Brexit to Raise UK Tuition Costs for EU-Based Britons

Starting in 2028, British citizens living in European Union countries may lose their eligibility for domestic tuition rates at universities in the United Kingdom if they do not meet new residency requirements. The post-Brexit rule changes will also deprive them of access to government student loans.

The transition period will end in 2028, after which only students who have ordinarily resided in the United Kingdom for at least three years prior to the start of their studies will be eligible for domestic tuition rates. All others will be considered international students.

Tuition for domestic students is capped at £9,790 ($13,070) for the 2026 academic year, while universities set their own fees for international students, which are often at least three times higher. Studying economics at the University of Warwick, for example, costs international students £35,530 ($47,430) per year.

In exceptional cases, some universities may grant the domestic tuition rate, but the rules governing student loans will not change. According to lawyer Julie Moktadir, families have only limited options for avoiding the new conditions. A discussion on changing the rules had been planned for the EU-UK summit, but it was postponed following the announcement of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation.

(The Guardian, bak)