British passport holders living in the European Union are set to lose their eligibility for "home fee" status at UK universities starting in 2028. The shift marks the conclusion of a post-Brexit "grace period" that had previously protected these students from the higher costs associated with international tuition.
As a result, students residing in the EU will now be aligned with other British nationals living outside the bloc, effectively categorizing them as international students for the purpose of university admissions.
Unless they have lived in the UK for three years prior to their application, these students will lose their home fee rights and their access to essential student finance.
This policy change means that many students will face costs up to three times higher than their counterparts who qualify for home fees. For instance, while home tuition fees for British nationals are currently capped at £9,790, universities have the autonomy to set their own international rates. To illustrate the financial impact, the University of Manchester charged £9,790 for home students studying Law (LLB) in the 2026/27 academic year, compared to £28,400 for international students.
This disparity highlights the significant financial burden that families will face when the transition period ends.
Julie Moktadir, head of immigration law at Stone King, noted that the change effectively classifies UK nationals and their families living in the EU as international students if they seek to study in the UK. Beyond the increase in tuition, these students will also lose access to UK government student loans, which many have historically relied upon to cover both tuition and maintenance costs.
According to the British in Europe organization, the original Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU did not include provisions for home fee status. While the group successfully campaigned for a transitional grace period covering courses that begin before December 31, 2027, the protection does not extend to the 2028 academic year.
Universities UK confirmed that the home fee provision was always intended as a temporary measure to provide transitionary protections for UK expats in the EU. While some individual institutions may theoretically possess the autonomy to allow EU-based British nationals to pay home fees, the specific criteria for such exceptions remain unclear.
Furthermore, even if a university were to offer home fee status, the loss of access to government-backed student finance remains a significant hurdle for prospective students, as they would still be forced to pay their fees without the support of a loan.
The situation is particularly complex in Scotland, where institutions assign fee status based on residency. According to information from the House of Commons library, Scotland utilizes three tiers of fee status: a "home" fee for students who live in Scotland, a "rest of UK" (RUK) fee for students who live elsewhere in the UK or Ireland, and an "overseas" fee for all other students.
It is currently uncertain how the end of the Brexit grace period will specifically affect EU-resident British passport holders applying to Scottish universities for the 2028 academic year. In response to these concerns, The Local has contacted Scotland's Ministry of Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education for further clarification.
Therefore the children of Brits who moved to the EU will only be able to go to a British university if they can afford the steep fees for international students.
