Thinking of going back to the UK this June once our son has graduated. Can he go to College as a UK resident or will we have to pay international student fees? Found information regarding University fees etc if you have been away for more than three years, does the same apply to College?

Perry, great name.

I called my lad Perry

as in a CfE? no idea...but college/uni...have to be resident for 3 years prior to admission to get home rates.

It's not clear how old he is and what kind of qualification you're looking at.

sorry...we are in Canada, my son has just turned 18 and wants too do an Arts course at College not uni..

College, Uni...usually the same thing unless it's a CfE sixth form type thing.

So something like a BTEC at a College of Further Education?

It's an interesting question, the best thing is probably to contact the colleges he's interested directly, as I think there are some rules about residency.

It would seem from college sites that I've been looking at that there is a residency requirement for "home fees". I've noted on many of the college/uni sites it says something along the lines of, "Whether you are regarded as 'home' or 'overseas' for fee-paying purposes is assessed by the Registry based on government regulations." So it would seem that the home rate is government regulated as opposed to the individual schools making the decision. However, as others have suggested call the college direct and ask them. At least that way you will know for sure.

My SIL is a teacher at college and she has informed me that education is free for students up to the age of 19....our younger son will start his A levels or maybe a Btec at college (he will be 16 nearly 17) on his/our return to the u.K the college of his choice have said there will be no charge....he was born in the U.K and they know he has been overseas for a few years.....

College is for further education of either Apprenticeships...GCSE's or A levels/Btecs.....NVQ's etc......Uni is for Degree's etc so really the same thing...

Excellent news and quite right! International fees are a bug bare of mine so it's great he can do that and will he then take a year out as a gap year to meet the three year requirement?

One really needs to make sure that you speak to a person at the college who is familiar with cases of British citizens who have lived abroad. I've spoken to people who thought they "knew," but when we dug down deeper they didn't "know," they were either guessing or assumed incorrectly. So I always think it's important to check, double-check and triple-check in these instances.

For example on the site for Canterbury college it says:
"Some students who live outside the UK hold British passports and are generally classed as Home Students. However, even for these students there is a residency requirement. For an HE student to be classed as a Home Student and therefore subject to the lower tuition fees or for FE students on some courses for their costs to be covered, the student will be required to have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (or other EU countries) for the three years immediately before the start of the academic year in which the course begins, for reasons other than wholly or mainly receiving full time education and they must be living in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland (or other EU countries)on the first day of the academic year."

errr....these days, not so much the case though and are pretty interchangable ....Brasenose, Magdelan, Imperial, Kings, Jesus etc, I wouldn't call those CoFE, which is what your talking about.

Edit: to add...the only people really worth getting in touch would be the people who will pay, so your local LEA of the area you live in, give them the facts, get them to tell you if they'll pay and for where/what and have it in writing...chances the college might think you'll be covered and you'll get stuck with a bill because they've got it wrong.

Hi Brits! I would speak to the college and maybe follow up with a call to the LEA but HR in colleges will be very versed in internation and non residency stauts. I strongly think they're your first point of call and the LEA second. Each college has different rules and regs it seems. Good luck and tell us how you get on!

They do...but there's only one set of rules the LEA follow as to who they'll pay UK resident fees for.