Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to take steps to allow people with discretionary leave to remain to pay the same University tuition fees as people with indefinite leave to remain.

The department is committed to a sustainable funding model that supports high-quality provision, meets the skills needs of the country and maintains the world-class reputation of UK higher education (HE). It is crucial that the student finance system is just and sustainable, provides value for money for society and represents a sound investment for students.

Holders of temporary leave to remain who are in need of international protection, such as those awarded refugee status or humanitarian protection, are eligible for automatic home fee status, as are those with pre-settled status who are covered by the Withdrawal Agreements. Discretionary leave to remain is a type of temporary leave granted for a limited period only outside the immigration rules. The department has no plans to extend eligibility to those with discretionary leave to remain.

However, where a student is not automatically eligible for home fee status, HE providers can waive or reduce fees where they consider it appropriate to do so. The onus would be on individual applicants to provide a compelling and persuasive case to their individual university which would warrant the exercise of this discretion in their favour, as to do so would mean a loss of income for the provider. Additionally, most HE providers, as independent and autonomous organisations, provide support direct to their students through scholarships and bursaries.