We would like to bring to your attention changes to the rules around EU nationals’ eligibility for living cost support.
These changes will only affect students who are applying to Student Finance England for help with meeting living costs and:
- are non-UK EU nationals
- have lived in the UK or Islands for at least three years, but under five years before their course starts
- plan to start their undergraduate course in the 2016/17 academic year
These students would previously have been eligible to receive a maintenance loan for living costs from Student Finance England after three years of living in the UK or Islands. This is being extended to five years from 25 March 2016 – and will affect new applicants for the 2016 entry cycle from this date. Applicants who submit their maintenance loan applications before 25 March 2016 will not be affected.
Please contact The Student Loans Company with any queries.
In addition, the UKCISA website has an explanation of the changes.