Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Afghan nationals with regularised Indefinite Leave to Remain relocated under the (a) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (b) Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will pay (i) home fees or (ii) overseas fees in higher education in the UK.

From 1 August 2022, people who have been granted leave under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) or under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), will qualify for student support and home fee status in relation to new higher education (HE) courses, if they have been resident in the UK and Islands since the grant of such leave. They will also qualify for advanced learner loans for further education courses. Students who qualify for leave on this basis will not need to demonstrate three years ordinary residence in the UK and Islands before the start of their course.

Guidance for Afghan nationals applying for HE courses can be found at the following links:

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/welcome-a-guide-for-arrivals-to-the-uk-from-afghanistan-on-the-locally-employed-staff-relocation-scheme
• https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies

This guidance is being updated to reflect the recent changes to HE student support for persons with leave under ARAP and ACRS.