A British passport does not automatically guarantee home-fee status at a UK university. Fee status is determined under regulations that differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and universities assess which statutory category a student falls within.

In England, the common “settled” category considers factors including immigration status, ordinary residence and whether the relevant residence was wholly or mainly for full-time education. However, there are several other qualifying categories, so families should not assume that failing one part of the standard settled-person test automatically means overseas fees. 

What the fee difference can look like

2026/27 annual fee	Indicative three-year total
Maximum standard home fee at eligible English providers	£9,790
Maximum home fee at regulated Welsh providers	£9,790
Overseas classroom-based courses	Set by each university
Overseas laboratory/clinical courses	Set by each university
Scottish-domiciled eligible student studying in Scotland	£1,820 fee rate, normally funded through SAAS

The standard maximum tuition fee at qualifying English providers is £9,790 for 2026/27 and will rise to £10,050 for 2027/28. Wales has also set its 2026/27 maximum at £9,790. Overseas fees are not subject to the same statutory cap and vary significantly by institution and course.

The education-purpose issue

For one important English home-fee category, a student generally needs to have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands throughout the three years before the first day of the first academic year, and that residence must not have been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.

That can affect children who have attended boarding school in the UK while their family’s normal home remained overseas. However, ordinary residence is highly fact-specific, and periods abroad do not automatically “reset the clock” if the family’s absence was genuinely temporary and ordinary residence in the UK was retained.

Our guides to education planning for mobile families and international school and university planning explore the interaction between education and relocation decisions, while boarding school admissions for international families covers the schooling side.

What immigration status can qualify?

British and Irish citizenship, indefinite leave to remain and settled status can support eligibility under relevant categories, but status alone is not always sufficient. Pre-settled status can also lead to home-fee eligibility in specified circumstances where the applicable residence and Brexit-protected-rights requirements are satisfied.

There are additional categories covering long residence, certain family members, refugees and other protected groups. The UKCISA guidance is therefore a better starting point than applying a single three-part test to every student.

Families planning UK settlement should also distinguish current law from proposals. The existing five-year Skilled Worker settlement route remains in force as of August 2026, although the government has proposed a longer earned-settlement model. See our article on the shift to ten year settlement, the forthcoming B2 English requirement and the wider 2026 immigration rule changes.

What a second citizenship does not do

A Caribbean passport, Greek residence permit or Malta permanent residence certificate does not automatically create UK home-fee eligibility. UK university fee status is determined under the relevant UK education regulations, not simply by holding another nationality or residence permit.

Our guide to second citizenship for children explains the wider benefits and limitations.

European residence can still be relevant when considering education outside the UK. Our article on golden visas for parents of university bound children looks at this planning angle. Families can also compare Greek residence options, the Italy investor visa, the Hungary golden visa and St Lucia citizenship by investment.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child get home fees if they hold a British passport but live abroad?

Not automatically. British citizenship can satisfy the nationality or status element of relevant categories, but residence requirements may still need to be met.

Can a fee status decision be challenged?

Yes. Universities generally have procedures for reviewing fee-status assessments. Supply evidence of residence, immigration status and family circumstances as early as possible.

Does home fee status automatically mean eligibility for a student loan?

No. Home-fee status and student-finance eligibility are separate legal questions, although some requirements overlap.

Do the rules differ across the UK?

Yes. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate regulations. Scottish-domiciled students who meet the relevant requirements can normally have tuition fees paid by SAAS when studying an eligible undergraduate course in Scotland.

If relocation may affect both university fees and tax, read our guide to day counting and tax residency alongside Malta residency for UK applicants.

Work backwards from the first day of the relevant academic year and review your child’s residence and status before making a major family move. Speak to our team about how a planned relocation could affect your children’s education and residence strategy.