish school in Yr 12 in the year they turn 17. He will not have an "OP" (Qld system only) but is completing certificates in Business and Photography, along with OP English & Maths.
He doesn't particularly want to go to uni at this stage, but a BTEC possibly in Photography is an option.
I thought there was a difference in UK between "Higher Education" (uni) and "Further Education" (college) though I can't find now where I read that.
We are just trying to budget for the move back, and would like to know if we have to factor in college fees. If all goes to plan he will be 17 when we move to start college in Sept 2015.
I've searched the forum for "student fees" but only seem to come up with uni fees, not college fees. We have been away for 14 years, and are Australian citizens, if that makes any difference.

Hi a Btec is worth (depending which Btec he would like to take)1,2 or 3 A levels, our youngest was excepted at all the three 6th forms he had chosen and this was without any formal Aus examination certificates we just took along what work he had from his last year 11th and tiny bit he did from year 12th and that was a good help. He was advised to study GCSE's in Maths, Science and English (our son wanted to go to Uni) he is now nearly finishing his first year at Uni and really enjoying himself. You are granted free educations until your son turns 19 years of age but I would advise that he return in time to start his two years at college (he can study lots of different courses in his chosen subjects but I would say do the best course your capable of to help with employment) 6th forms offer lots of levels of education I might add to this that when our son finished his two years at college he was offered a home status at Uni (we had been back in the UK for just over 2.5 years by then, our son deferred his place so he could take a break from studying and earn some money, he was also granted a bursary for his Btec results)

I'd recommend any child taking English, Maths and Science if they can, as far as they can (A-Levels/Highers/BTEC, etc.). We no longer admit students to our program without Highers (Scottish A-Levels) in these subjects, with no exceptions.

Even then, I find students can't multiply 6 x 80 (I asked this in class the other day and the response was, "We don't do that in Maths highers"). I hope he was joking - but no-one could work it out in their head!

Our oldest has to do his Maths test soon for his place at Uni this Sept (for his teaching certificate) and well he fell of his chair when he downloaded a "mock" test from the Uni....in truth you would have to be a Maths genius to pass...hence our oldest is now swotting away and walking round in a daze with steam coming out of his ears...it could of been cobwebs though lol

I've already posted that there will not be any fees for you if your son takes a two-year college course (BTEC) at the age of 17. This is exactly what we also are doing and have been advised accordingly by International Student Affairs at the college by email. This was not visible anywhere else in websites and came as a nice surprise. It appears that whether you are actually there in the UK yourself or have put your child in the hands of a 'carer' (relative) this is still the case.

It is possible that where your child was under 19 on September 1st in the college year of course commencement and he arrives in the UK later and having turned 19, he can still gain FREE admission but some colleges seem to reserve the right to defer judgement on this being guaranteed.

FYI, most colleges have prerequisites of Maths and English plus two or three other passes at GCSE (or equivalent) for entry. Be aware that many kids doing BTEC do so because they are less academic and less able to pass exams at GCSE level and this can govern the calibre of child pursuing the course and their general attitude to college work. I've noticed though that there are now exams in addition to pure coursework for 2014-2015 courses and onwards.

Even though the BTEC courses are standard, the entry requirements for colleges vary. You can check the quality of delivery of courses at particular colleges via the ofsted reports for the college in general and for the specific subject area, in some cases.

I accept that your kid might not be interested in Uni at this point but you can study the UCAS required scores for Uni-level entry to work out what is needed based upon your kid's performance at the BTEC level. You will most probably see that on the college website course-specific detail, there are explanations as to where the desired course can lead you in terms of further study at Uni level either to a Foundation degree or Foundation leading to full-blown Honours degree.

Where I am looking, in the West Country, my son's course can lead to a Foundation Degree (2 years) in Sports Coaching at the University of Plymouth while studying at Weymouth College. The third year (if desired) would be actually at Plymouth, working towards an honours degree, subject to the necessary passes in the regular course material.

I agree with dunroving that not having Maths and English can be a significant barrier to further access at Uni BUT if your child (and you) are absolutely clear as to what he wants to do work-wise, the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma process works well as a feeder in its own right.

I spoke earlier (another post) of the need for a gap year in order to get Home Fees at Uni after a two-year fresh-off-the-boat course at college and I admit there are clearly exceptions based upon how Uni admissions interpret your position regarding UK residency etc. If you need a gap year then it might work well to put some BUSINESS/COMMERCE in there, though this in itself will probably need some demonstrated maths and English passes which you most likely have had to get to college.

Personally, I saw little point in working towards these two subjects at A level when there was so much effort just to get some sort of pass at GCSE equivalent. Our son's school here is only hell-bent on gaining GCSE equiv passes with a view to A level study leading to UNI - nothing else counts, and we are getting tired of banging our heads against a brick wall and the whip doesn't seem to work .