Nursing students

Hello,

I am sorry if this has already been addressed but I am still unclear on the official rules.  I moved to the UK on a fiance visa at the end of march 2006.  My fiance and I were married and we applied for FLR.  On my visa  the date is shown as Nov 30, 2006 Limited leave to remain.  I have begun my search for a nursing course and have found that even if pay international tuition they will not accept me until I have been a resident for 3 years.  My question is, does that mean three years after I receive ILR or is it three years from the time I received FLR or from the date I entered the country.  I'm confused.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Learea

You have two battles to fight...

One is with regard to your visa status and residency.  In theory, there is no reason why a college should not take you on as a student in any subject.  As you have not been in the UK for three years yet, and don't have ILR, then you will have to pay international fees.

The other battle you have is with the new NHS regulations on the employment of overseas national medical professionals.  I think you would probably be better off posting in the 'on the job' section to get info on this, but basically there is a freeze on the recruitment of non-EEA nurses (other than senior level) into the NHS.  This might have trickled down to nursing colleges and there may actually be a freeze on even letting people study to be nurses!

If you do a search and find Alicia, she is a nurse in London and will probably have much more info.

Vicky

Yes they told me had to do with new NHS rules starting around 2002.  So even if I wanted to pay international rates I cannot attend.  I was shocked at the international fees, 4,950 pounds for one year at an access to higher learning course!!  As far as the time frame goes, I am still unclear.  I can plan things so that I can attend the access course then wait until I receive ILR but if it is actually going to be three years after ILR then I must come up with another strategy.

Thank you for the information.

Learea

I was shocked at the international fees, 4,950 pounds for one year at an

For international fees that's pretty good, actually- My MA course is £8,600 per year.

You are right actually, I have seen some pretty hefty tuitions out there.  The regretful thing for me is that this is the type of course that I could have taken in the states at my local college for a fraction of that.  Oh well, what can you do?