Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding of 19 May 2025, what changes she plans to make to the university home fee status of students of EU/EEA nationality studying in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; and what changes she plans to make to the fee status of previously overseas British citizens who intend to study in the United Kingdom.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

On 19 May 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, welcomed Presidents Von Der Leyen and Costa for the first ever summit between the UK and the EU and a deal was agreed which will deliver on what the British public voted for last year. This package delivers for the British people, without compromising on our red lines, no return to the customs union, no return to freedom of movement, and no rejoining the single market.

On home fee status, most new EU/EEA students who were not lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 will pay international fees.

The Withdrawal Agreement provides that current EU principles of equal treatment continue to apply for those covered by the citizens’ rights provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement. This means that EU nationals lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 are eligible in England for support on a similar basis as previously, subject to meeting the usual residency requirements, which are unchanged. Similar agreements have been signed with the European Economic Area (EEA) European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states and Switzerland.

UK nationals and their family members, living in the EEA or Switzerland at the end of the transition period will generally be eligible for home fee status, tuition fee and maintenance support from Student Finance England for courses starting on or after 1 August 2021 and before 1 January 2028, subject to meeting all other eligibility requirements.

There are no plans to make any changes to the fee status for these persons.