European Union students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support.

The government has today (Tuesday 11 October) announced that EU students applying for a place at an English university or further education institution in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants – and will be for the duration of their course.

The decision will mean that students applying to study from 2017 to 2018 will not only be eligible for the same funding and support as they are now, but that their eligibility will continue throughout their course, even if the UK exits the European Union during that period.

This announcement follows assurances given by the Government in June shortly after the EU Referendum result. This included immediate guarantees that students currently in higher or further education, and those applying for a place this year (2016 to 2017) would continue to be able to access student funding support – including loans and grants – under the current eligibility criteria.

Under current student finance rules, EU students are eligible to receive undergraduate tuition fee loans if they have resided in the European Economic Area for at least three years prior to study. EU nationals who have resided in the UK for over five years, are also able to apply for undergraduate maintenance support and master’s loans. Similarly, under EU law, EU students are also eligible for home fee status – which means they are charged the same tuition fees as UK students. Other, non-EU, international students do not have their tuition fees capped in this way.

Today’s confirmation will mean that for EU nationals, or their family members, who are applying for a place at university from August 2017 to study a course that attracts student support, the current funding rules will remain unchanged. All applicants will be eligible for student loans and/or grants under the current terms and, if deemed eligible, will be able to receive those for the duration of their course.

For more information, read the Government’s press release. You can also read a response to the announcement from Universities UK.

For the University’s information and guidance following the EU Referendum, visit our dedicated webpages.