Why is a spouse an "international student" for 3 yrs?????

That seems off... They want us to prove we can survive here without any assistance, but then they place a hardship on us for education?
Why are we classified as international students on a spouse visa?
Is there a REASON for that?
If so, please enlighten me... ?!

Everyone who lives outside the UK/EU for long enough is considered a foreign student for fee purposes.  Even British citizens.  It's nothing to do with immigration policy really, it's just a question of residency. 

Yeah, they want you to have permanent residency.  I think part of it is because it shows commitment to being here, for bill paying purposes.  It's also when you're eligible for benefits, so it eliminates any complications that may arise with funding (some courses may be funded by the NHS or the government and there are some issues that can come along with that if you're not entitled to it).

ETA: It does stink though.  I would love to do a PhD but I can't apply for the funding I want without ILR.     Just have to put it on the "maybe one day" shelf for now.

"It's also when you're eligible for benefits, so it eliminates any complications that may arise with funding (some courses may be funded by the NHS or the government and there are some issues that can come along with that if you're not entitled to it)."

OK, that at least makes some administrative sense...

Everyone who lives outside the UK/EU for long enough is considered a foreign student for fee purposes.  Even British citizens.  It's nothing to do with immigration policy really, it's just a question of residency. 

Yeap I came over as a UK Citizen in 2005 and until I resided here for 3 years (which took me about 5 years to do, thank to my partner wanting to work in Ireland for a bit) I was only eligible for basic things like the NHS. I didnt qualify for emergency housing, education (which isnt that cheap anymore - it use to be free until about 15 years ago) or benefits.

EU citizens, when entering, can qualify right away - which I dont think is right. I think they should have similar restrictions put in place on them. Maybe not three years but at least 6 months.

Yup, its a residency thing...   I've been here 3.5 years and I'm not eligble for ILR until another 1.5 years, so even though I'm over the 3 years mark, I can't get the home fees yet.  So thus, I will continue waiting until I am, until I start further coursework... 

EU citizens, when entering, can qualify right away - which I dont think is right. I think they should have similar restrictions put in place on them. Maybe not three years but at least 6 months.

There is an EU-wide policy that students from any EU country pay the same fees in another EU country that they would pay at home, so that's a different issue altogether.

My son was born in the UK and, should he decide to return to the "old country" to attend university, would be considered an overseas student. So, it isn't just people on spouse visas.

There is an EU-wide policy that students from any EU country pay the same fees in another EU country that they would pay at home, so that's a different issue altogether.

Im talking about all benefits.
I dont expect if I was to move to Germany expecting to get the same as people who've lived there their whole lives. I know its something that needs to be corrected within the EU and not a UK thing.

Just think of it on terms of a State University in the US.
If you are from New York, you would have to pay out-of-state fees if you went to a state school in PA, even if you moved to the state for your courses.
This is because the state subsidizes the residents tuition with, in theory, taxes paid for by you and/or your parents.

Same here. The UK fees are subsidized by the taxpayers. If you are from out of the country, presumably you & your family have not been paying into the tax system long enough (if at all) to derive the benefit.

I would love to go to grad school here so I understand your distress, but I think their reasoning is pretty straightforward here.

Most state "residency" time is a year... some are 6 months... NOT 3 yrs.

My ex's nephew, a British citizen, will have this problem, too. He's been in Madagascar for the last 5 years and they want him to go to the UK for uni but the 3 year rule is going to cause them massive financial problems.

Most state "residency" time is a year... some are 6 months... NOT 3 yrs.

I believe California is 3 years.

Really? It used to be one year in Cali...

For immigrants it is 3 yrs

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/07/supreme-court-california-can-offer-in-state-college-tuition-to-illegal-immigrants/

ONE YEAR FOR US CITIZENS:
An adult student (at least 18 years of age) may establish residency for tuition purposes in California (i.e., begin the 366 day presence and intent requirements) if he/she is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or other immigrant who is legally present, or a nonimmigrant who is not precluded under federal law from establishing a domicile in the United States.

AFTER getting a spouse visa, you can go to school as a resident within one year, in most US states.