Scottish Students: Fees For Studying In England

Scottish students who wish to study in England will be charged the standard undergraduate tuition fee set by their chosen English university. For instance, the fee for 2024 entry is £9,250 per year. However, Scottish students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the costs through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). It is important to note that Scottish students studying in Scotland do not have to pay tuition fees as these are covered by the SAAS.

Scottish students studying in England will have to pay £9,250 per year

Scottish students who wish to study at an English university will be charged the standard undergraduate tuition fee set by their chosen university. For the 2024 entry, this fee is £9,250 per year. This is significantly higher than the tuition fees for Scottish students studying in Scotland, which are covered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and are set at £1,820 per year for 2024 entry.

Scottish students studying in England can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the costs of their tuition fees. This loan does not need to be paid back until the student has completed their course and is earning over the threshold amount, which is £27,660 per year (before tax and other deductions) at the time of writing. After 30 years, any remaining debt is wiped out.

It is important to note that the regulations around home student status and tuition fees vary across the UK. In Scotland, there are three levels of fee status: a 'home' fee for Scottish residents, a 'rest of UK' (RUK) fee for students from the UK or Ireland who live outside of Scotland, and an 'overseas' fee for all other international students. Undergraduate home fees in Scotland are capped by the Scottish Government at £1,820 for the 2023/24 academic year, while the RUK fee is capped at £9,250, the same amount Scottish students will have to pay to study in England.

Scottish students considering studying in England should also keep in mind the differences between Scottish and English universities in terms of reputation and rankings, degree length, specialisation options, and the competitiveness of the application process due to student number caps in Scottish universities.

Scottish students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the costs

Scottish students who wish to study at a university in England will be charged the standard tuition fees for their chosen course provider. However, they may apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover these costs. This loan is provided by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). It is important to note that students must apply to SAAS each year for this support.

SAAS provides tuition fee support for Scottish students studying anywhere in the UK, not just in Scotland. Scottish students at English universities can, therefore, apply for this support.

The amount of the Tuition Fee Loan depends on the university and course. Universities in England can charge up to £9,250 per year for undergraduate tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year. From August 2025, fees for full-time degrees will increase to £9,535.

If a Scottish student attends a private university in England, the maximum tuition fee loan is £6,165, or £7,400 for an accelerated degree. However, providers may charge more, and students will need to fund the difference themselves.

Scottish students studying at English universities can also apply for a student loan and bursary to help with living costs. The loan is means-tested and has different levels of support available depending on whether the student is applying as a dependent or independent student.

Scottish students ordinarily resident in Scotland and doing their first degree will generally be eligible for free tuition from SAAS. SAAS will pay the tuition fees of eligible students for up to five years in total, including four years for a degree and an additional year for course changes or repeating a year of study.

Scottish students are eligible for home tuition fees in Scotland

To be eligible for home fee status and student support, students must have a 'relevant connection' with Scotland. This means that they must be ''settled' in the UK and 'ordinarily resident' in Scotland on the 'relevant date'. They must also have lived in the UK for the three years immediately before this date.

The 'relevant date' is determined by the start date of a student's course:

1 August for courses starting between 1 August and 31 December

1 January for courses starting between 1 January and 31 March

1 April for courses starting between 1 April and 30 June

1 July for courses starting between 1 July and 31 July

Students ordinarily resident in Scotland and doing their first degree will generally be eligible for free tuition. The SAAS will pay the tuition fees of eligible students for five years in total, including four years for a degree and an additional year to allow for course changes or repeating a year of study.

It is important to note that a person is ordinarily resident if they normally and lawfully live in an area by choice. Temporary absences, including for work, are permitted. Students whose main purpose in being in Scotland is, or has been, full-time study will not be considered ordinarily resident.

Scottish students studying in England can graduate sooner

Scottish students who are considering studying in England should be aware of the differences in the higher education systems between the two countries. While Scotland and England both offer world-class education, there are some key variations to keep in mind. Firstly, when it comes to Russell Group universities, England has 20, compared to only two in Scotland: the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Russell Group universities are known for their research-intensive focus and their outstanding teaching and learning experience. Therefore, if studying in a world-class research environment is a priority, Scottish students may find more options in English universities.

Another significant difference is the average length of undergraduate degree programmes. In England, the average undergraduate degree can be completed in three years, while in Scotland, a Bachelor's programme typically takes four years. This means that Scottish students studying in England can graduate sooner and enter the job market a year earlier. This also means that English students studying in Scotland may have an extra year of schooling by the time they graduate.

The structure of degree programmes also varies between the two countries. In England, students tend to specialise in their chosen subject from the beginning of their degree. In contrast, Scottish universities often adopt a broader approach, where students study a range of subjects in the first two years before specialising in their final two years. This can provide Scottish students with the opportunity to explore different areas before committing to a specific field.

Additionally, the fees and funding landscape differs between Scotland and England. Scottish undergraduate students attending a Scottish university typically have their tuition fees covered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). On the other hand, Scottish students studying in England will need to pay the standard undergraduate tuition fee set by the English university, which is £9,250 per year for 2024 entry. However, eligible students can access financial support through Student Finance and apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover these costs.

It is worth noting that Scottish qualifications, including International Baccalaureate, are accepted at English universities. Scottish students may also have an advantage when it comes to entry requirements, as some English universities consider Advanced Highers as more challenging qualifications and may accept lower grades for these compared to A-Level subjects.

In summary, Scottish students studying in England can benefit from a shorter degree duration, allowing them to graduate sooner. They also gain access to a wider range of Russell Group universities and can take advantage of the opportunity to specialise earlier in their chosen field. However, it is important to carefully consider the financial implications, as tuition fees and living costs may differ between the two countries.

Scottish students studying in Scotland can receive publicly funded student support

Scottish students who choose to study at universities in England will be required to pay the standard undergraduate tuition fee set by the English university. For 2024 entry, the fees are £9,250 per year. However, Scottish students studying in England may be eligible for Student Finance and can get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of their tuition. This loan only needs to be paid back once the student has completed their course and is earning over the threshold of £27,660 per year (before tax and other deductions). Any remaining debt is wiped out after 30 years.

In contrast, Scottish students studying in Scotland do not have to pay tuition fees. From 2024, the fees are covered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and are £1,820 per year. Scottish students studying in Scotland can also receive publicly funded student support, including free tuition, loans, bursaries, and grants. To be eligible for this support, students must be allocated 'home' status by the SAAS and have a relevant connection' with Scotland. This means that they must be ''settled' in the UK and 'ordinarily resident' in Scotland on the 'relevant date', as well as having lived in the UK for the three years prior. The 'relevant date' is determined by the start date of the course.

The SAAS provides a non-income-assessed student loan of £5,100 per year for all students, as well as additional support for specific groups. For example, care-experienced students can receive an £8,100 bursary, and disabled students can receive support through the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). Students who are lone parents or have dependants may also be eligible for living cost grants.

Scottish students studying in Scotland can thus benefit from publicly funded student support, including free tuition and additional financial assistance, making it a more financially viable option compared to studying in England.

Frequently asked questions