Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
Sep 8th 2019, 8:48 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 6
Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
Hello everyone! We are dual Canada/UK citizens and have been living in Canada for the past 20 years. My son has been accepted to a postgrad Physiotherapy program
at the University of East Anglia next year. We do understand that he will be paying International tuition fees because of the 3-year residency rule. However, I am a little
unclear about his status regarding access to NHS services, and would really appreciate if anyone has any information about this. I have so far been given conflicting information...
An advisor at the Citizens Advice Bureau said that any British citizen returning to the UK would be eligible for free healthcare under the NHS. My son's program is for two years, so I guess his move to the UK can be considered as him returning to settle, and who knows, he might want to stay in the UK if he is lucky enough to find work. On the other hand, the University's international advisory team seems to think he would not be entitled to free healthcare because he is not ordinarily resident in the UK and that we should arrange private
health cover until he meets the qualifying period.
Also, can anyone please confirm that no student Tier-4 is required for him to study in the UK? We just received an email from the University's international student advisory team advising us that he does need to apply for a visa, so I am really confused, as I have all along been under the impression that a visa is not necessary.
Thank you!
at the University of East Anglia next year. We do understand that he will be paying International tuition fees because of the 3-year residency rule. However, I am a little
unclear about his status regarding access to NHS services, and would really appreciate if anyone has any information about this. I have so far been given conflicting information...
An advisor at the Citizens Advice Bureau said that any British citizen returning to the UK would be eligible for free healthcare under the NHS. My son's program is for two years, so I guess his move to the UK can be considered as him returning to settle, and who knows, he might want to stay in the UK if he is lucky enough to find work. On the other hand, the University's international advisory team seems to think he would not be entitled to free healthcare because he is not ordinarily resident in the UK and that we should arrange private
health cover until he meets the qualifying period.
Also, can anyone please confirm that no student Tier-4 is required for him to study in the UK? We just received an email from the University's international student advisory team advising us that he does need to apply for a visa, so I am really confused, as I have all along been under the impression that a visa is not necessary.
Thank you!
Sep 9th 2019, 12:20 am
#2
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,192
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
Your son will be entitled to free NHS care. He’s not eligible for a Tier 4 or any other type of UK visa if he’s a British citizen. He needs only a valid British passport.
Sep 9th 2019, 12:53 am
#3
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 6
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
That's great news - thank you! Is there anything my son needs to do prior to arriving in the UK - like, are there any NHS forms to complete etc... or is it a matter of registering with the local GP on arrival? He was born in the UK, but I can't find his NHS number anywhere - hope that won't be a problem.
Sep 9th 2019, 1:42 am
#4
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Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,138
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
That's great news - thank you! Is there anything my son needs to do prior to arriving in the UK - like, are there any NHS forms to complete etc... or is it a matter of registering with the local GP on arrival? He was born in the UK, but I can't find his NHS number anywhere - hope that won't be a problem.
Sep 9th 2019, 1:43 am
#5
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Joined: Dec 2010
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Posts: 730
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
My daughter was in the same position in 2017. Dual citizenship seems to fall outside the standard eligibility as most non resident applicants require a visa - so we also had some initial confusion - she was ‘passed up the line’ to someone more senior to get it sorted.
In her case, she had NHS coverage from the start - that was Wales so perhaps England is different. She also had her NHS number so can’t help there.
A couple of things from the Canada side - we are in Ontario and she was able to suspend her OHIP coverage by proving she was leaving Canada to study - it meant that if she returned to Ontario after it, her OHIP
coverage would restart immediately rather than waiting 3 months.
There is also a CRA form which means he can advise of his departure for tax purposes. If you can’t find the relevant form, let me know and I’ll dig hers out.
Apologies if you are already aware of this info but ‘you’re welcome’ if not 😁
In her case, she had NHS coverage from the start - that was Wales so perhaps England is different. She also had her NHS number so can’t help there.
A couple of things from the Canada side - we are in Ontario and she was able to suspend her OHIP coverage by proving she was leaving Canada to study - it meant that if she returned to Ontario after it, her OHIP
coverage would restart immediately rather than waiting 3 months.
There is also a CRA form which means he can advise of his departure for tax purposes. If you can’t find the relevant form, let me know and I’ll dig hers out.
Apologies if you are already aware of this info but ‘you’re welcome’ if not 😁
Sep 9th 2019, 2:58 am
#6
Just Joined
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 6
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
My daughter was in the same position in 2017. Dual citizenship seems to fall outside the standard eligibility as most non resident applicants require a visa - so we also had some initial confusion - she was ‘passed up the line’ to someone more senior to get it sorted.
In her case, she had NHS coverage from the start - that was Wales so perhaps England is different. She also had her NHS number so can’t help there.
A couple of things from the Canada side - we are in Ontario and she was able to suspend her OHIP coverage by proving she was leaving Canada to study - it meant that if she returned to Ontario after it, her OHIP
coverage would restart immediately rather than waiting 3 months.
There is also a CRA form which means he can advise of his departure for tax purposes. If you can’t find the relevant form, let me know and I’ll dig hers out.
