British Teens in EU to Lose Home Fee Status and Student Finance for UK Universities

Policy Higher Education
British Teens in EU to Lose Home Fee Status and Student Finance for UK Universities
Published July 4, 2026
British teenagers living in the European Union are facing a significant barrier to accessing higher education in the UK as Brexit-related transitional arrangements come to an end. Currently, these students retain "home fee" status, allowing them to pay the same tuition fees as UK residents and access government student loans. However, this grace period will close in 2028, meaning students beginning their A-levels or equivalent qualifications this autumn will be the first affected cohort. From 2028, British passport holders resident in the EU will be classified as international students, facing tuition fees potentially exceeding £40,000 annually at some institutions whilst simultaneously losing eligibility for UK government student finance. This creates a double financial barrier that could price out many families, fundamentally altering the educational pathways available to British children living abroad and raising questions about equity of access to UK higher education.
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