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Hello everyone - have a weird question, hoping you can help.

I'm a non-EU national, married for over 2 years to an EU national working in the UK. I currently hold an EEA2. I've been in the UK for over 5 years and out of education for 4.

I know my status means I am treated as a home-student at universities (which of course means I pay much much smaller tuition fees).

I have been unable to find out if this means I am also treated as an EU/Home student in therms of various funding and scholarships, particularly the AHRC ones. I've contacted universities, UKCISA and the council itself and no one seems to know - instead they keep referring me to each other.

Most funding is intended for UK students, EU students resident and out of education for over 3 years and non-EUs with ILR - which of course doesn't apply to me as my status is outside UK immigration. Am I still eligible for it - in the same way I'm not really an EU citizen but get to use the EU line at the airports?

Would appreciate any help!

Thanks.

Hi culka11,
Interesting question! I believe that if you qualify as a Home/EU student for fee purposes, it should work the same for Funding positions. If you're talking about PhD opportunities, would be best to check with the researcher/academics advertising the funding opportunity. Or check with the university directly what their rules regarding funding are.
I read somewhere (can't seem to locate the source now) that you need to meet the requirements of living 3 years in the UK with a family member residence card to qualify to be treated as a home student. However, from the university's point of view, assessing a settled person is easier as there is no limit on your stay. For example, if they need to award you a scholarship for 3 years or 4 years (as most doctoral positions are) and your card expires in 2 years, it complicates the situation slightly-they will need to review your bursary yearly.
Just thinking out loud though.

Hello - thanks for the reply.

In terms of qualifying as a Home/EU student, I found this (and have been quoting it to universities liberally:))

In order to qualify for 'home' fees under this category, you must meet all of the following criteria:

a) on the first day of an academic year of your course, you must be:

an EU national; or
the relevant family member of a non-UK EU national, and that non-UK EU national is in the UK as a self sufficient person or as a student; or
the relevant family member of a UK national;
and

(b) you must have been ordinarily resident in the EEA and/or Switzerland and/or the overseas territories for the three years before the first day of the first academic year of the course (if you have not, see the Special Provision below); and

(c) the main purpose of your residence in the EEA/Switzerland (or the overseas territories if applicable) must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of the three-year period (if you have not, see the Special Provision below)

My problem seems to be that no one really wants to make a decision:) Funding bodies say it's better to contact the university, universities say it's up to the research council - so I need some sort of hard-core evidence to send their way. I'm sure I can't be the first one asking this question, but it does seem to be rare enough.

Hi culka11,

Ahhh..that makes sense. Thanks for providing the wording. You certainly seem to meet the requirements.
Yes, it is usually up to the universities I believe. Research councils award funding directly to universities (rarely directly to indivduals-unless they are post-doc fellowships). So its not much use talking to them. So your best bet will be to convince the person advertising the funding.I would say keep e-mailing the positions you want and keep asking until you get an answer . Usually its them and the student office that need to sort it out. If the funding extends beyond the expiry of the card, usually they may review your funding on a yearly basis-which is up to them to decide unfortunately
Also, depending on the university, I think you can change your funding status during studies once you get PR. I had a fellow PhD colleague whose status changed from International to ILR during the PhD and his funding became that of a local student. Maybe you can start and once you get PR you may have access to better funding opportunities. Or just wait for PR-(i know, easier said than done when time is valuable).
One last thing, of course depending on your area of specialisation, you will have easier time applying for funding. From a Non-EU PhD student's perspective, I know for a fact that EPSRC funding for non-local students is far easier to obtain than ESRC and AHRC funding where demand is highest from local students.
All the best! Hope all goes well for you.

Ah that does make sense - though it is a bit frustrating to have to persuade people on individual bases

Thanks for your input and insight - alas my field of study is firmly in the AHRC category, so as you rightly said, it's a bit more difficult for everyone...

Hi

I am wondering similar point, despite I search over internet many pages couldn't fins any concrete information about it.

I am non-EEA(Turkish) citizen married with EEA citizen and living in UK atm. I applied for residence card 3 months ago and waiting for it.

Meanwhile looking for PhD research project on veterinary(mainly), biology and paramedic fields. I often encounter that issue grants available for UK&EEA students.

I just wonder as UK residence card holder via EEA partner am I eligibly for EEA funding?

Thanks for bring up this topic