Higher Education Cost when married to a UK citizen.

Would anyone know if I marry a UK citizen, therefore making me allowed to work there. Would I be able to go to school for the price of a UK citizen instead of an international student? It's 3000 versus 22,000 a year!

I really would like to go into medical school but there seems so much to learn about it first. I am graduating with a Bachelor's Degree but I would like to take Med school there so that I know how the healthcare system works.

Thanks. I appreciate it any replies!

In order to qualify for UK student fees (and not International fees), you would need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to beginning your course of study. This requirement applies regardless of whether you are married to a UK citizen or even whether you are foreign or British.

I am a British citizen who has just moved over to the US to study for my PhD and if all goes to plan, I will be here for at least 4 years. However, if I decide to enroll at another university after I return to the UK, I will have to pay international fees because I will have been out of the country for more than 3 years - even though I was born and raised in the UK.

If you wish to go to school in the UK and not have to pay the expensive international fees, you'll have to wait a further 3 years after you move here to qualify.

Just a quick aside - I'm not sure what the requirements are for international students wanting to persue a degree in Medicine in the UK, but if you were to do so, you could well end up studying with 18-year-olds as UK students tend to apply for a degree in medicine right after high school (i.e. they do not have to get a bachelor's degree first, they just apply for a 5 or 6-year undergraduate degree in medicine - at 24, two of my high school friends are now qualified medical doctors and another is a qualified dentist).

However, unless you have a degree in a particular science subject and can qualify for the accelerated 4-year graduate program, you may have to start from scratch as an undergraduate, studying for another 5/6 years (depending on your science background). In general, though it can be very difficult to get into 'medical school' here - you pretty much have to be a straight-A student, with A-levels (advanced classes) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths etc. - and some universities have a lot of competition for places (for example, 20+ people applying for every 1 available place).

I read somewhere while researching something else that you have to live in the UK for three years before you are eligible to get lower tuition costs. I apologize but I don't remember where I read it. It was a government website though. It's a shame because now that you mention it I am wondering exactly how it works as well. I did find these links. I hope they help.
You can red question 1 under education

http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1013618138355

http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Home%20Fee%20Status%20for%20Students,0.pdf

http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/becoming-a-citizen.pdf

Jacqueline

However, unless you have a degree in a particular science subject and can qualify for the accelerated 4-year graduate program, you may have to start from scratch as an undergraduate, studying for another 5/6 years (depending on your science background).

You won't have to, if you're a medical doctor. You can take qualifying exams, and do the residency. If you pass the quals, you don't have to redo the medical school in the U.S.

just to add to what ksand24 said- not only do you have to have been resident for 3 years to get home fees, you also need to be "settled", ie you must have ILR or British citizenship.  And there's a deadline for this depending on when you start the course- if the course starts in September, you usually must fit the requirements (3 years residence + ILR) before September 1 of the first year in order to be charged home fees.

While researching a university in the UK, I recently saw something that stated you are entitled to the home fees if you are married to a UK citizen, it did not say anything about the length of time of residency.  And my forensics instructor, who got her masters in England, just told me that you would be immediately entitled to the lower fees if you married a UK citizen.  So now I'm wondering if anyone knows the answer for sure....

While researching a university in the UK, I recently saw something that stated you are entitled to the home fees if you are married to a UK citizen, it did not say anything about the length of time of residency.  And my forensics instructor, who got her masters in England, just told me that you would be immediately entitled to the lower fees if you married a UK citizen.  So now I'm wondering if anyone knows the answer for sure....

As far as I know, pretty much all universities abide by the "three year rule" as stated above.  I'd be interested in seeing what you found- would be good information if there was an exception! 

I do know however, that in England and Northern Ireland, if you've been married to a UK citizen for one year and you have been resident in the UK for one year, you can get home fees at further education colleges (which are not universities!)   It's still not immediate though...I don't think there's a situation where you'd be immediately entitled to home fees after marrying a Brit without any residence requirements.

eta: here are some guidance sheets that explain the rules-

http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/pdf/info_sheets/tuition_fees_ewni.pdf
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/pdf/info_sheets/tuition_fees_scotland.pdf

As far as I know, pretty much all universities abide by the "three year rule" as stated above.  I'd be interested in seeing what you found- would be good information if there was an exception! 

