Originally Posted by HerbieDog

Thanks for the replies, even if you can't help, its just nice to get some feelings off my chest. I would say that I'm quite an academic student (11A*, 1A in my GCSE's), so I'll try and email the unis. and see if that makes a difference. Other than that i'm going to email the Brit Council and the unis to see if there are any scholarships or some financial support to reduce the huge costs.

As for the army, I think thats a no-no for me. My mum had a friend who's son trained as a dentist and ended up in Iraq. He left before the 5 years were up and had to pay the army back.

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Girl

Hi,
I will be returning to the UK after 16 months in NZ and doing my PGCE. I spoke to the University and they said despite my having PR, because I have only lived out of the country for a short period then I should be ok. I suggest you ring the University you intend to apply to and find out their policy on the matter as there may be a way around it. I think if it's under 3 years you should be ok though.

Good Luck.

Originally Posted by toandfro

was under the impression that you needed to return within the 3 yr limit not be resident for the three yrs in which case you could return live uk for a gap year then start uni but you will need to check that I haven't yet ,my son is in the same boat and I need to start digging .If I find anything I'll let you know .

Originally Posted by moving2montreal

another great scam of rip-off britain. incidentally, they are reporting that tuition fees in the uk will hit 10,000 sterling for home students in the relatively near future. meanwhile, you could learn german and study at a top german university for 500 euro a year, or study free in scandanavia. but in england, they will rip you off royally for 3 years after you return to the country. its disgraceful.

Originally Posted by moving2montreal

but this person is a british citizen that is required to wait 3 years before she can receive home rates, even though they are british - thats the rip off part. instead of waiting those 3 years, he/she could save themselves time and money by studying elsewhere in europe, where tuition fees are lower than england. to name a few countries - france, netherlands, germany, sweden, denmark, norway - all charge much lower fees than uk and do not have a 3 years waiting stipulation.

Originally Posted by JAJ

I

One work-around in the UK is that the 3 year residence rule does not seem to apply to distance learning, such as an Open University or University of London (External) degree. Try to verify this, but at your age that might not really suit you.

Originally Posted by JAJ

Universities in Quebec charge less to Canadians living in Quebec than they do to Canadians from out of province.

Originally Posted by Bob

That's still a bargain to be fair....you'd pay more than that a year in the US and a degree takes 4 years.

Originally Posted by HerbieDog

This is my first post on these forums, and I’m hoping that someone will be able to offer me some advice about returning back to the UK for university.

My family and myself moved out to NZ in October 2005, and so far things have been a bit up and down. I’m just about to turn 18 and start my final year at school, and have begun to think about my future educational plans. Up until the age of 16 I had been in the UK, and was a citizen, as well as both of my parents. We now have permanent residence in NZ.

My initial plan was to return back to the UK for university, working for a few months before starting my degree in September/October 2008. After some general browsing on the Internet I have encountered a number of problems, which upon looking at some posts on this forum seem to have been experienced by others in my position. The main problem so far is that it appears I will be classed as an international student, and thus have to pay in excess of quadruple the home fees.

As of yet the rest of my family are undecided on whether they will also return back to the UK. If they do choose to return to the UK I will be left in the position of either staying on my own in NZ for 3-4 years, or seemingly paying the exorbitant international student fees.

I have contacted the educational department of my local British council who confirmed that to usually be considered for home fees you have to of been resident in the UK for 3 years previous to the start of your course. However they said that an exception would be made if we were only temporarily out of the country (a grey area according to him). Of course the definition of temporary is to be decided upon the university, where they will look at the length of time out of the country, whether a home has been maintained in the UK, and the nature of my parents jobs. Unfortunately we no longer have a home in the UK, although our relatives still live there, my mother has a permanent job, whilst my dad’s is temporary but likely to be extended. There also lies the problem that the universities won’t decide on my fee status until after I apply through UCAS after September 2007. So until then there is no way of knowing whether I will be classed as a home student by none, some or all of the 6 universities I apply to.

Has anyone else experienced these kind of problems, and how did you proceed. My grandparents from the UK our currently staying with us, so when they return I hope they will be able to sort something out. My grandmother works for the CAB so she’s going to see if there is a way around it, but I’m not too hopeful. If not looks like I’ll be pinning my hopes on an extremely unlikely scholarship.

Thanks in advance

James

Originally Posted by Bob

The grey area isn't that grey...to be temporary, it had to have been a move aboard because of work or military posting for example, not because you looked for permanent residence aboard.

A way around it, get a military bursary...the army gives a good one, navy and airforce don't tend to do them....but if you do, you'll have to commit around 5 years of military service or whatever it was...but you do get your college fee's, housing and salary.....but with Iraq...

Originally Posted by JAJ

If you're a New Zealand PR, why don't you go to a good New Zealand university? (eg Auckland or Otago). In a few years time you'll then have your New Zealand citizenship + a good degree and then make up your mind where you would like to live more permanently.

Once you're a New Zealander, Australia is also open to you (although you do need to plan to stay living in NZ at the point you become a citizen). Or you could return to the UK at that point.

One work-around in the UK is that the 3 year residence rule does not seem to apply to distance learning, such as an Open University or University of London (External) degree. Try to verify this, but at your age that might not really suit you.

Originally Posted by ShozInOz

James

If I were you I think I would put my address as one of your relatives. Could that work?

Good luck

Originally Posted by JAJ

One work-around in the UK is that the 3 year residence rule does not seem to apply to distance learning, such as an Open University or University of London (External) degree. Try to verify this, but at your age that might not really suit you.

Originally Posted by Biiiiink

If you're using foreign school qualifications to gain admission, isn't it obvious you haven't been in the UK for the previous 3yrs?

I had to pay international fees for my first year as a result of being abroad for a quasi-gap year, but that was a long time ago, not sure if I'd be charged for that today.

Originally Posted by JAJ

If you're a New Zealand PR, why don't you go to a good New Zealand university? (eg Auckland or Otago). In a few years time you'll then have your New Zealand citizenship + a good degree and then make up your mind where you would like to live more permanently.

Once you're a New Zealander, Australia is also open to you (although you do need to plan to stay living in NZ at the point you become a citizen). Or you could return to the UK at that point.

One work-around in the UK is that the 3 year residence rule does not seem to apply to distance learning, such as an Open University or University of London (External) degree. Try to verify this, but at your age that might not really suit you.