Brexit Ends Home Fee Status for British Teens in EU by 2028
British teenagers residing in the European Union may face significantly higher university tuition fees in the UK starting in 2028 due to changes in fee status and student finance eligibility. Currently, British passport holders living in the EU qualify for "home fee" status at UK universities, but this grace period will end in 2028. The first group affected will be those beginning their A-levels or equivalent qualifications this autumn.
Domestic tuition fees at UK universities are capped—£9,790 for the 2026 intake—but universities set their own fees for international students, which are often at least three times higher. For example, overseas students studying economics at the University of Warwick will pay £35,530 annually in 2026, while law students at Leeds University face fees of £26,750 per year.
“This is essentially the end of the post-Brexit ‘grace period’ and means that UK nationals and their families living in the EU, but wanting to study in the UK, will be classed as international students,”said Julie Moktadir, partner and head of immigration law at Stone King.
“They will also no longer be eligible for UK government student loans to help towards the cost of tuition fees and maintenance, which is something on which many depend.”
From 2028, students must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years before the start of their degree course to qualify for home fee status. These changes will apply across the UK, though eligibility criteria may vary among the four nations. Moktadir explained,
“There are differences in how fees are set, and how strictly rules are applied in the devolved nations. For example, Scotland has a more complex fee structure.”
Universities may exercise some discretion in classifying returning EU students as eligible for home fees. However, student loan providers must adhere strictly to the rules, meaning such students will not be able to access government loans to fund their studies.
Impact on Families and Students
These changes have forced some families to make difficult decisions. Studying locally in the EU may be challenging or impossible depending on the subject, local eligibility rules, and language proficiency.
“Short of relocating to the UK at least three years before the start of their chosen university course, there is little that parents and prospective students can do apart from familiarise themselves with the new rules,”Moktadir said.
“While some institutions may offer scholarships and awards to mitigate some of the cost, for many that won’t be enough.”
This situation is exemplified by the Thompson family. James and Amy Thompson, along with their children Isla and Bertie, moved to Germany in 2021 on a two-year contract with James’s employer, BMW. They extended their stay to five years due to their enjoyment of living there.
However, with Isla now 16, the family realized that continuing to live in Germany would mean she would be classified as an international student and face much higher fees.
“We initially moved for two years for work, and the children were nine and 11, so higher education didn’t come into it,”Amy Thompson said.
“Now we’ve realised the fee situation makes it very difficult. Isla won’t struggle to get into a good British university, but if we have to pay international fees we just can’t afford it.”
Isla may have to take a gap year before applying to university since it is too late for her to qualify for home fees. Her ambition is to study natural sciences at Cambridge University, where tuition fees for home students are £9,250, but international students pay £44,214, plus college fees starting at £11,500, which vary by college.
Policy Context and Future Prospects
Universities UK stated,
“The post-Brexit home fee provision was always a temporary clause providing transitionary protections for UK expats in the EU.”The new rules align British nationals living in the EU with those living elsewhere globally.
It is possible for individuals to be "ordinarily resident" in more than one country, but they must demonstrate this through physical evidence such as bank statements, utility bills, and tax contributions. Moktadir noted,
“As such, whether an individual will still be eligible for home fees beyond 2028 at a UK university will be highly dependent on their personal circumstances.”
Discussions were planned to allow under-30s to work and study across UK and EU territories and to reinstate pre-Brexit rules granting EU students UK home fees, which would also benefit British passport holders. However, these talks were postponed following Keir Starmer’s announcement to step down as prime minister.
The Thompsons view their move to Germany as temporary but did not anticipate that university fee rules would influence their return timeline.
“How is that fair to a young person who moved with their parents for a job?”Thompson asked.