The home fees are govt. subsidised so the eligibility rules are set nationally.

That being said the uni's can charge what they like (or what the market will bear) for over-sees fees so there is no reason why a single university couldn't give a discount to anyone for any reason.  I'm not sure many do, as it would cost them money.

You won't have to, if you're a medical doctor. You can take qualifying exams, and do the residency. If you pass the quals, you don't have to redo the medical school in the U.S.

Sorry, I meant for someone who doesn't yet have a degree in Medicine, but wants to get one coming in from a different background. I seem to remember the OP saying that she was currently finishing up a degree in Art/Advertising - which is unlikely to allow her to take the fast-track graduate course into medicine.

hmm that three year rule thing seems odd. my husband is english, but lived in the ROI from the age of eight until he moved back to england to go to uni at cambridge, and he didn't have to pay the higher fees even though he hadn't been resident in the uk for three years previously.

hmm that three year rule thing seems odd. my husband is english, but lived in the ROI from the age of eight until he moved back to england to go to uni at cambridge, and he didn't have to pay the higher fees even though he hadn't been resident in the uk for three years previously.

I believe the 3-year rule applies if you live outside the EU for those 3+ years. So, if I'd moved to France for my PhD, I would probably still be eligible for home/EU fees after 4 years.

I believe the 3-year rule applies if you live outside the EU for those 3+ years. So, if I'd moved to France for my PhD, I would probably still be eligible for home/EU fees after 4 years.

Yep, if you live in the EU you'll still be eligible for home fees.  It's just moving outside the EU that presents a problem.

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all your replies. I am in BS Advertising.
But I also like medicine. Maybe I'll have to take it here and get my bf to live here. It's all so confusing. He doesn't think he'll find work here but everyone loves British people! hehe.

Hi Kimpy,
Just came across this thread - I'm not so sure on the cost's aspect for possible international students and/or married spouses - make sure you speak to your or at least a local authority here and see if they can help further.

I just wanted to point out the Medical school interest you have. By all means, go for it if you wish - just the longer term picture of medicine here in the UK currently isn't looking very good - in fact, I'd go as far as to say it isn't good at all. I have my niece currently studying for medicine at university in Leicester - she's a dual US/UK nationality and did qualify for UK cost levels. I'd estimate and from all the shouting about money! it's costing around 10-12,000 per year for all costs - food, halls/living, bills, tuition fees, clothes, makeup and all the other extra associated stuff you girls need! - I would also think the 'REAL' cost is higher as sometimes those impulse buys tend to become more numerous!

So potentially, by the time she finishes, she's going to looking at a debt of around 50-60,000 - we're lucky in that she does get a full grant which doesn't have to be paid back, so maybe thats a 12K saving - bringing her debt to around the 38-50,000 mark.

With the mess thats currently the NHS on the 'medicine' side - 35,000 junior doctors chasing 22,000 jobs (I think thats what the recent figures were) and not forgetting the pay in itself is pretty low - (I think starting is anywhere between 18-25K) you can see why there's fewer people wanting to go into this field and the bringing in of foreign doctors. I have 2 highly skilled consultant level cousins (thread about it in the healthcare section here) who are fast doing their USA exams and wanting to get the hell outta the UK after seeing what it's 'really' like - add to the fact they've been mistreated by the governments acrobats which is NHS politics and medical staff guidelines for foriegn doctors, i don't blame them in the slightest. Seeing as they have probable pitfalls which are similar in the USA, they feel they can put up with it for 4 times the salary compared to here.

That said, should you get into medicine, and go through the program, if you can find a way into private practice then go for it. I have a good few friends who are doctors in their own private clinics - if theres one good aspect from a career point of view, I'd suggest you try getting into the same - still 2-3 times less than potentially being in the USA, but definitley up in the upper quartile as far as being in the UK goes!

Do as much research as you can about this - I see both sides of the coin as it were from all my medical relatives who are here, the USA and Canada and my friends who are docs.

cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi Dennis the Menace!

I really appreciate you taking time out to write such a long reply. I read it and I read it to my boyfriend and it really helped us decide a few things. I don't think it's worth it if my tuition bill will be so huge and I can't pay for it. Especially since he was gonna be the only one working during the time I would have been in school.

So thanks, I think you saved us a bit of time and our life. I appreciate it!