University tuition costs for non-EEA students in the UK

[rnc312]

Does a non-EEA child of an Irish citizen living in the UK have to meet any residency requirements in order to avoid paying overseas tuition at a university in the U.K.? I mean, will this prospective student need to obtain British citizenship before being able to qualify for the home tuition rate?

Thanks!

[JAJ]

Does a non-EEA child of an Irish citizen living in the UK have to meet any residency requirements in order to avoid paying overseas tuition at a university in the U.K.? I mean, will this prospective student need to obtain British citizenship before being able to qualify for the home tuition rate?

On another thread you say your son is aged 4, so is there any reason why he wouldn't be a British citizen 14 years down the line?

Bear in mind that in 14 years time Britain may have left the EU and in that situation, only British citizens (and possibly U.K. permanent residents) would be eligible for discounted fees at British universities.

[rnc312]

Right, our son is four years old, but we are unsure about when we'll be able to make our move to the U.K. (This is due to financial considerations as well as the fact we own a pit bull -- my understanding is the U.K. strongly disallows entry of such an animal.)

Hypothetically, our move could happen ten years from now and our son may be the age of 14 or 15 then. If this happens, he won't be able to obtain British citizenship prior to his first year at university.

[JAJ]

Right, our son is four years old, but we are unsure about when we'll be able to make our move to the U.K. (This is due to financial considerations as well as the fact we own a pit bull -- my understanding is the U.K. strongly disallows entry of such an animal.)

Correct. The Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 probably means that importing a pit-bull to the United Kingdom is a no-no.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Dogs_Act

Hypothetically, our move could happen ten years from now and our son may be the age of 14 or 15 then. If this happens, he won't be able to obtain British citizenship prior to his first year at university.

He would probably be able to pay domestic fees provided he has ILR at that point and has accumulated at least 3 years residence.

But no-one can tell you what the fees rules will be in 15 years time. A lot can happen in that period of time.

[rnc312]

Right, laws are of course subject to change, so we have no guarantees about what happens to them in the future. Perhaps the generally unpopular Dangerous Dogs Act will be repealed in the future? Wishful thinking ...

[Wanderer]

Perhaps the generally unpopular Dangerous Dogs Act will be repealed in the future? Wishful thinking ... ;-)

Ur kidding surely - these animals are vicious. It's not called the 'Dangerous Dogs Act' for nothing.

[JAJ]

Right, laws are of course subject to change, so we have no guarantees about what happens to them in the future. Perhaps the generally unpopular Dangerous Dogs Act will be repealed in the future? Wishful thinking ...

It is wishful thinking in this respect as there would be no public support for bringing back pit bull dogs into wide circulation. Sorry. A tiny minority of the population were upset by the 1991 Act and would like to see it repealed but the chances of that happening are precisely 0%.

[sakura]

Right, laws are of course subject to change, so we have no guarantees about what happens to them in the future. Perhaps the generally unpopular Dangerous Dogs Act will be repealed in the future? Wishful thinking ...

Totally wishful thinking. We've seen enough of people being attacked and a kid being killed by such dogs to not ever want any type of dog in the UK. Just get a poodle

As for home fees....things can change a lot. Tuition fees went up from £1,150 or so to £3,000 in less than 2 years (after introduction). In 14 years' time...it might be anything like £5,000pa (in today's costs, I mean), or we might even have private universities...anything is possible. It might even be better to study in the US if it comes to such higher fees, especially if he goes to a public university and can pay in-state fees.

The only residency requirement as it stands NOW is that EU/EEA nationals must have resided in the EU/EEA area (not specifically the UK) at least three years prior to the start date of their course. But heavens knows what they'll implement between now and 2020.

[avjones]

Frankly, who knows what the position will be that far ahead?

I started university in 1996, not as long ago as the time in the future you are thinking of, and it was free and grants were still given for living expenses!

[rnc312]

Right, I wasn't serious when referring to the Dangerous Dog Acts. I know is not going to be repealed. If I had known my wife's maternal grandfather was Irish-born years ago and we had intended to try for British citizenship, then of course we would have known having a pit bull would rule out a move to the U.K.

(Pit bulls are wonderful pets. Too bad there are so many heartless, cruel people in this world that turn pit bulls into monsters.)

Thanks for all the bits of info -- it really helps.