University Admission Guidelines for EU Students

The UK has left the European Union and the transition period has ended on December 31, 2020. This resulted in the UK leaving the EU single market and customs union. The EU law also no longer applies to the UK. Therefore, changes are bound to happen for EU applicants after Brexit.

Most EU students applying after Brexit are not sure how this will affect their future studies.

Can they continue their studies? 

Smart Move Education Group will cover most of the changes for University admission-related questions and will provide you with Admission guidelines for fellow EU Students.

The UK Is one of the most fascinating options for EU Students who intend to pursue higher education.  As an EU student, you have to go through certain phases to get yourself admitted to UK universities and now international students face changes for EU applicants after Brexit.

Smart Move Education has come up with a standard guideline for the admission process.

For EU students, completing your UK university application directly to the Universities through our application portal or online using the centralised system, and UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service), is typically the easiest part of the process…

A few things to note:

If you are planning to apply to Oxford or Cambridge the application process does differ a bit and different dates will apply to your application process so please contact the university directly for exact information so you don’t miss out.

You are encouraged to get your application in as early as possible as the most popular courses or degrees will fill up very quickly. We also advise you to ask the admissions team on university admission guidelines for EU students.

Students who did not achieve sufficient grades for their desired course will often have to look for another place and the process the individual will have to go through is called clearing.

University Entry Requirements 

University admission guidelines for EU students in the UK have  a different set of requirements. Most degree programs in the UK will require that the student have passed either their A-levels and attained certain grades, for example, 4 B grades, or equivalent grades in a BTEC or GNVQ. Within your university different courses will have different requirements that students will have to meet. Universities of Oxford and Cambridge generally require all students to attend an interview, while other universities will not require this.

Also, as an EU student, you can still attend the University without certain qualifications, even though you may not have taken A-levels and have not been educated within the UK system.

If you have attained good work experience as your background, some of the Universities will offer you certain courses. However, you will need to contact the administrator of that program to find out what credentials from your home country you will need to provide.

English Language Requirements

For the majority of Universities and courses, your level of understanding and competency in English will be key to your acceptance into a major program like a degree program.

You will need to make sure you have a good level of English proficiency and you can do this by taking one of the following commonly accepted tests of English ability:

• IELTS is also known as International English Language Testing System
• UCLES is also known as the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
• University Internal English Test is also accepted

Some universities will not have this as a requirement.    

EU Students Need to prove their immigration status to their chosen UK Universities. 

It is important to get a ‘share code’ to prove your status to others like your University or your future employers. It is also beneficial to update your personal details in your UK Visas and Immigration account, for instance, your passport number or email address. Lastly, check what rights you have within the UK, for example, the right to work, rent, or claim benefits.

You can use this service if you:

have settled or pre-settled status
applied for a visa and used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document on your phone
You cannot use this service if you have a vignette in your passport or a biometric residence permit to prove your immigration status

There are different services for you to prove your right to work to an employer and to prove your right to rent to a landlord.

To view or prove your immigration status you’ll need:

• details of the identity document you used when you applied e.g. your passport, national identity card, or
• biometric residence card or permit
• your date of birth
• access to the mobile number or email address you used when you applied, you’ll be sent a code for logging in

Financial Advice for Students

The UK is one of the most accepted routes for EU Students to go down. Many applicants seek a degree from a British university because of the competitive edge that it will give them even though there are changes for EU applicants after Brexit.  What attracts international students to study in the UK is the higher salary once they graduate. Despite the application process and the overall cost, these are usually outweighed by the future returns for the individual.

EU students are eligible for Student Finance, this is if they have a Settle or Pre-Settle Status. This will cover the University Tuition Fees which is the sum of £9250 per year. An optional maintenance cost too which can range from £12000 to £18000 per year.

Student finance for  EU Students

You may be able to be eligible to get a Tuition Fee Loan and help with living costs if you’re from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Help with living costs:

You may be eligible for financial help with your living costs if both the following apply: 

• you’ve lived in the UK for more than 3 years before the first day of the first academic year of your course
• you have settled status e.g. if your course begins on 20 September 2021, you must have lived in the UK since 1 September 2018
• Academic years in the UK start on 1 September, 1 January, 1 April, or 1 July. Ask someone who runs your course if you do not know which one applies and your University for Admission guidelines for EU Students.

Student Finance from August 2021

If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to be eligible for student finance.

If you’re coming to the UK from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a visa to study here and keep updated on changes for EU applicants after Brexit.

You may be eligible to borrow money to help pay for university or college tuition fees and to help with extra living costs.

You might get extra money or help on top of this, for example, if you’re on a low income, are disabled, or have children that are dependent on you.

If you’re a continuing student or you’ve already created an account, log in to your student finance account.

Before you apply

You start repaying your loan once you earn over a certain amount. The size of your monthly repayments will depend on how much you earn, not what you owe to student finance.

You’ll be charged interest on the loan from the day you take it out. The terms and conditions can change over time.

How do I apply for Student Finance?

If you’re under 25 and are not in contact with your parents, you might be able to apply as an ‘estranged student’.

There’s a different process in place if you’re a student from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Contact the education authority if you live in the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) or the Isle of Man.

You can give someone permission to act on your behalf for instance using the Power of an Attorney if you want them to apply for you.

Eligibility

Whether you qualify for student finance depends on these factors:

• your university or college
• your course
• if you’ve studied a higher education course before
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
• your university or college

This should be a university, college, or other institution that offers a qualifying course, please seek your University Admission Guidelines for EU Students.

Your course

Check with the university or college that your course is recognised and if there are changes for EU applicants after Brexit.

If you’re studying full-time…

You may be eligible for student finance if your course is within the UK and one of the following:

• a first degree, for example, BA, BSc, or BEd
• a Foundation Degree
• a Certificate of Higher Education
• a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
• a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
• a Higher National Diploma (HND)
• an Initial Teacher Training course
• an integrated master’s degree
• a pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course

Check on the student finance calculator to find out which loans and grants you could be eligible for as a student in the UK.

If you’re studying part-time…

Your course is graded through ‘course intensity’. If the course intensity is 25% or more then you’ll be eligible for student finance.

You’ll be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan if your course is in the UK and one of the following below:

• a first degree, for example, BA, BSc, or BEd
• a Foundation Degree
• a Certificate of Higher Education
• a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
• a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
• a Higher National Diploma (HND)
• an Initial Teacher Training course
• an integrated master’s degree

You’ll be eligible for a Maintenance Loan if your course is in the UK and one of the following:

• a first degree, for example, BA, BSc, or BEd
• an Initial Teacher Training course (if it’s degree level or higher)
• an integrated master’s degree
• a Foundation Degree in dental hygiene and dental therapy
• a DipHE in dental hygiene and dental therapy or operating department practice

Please get in touch with Kampus Group if you have any concerns about University Admission Guidelines for EU Students in unprecedented times as well as any changes for EU applicants after Brexit.