Information for EU Nationals

Harrow College & Uxbridge College (HCUC) extends a warm welcome to everyone, regardless of background. We are fully committed to promoting, maintaining, and supporting equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work. We are committed to supporting our European students.

The information below is correct at the time of writing. For detailed information about Brexit and the EU Settlement Scheme visit the UKCISA website and the GOV.UK website or contact the HCUC  International Office on 01895 853469 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Brexit

Brexit is the term used to describe the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union (EU). How Brexit impacts you will depend on when you come/came to the UK.

The UK left the EU on 31 December 2020 on the basis of an agreement made between the UK and the EU known as the Withdrawal Agreement.

Will I now need a visa to study in the UK?

If your first entry to the UK is after 31 December 2020 you may need to obtain Student Visa permission to study a full-time course at the College.  However, if you entered before this date, you may be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.

EU Settlement Scheme
If you are an EU/EEA national or relevant family member and entered the UK prior to 31 December 2020, you will likely have established residence that would make you eligible to remain and re-enter the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. The deadline for applying to the scheme is 30 June 2021.  It is free to apply.  You will need to apply to this scheme to retain your rights to remain in the UK.  If you do not apply under this scheme or otherwise apply under another category of the immigration rules you will not have a legal right to remain in the UK after 30 June 2021. A link to apply to the scheme can be found here.

You will be given either:

  • Settled status.
  • Pre-settled status

Both statuses will allow you to continue living and studying in the UK after 30 June 2021.

The rights of Irish nationals living in the UK are protected under the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area arrangements. This means that Irish citizens do not need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you do not qualify for the EU settlement scheme and you will travel to the UK after the 1 January 2021, you will need to apply for the new Student Visa to enter the UK.

Fee Status – Further Education (Courses at Level 3 and below)
All EU/EEA nationals who are in the UK before 31 December 2020 will continue to be eligible for funding in 2021/22, but you should apply to the EU Settled Status Scheme before it closes on 30 June 2021.

If your first entry to the UK is after 31 December 2020 you may need to obtain Student Visa permission to study a full-time course at the College and you will be charged the international tuition fee rate.

Fee Status – Higher Education (Courses at Level 4 & 5)
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2021 the Department for Education has published its policy intentions; further details are expected when the relevant regulations are published later in the year.  The update aims to provide a guide about the provisions that are likely to be in place for certain EU nationals and their family members to remain eligible for support. 

The intention is that UK home fee rates of tuition fee will be charged to:

  • EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who have been granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and have completed three years’ ordinary residence in the UK and Islands.
  • EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who have been granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and have completed three years’ ordinary residence in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA, Switzerland, or the British/EU overseas territories.
  • Irish citizens who have completed three years' ordinary residence in the UK and Islands, or Ireland.

Students who are not eligible for UK home fee status can expect to be charged international tuition fees.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals who do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme will not be eligible for home fee status and will be charged the international fee rate for courses starting in the academic year 2021/22.

Student Finance – Higher Education (Level 4 & 5)
Full details for courses starting from 1 August 2021 have yet to be published by the UK government, however the Department for Education (DfE) has published its policy intentions and further detail is expected when relevant legislation is passed. 

The intention is that those eligible for tuition fee and maintenance support through Student Finance will include:

  • EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who have been granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and have completed three years’ ordinary residence in the UK and Islands.
  • EEA/Swiss workers who have been granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and have completed three years’ ordinary residence in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA, Switzerland, or the British/EU overseas territories. Student Finance England will ask for financial evidence to confirm applicants are working, have worked or are looking for work, for example, P60 or a letter from an employer.
  • Irish Citizens who have completed three years’ ordinary residence in the UK and Islands.

Others may be eligible for tuition fees support only:

  • EU nationals and their family members, where the student has ‘Pre-settled’ status and three years’ ordinary residence in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA, or Switzerland.
  • Irish citizens who have been ordinarily resident in Ireland prior to studies.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals who do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme will not be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting in the academic year 2021/22.

Proving Your Immigration Status to College
If you have been told you can view your immigration status online you can get a ‘Share Code’ to prove your status to others, including College.  You can use this service if you have settled or pre-settled status.  The service is free and only takes 5 minutes to complete.  You will be issued a Share Code immediately, which you can then use to prove your immigration status at enrolment.  The Share Code is valid for 30 days and you can apply for a new one immediately if it expires before you enrol at College.  You can apply for the Share Code here.

Can I work in the UK?
From 1 January 2021, EU nationals must apply for UK immigration status under the EU Settlement Scheme to retain the right to work in the UK without restriction.  If you have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-settled’ status or Irish citizenship you have a general right to work in the UK.

If you do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme and you are in the UK on a different study or work visa you will be subject to the work rules attached to your visa.  EU nationals entering the UK after 31 December 2020 with Student Visa permission and sponsorship from Harrow College or Uxbridge College (HCUC) can work no more than 10 hours per week during term time. Students coming to the UK for short-term study with Visitor immigration permission are not allowed to work.

February 2021