Question reference: S6W-18389
- Date lodged: 25 May 2023
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Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 June 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported change to residency eligibility criteria for free student tuition support in Scotland, whether people from Hong Kong with a British National (Overseas) visa will be eligible for free tuition fees in higher education, if they have three years of residency in Scotland.
Answer
I am pleased to confirm that from Academic Year 2023-24 all students who meet the following criteria will be eligible for home fees status and student financial support in Further Education and Higher Education:
- Ordinarily resident in the UK for three years prior to the relevant date;
- Ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date; and
- Granted a form of leave to enter or remain in the UK, where that leave has not expired.
As the British National (Overseas) visa would be considered a form of leave to enter or remain in the UK, a student holding this visa would be eligible for support in the event that they satisfy the remaining criteria.