Apologies if you are already aware of this info but ‘you’re welcome’ if not 😁
In her case, she had NHS coverage from the start - that was Wales so perhaps England is different. She also had her NHS number so can’t help there.
A couple of things from the Canada side - we are in Ontario and she was able to suspend her OHIP coverage by proving she was leaving Canada to study - it meant that if she returned to Ontario after it, her OHIP
coverage would restart immediately rather than waiting 3 months.
There is also a CRA form which means he can advise of his departure for tax purposes. If you can’t find the relevant form, let me know and I’ll dig hers out.
Apologies if you are already aware of this info but ‘you’re welcome’ if not 😁
To be honest, we've been so stressed out about the UK side of things, we'd forgotten completely about the Canada side!I will definitely add notifying the CRA and MSP (British Columbia's equivalent to OHIP) to our evergrowing "to do" list! Hopefully, the CRA website will have info.
about tax filing obligations for residents leaving to study abroad.
Sep 9th 2019, 9:12 am
#8
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,128
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
Our son left England before he was 5 and returned 30 years later, living with us initially. Registering with the NHS at our local GP surgery was easy, just needed his passport and an address. Like us, if he even knew his old NHS number it didn’t matter as the system has changed. His new NHS number came through the post within a couple of weeks.
ps
Even before my new NHS came through I made an appointment and saw a GP as I wanted my prescription transferred from US to UK
ps
Even before my new NHS came through I made an appointment and saw a GP as I wanted my prescription transferred from US to UK
Last edited by durham_lad; Sep 9th 2019 at 9:14 am.
Sep 9th 2019, 5:33 pm
#9
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 6
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
Hello everyone! We are dual Canada/UK citizens and have been living in Canada for the past 20 years. My son has been accepted to a postgrad Physiotherapy program
at the University of East Anglia next year. We do understand that he will be paying International tuition fees because of the 3-year residency rule. However, I am a little
unclear about his status regarding access to NHS services, and would really appreciate if anyone has any information about this. I have so far been given conflicting information...
An advisor at the Citizens Advice Bureau said that any British citizen returning to the UK would be eligible for free healthcare under the NHS. My son's program is for two years, so I guess his move to the UK can be considered as him returning to settle, and who knows, he might want to stay in the UK if he is lucky enough to find work. On the other hand, the University's international advisory team seems to think he would not be entitled to free healthcare because he is not ordinarily resident in the UK and that we should arrange private
health cover until he meets the qualifying period.
Also, can anyone please confirm that no student Tier-4 is required for him to study in the UK? We just received an email from the University's international student advisory team advising us that he does need to apply for a visa, so I am really confused, as I have all along been under the impression that a visa is not necessary.
Thank you!
at the University of East Anglia next year. We do understand that he will be paying International tuition fees because of the 3-year residency rule. However, I am a little
unclear about his status regarding access to NHS services, and would really appreciate if anyone has any information about this. I have so far been given conflicting information...
An advisor at the Citizens Advice Bureau said that any British citizen returning to the UK would be eligible for free healthcare under the NHS. My son's program is for two years, so I guess his move to the UK can be considered as him returning to settle, and who knows, he might want to stay in the UK if he is lucky enough to find work. On the other hand, the University's international advisory team seems to think he would not be entitled to free healthcare because he is not ordinarily resident in the UK and that we should arrange private
health cover until he meets the qualifying period.
Also, can anyone please confirm that no student Tier-4 is required for him to study in the UK? We just received an email from the University's international student advisory team advising us that he does need to apply for a visa, so I am really confused, as I have all along been under the impression that a visa is not necessary.
Thank you!
However, has anyone had any experience with accessing NHS hospital treatment on their return to the UK, as I have heard that entitlement is slightly different? NHS website says that it's free to people who are "ordinarily resident in the UK. To be considered ordinarily resident and entitled to free hospital treatment, you must be living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being". Just wondering whether studying in the UK for two years can be considered as being properly settled? I'm hoping that the answer is yes, because otherwise "If you need NHS hospital treatment, you will be charged at 150% of the national NHS rate if you are a national of a country outside of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland."
Sep 9th 2019, 9:10 pm
#10
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,192
Re: Returning to the UK for postgrad studies
A big thank you to everyone who's replied so far!.
However, has anyone had any experience with accessing NHS hospital treatment on their return to the UK, as I have heard that entitlement is slightly different? NHS website says that it's free to people who are "ordinarily resident in the UK. To be considered ordinarily resident and entitled to free hospital treatment, you must be living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being". Just wondering whether studying in the UK for two years can be considered as being properly settled? I'm hoping that the answer is yes, because otherwise "If you need NHS hospital treatment, you will be charged at 150% of the national NHS rate if you are a national of a country outside of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland."
However, has anyone had any experience with accessing NHS hospital treatment on their return to the UK, as I have heard that entitlement is slightly different? NHS website says that it's free to people who are "ordinarily resident in the UK. To be considered ordinarily resident and entitled to free hospital treatment, you must be living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being". Just wondering whether studying in the UK for two years can be considered as being properly settled? I'm hoping that the answer is yes, because otherwise "If you need NHS hospital treatment, you will be charged at 150% of the national NHS rate if you are a national of a country outside of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland."
