Can I get EU resident status for university if my spouse is an EU citizen?

November 11, 2007 8:43 PM

Can I leverage being the spouse of an EU citizen to get UK/EU rates for a postgraduate program in the UK?

Next year I intend to apply to a number of UK universities for a taught masters program. I'm a US citizen currently living in NYC with my spouse. She's an EU citizen. How can this affect my status as an international student in the UK? The web sites I've looked at simply list rates for UK/EU residents and for overseas students, but I haven't seen anything about how one qualifies as the former.

I could ask at the various universities, but I'm chary of getting into it with their financial departments unless I know it's worth the effort.

posted by ursus_comiter to education (5 comments total)

I haven't seen anything about how one qualifies as the former.

This outline of the UK fee structure at one university's website should explain the differences. It's all about residency. Different EU nations have different criteria for residency as it applies to tuition fees. The UK is fairly strict.

In short, you're an overseas student for fee purposes.
posted by holgate at 8:55 PM on November 11, 2007

Even if you're an EU citizen you have to have paid taxes in the EU for a specific number of years prior to enrollment to get the resident rates. I think it's three years in the UK.
posted by fshgrl at 9:06 PM on November 11, 2007

Ursus, if the degree has research as well as taught components, you may be eligible for an ORSAS grant. I'd investigate by calling or e-mailing the Tutor for Higher Degrees in the departments where you'll be and ask about this. Generally, these work by equalizing the cost of the degree to UK levels (i.e. inexpensive).
posted by yellowcandy at 1:37 AM on November 12, 2007

Taught MAs are pretty cheap, considering that you can use your US financial aid to pay for it.
posted by k8t at 7:47 AM on November 12, 2007

ja ... 2nd-ing K8t
posted by jannw at 12:53 PM on November 12, 2007