Student Finance Centre

Full-time undergraduate from another EU country

This page is relevant to you if you will be a new student starting your course in 2013/14 for the first time. If you started your studies in 2012/13 or earlier please visit our current students section.

The funding available to full-time undergraduates from another EU country is very different to home (UK) students. If you currently live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will be able to apply for different support through your home government. If you have any questions, please contact us.

• Student status

  EU students who have been resident in the UK for three years or more before starting their course and who currently live in England (ordinarily resident), before starting their course, may be eligible for the same student support (tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and grants) as English students. Students who meet these criteria can apply via Student Finance England.

  EU students who have lived in the UK for less than three years before the start of their course or who have come to England specifically to study can only apply for a tuition fee loan and a University of Portsmouth Bursary (tuition fee discount only). See below for details of this funding.

  If you are an EU student considering a part-time course, visit our part-time funding pages.

• Tuition Fees and the Tuition Fee Loan

  Tuition fees for undergraduate EU students in 2013/14 are £8,750 (these will increase with inflation each year).

  If you do not already have a degree level qualification you can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover your fees, rather than paying your fees upfront. This loan is not income-assessed and is paid directly to the University. You won't have to start repaying this loan until the April after you finish your course, and when you earn over £21,000. Different repayment thresholds apply if you live outside of the UK. For more information see our repayment pages.

• University of Portsmouth Bursary

  Eligible EU students with a residual family income of £25,000* or less will receive a £2,000 tuition fee discount in their first year of study only. EU students will not be able to apply for the accommodation discount option or for the cash element of the University of Portsmouth Bursary.

  *Residual family income limits will vary by country, based on differences in living costs as calculated by the Student Loans Company.

  ·    £15,000 limit for Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland & Romania.
  ·    £20,000 limit for Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Croatia, Slovakia & Slovenia
  ·    £25,000 limit for all other EU countries.
  
  

• How to apply

  If you have lived in the UK for less than three years before starting your course and applied for your course through UCAS, you will automatically be sent an application form for a tuition fee loan. If you are not applying through UCAS, you should contact the EU team at the Student Loans Company on +44 (0)141 243 3570 and request an application form, called an EU13N.

  If you have lived in the UK for three years or more before starting your course and currently live in England you may be eligible for funding as an English student, and you should apply online via Student Finance England.

• Living Costs

  It is important to budget carefully to ensure that you have enough money to support yourself during your time at University. You should allow between £6,000 - £7,000 for a 39 week course. For budgeting advice, hints and tips visit our managing your money section.