Student Finance England funding and immigration status
Your eligibility for Student Finance England (SFE) funding and your tuition fee status may be affected if:
- You are waiting for the Home Office to confirm your immigration status, or
- You have been granted discretionary leave or another form of time limited leave.
If you intend to use SFE funding to pay your tuition fees or support your living costs, it is essential to check your eligibility before you start your course.
Fee status and funding decisions
- Your tuition fee status is assessed by the University Admissions Team once you have accepted your offer. UKCISA has further information about fee status.
- Your SFE funding eligibility is assessed separately by Student Finance England
- These decisions are independent of one another
If you normally live in another part of the UK, please refer to the relevant funding body:
Discretionary leave and SFE funding
Holding discretionary leave does not automatically entitle you to:
- Home tuition fee status, or
- Student Finance England funding.
However, you may qualify for funding under the Long Residence Category, depending on:
- The length of time you have lived in the UK
- Whether your most recent three years of residence were lawful
- Your age and length of residence before the start of your course
Eligibility under the Long Residence category
To qualify under this category, you must:
General Requirements
- Be resident in England on the first day of the first academic year of your course
- Hold a form of Home Office leave (e.g., discretionary leave)
- Have lived in the UK and Islands for the three years immediately before the first day of the academic year
- Demonstrate that this three year residence was lawful (i.e., you were not overstaying or without status).
Age Based Requirements
You must also meet one of the following:
If you are under 18:
- You must have lived in the UK for at least 7 years before the first day of the academic year.
If you are 18 or over:
- You must have lived in the UK for at least half your life, or
- You must have lived in the UK for at least 20 years before the first day of the academic year.
Academic year start dates
The “first day of the first academic year” is defined as:
- 1 September for courses starting in September
- 1 January for courses starting in January
Important advice before enrolling
If you are not a UK national and have:
- Limited leave to remain, or
- No leave at all,
you should contact Student Advice before enrolling. This is a complex area, and you may be legally liable for tuition fees even if you are not eligible for SFE funding.
Previous study and funding entitlement
If you meet the eligibility rules but have previously studied at higher education level anywhere in the world, this may reduce the number of years you can receive SFE funding.
If you already hold a qualification at the same or a higher level than the course you wish to study, you may not be entitled to SFE funding, even if you meet all other criteria. See our Previous Study page for more information.
Further information
You can find more detailed guidance on:
- Home fee eligibility: UKCISA: Qualifying rules for home fees
- Student Finance England funding rules: UKCISA: Qualifying rules for Student Finance England funding
Need advice?
If you are unsure about your eligibility or would like to discuss your situation, please contact Student Advice for guidance.