Can pay ''local fees'' if I have a UK passport?

Question

I am a final year student who came from hong kong and I hold a british citizen passport. I came here for six years already however I always fly back to hongkong during holidays(summer, easter, Xmas) in the first four years of ''residence''. Therefore I didn't really need/have a permanent place/address to stay at that time since I only stays at boarding house during term time plus I have no relatives/friends who lives in england at the time.

I have been paying international fees for two years(which is hack a lot of money!) I am now trying to convince the university that I am a local student with the uk passport, however I could not provide a permanent address which I have to prove I stayed there for three years pior to the start of the course!

I would very apprieciated if anyone could help!

Answer 1

I'm really sorry, but if you started the course as an International student, then you have to remain an international student for the duration (unless you were a refugee, which you don't appear to be).

As you were only in the UK for education purposes and do not have a permanent home here (you have to have lived in the UK permanently, not just for education for three years prior to the start of the course), you would have to pay overseas fees.

These are the government's regulations, so try to be understanding on the part of the university. Each student costs the university approx. £8000 a year to study, and local or home students get away with paying only £1200/£3000 because the UK government provides the rest of the money. If the UK government does not sponsor you in this way (as it won't if you don't meet the criteria) and the university decided to charge you home rates anyway...well the university would be out of pocket by £6,800! That's a lot of money to find, especially as if they let you do this, they would have to let every student do this.

I hope you understand, but you aren't a 'home' student, in terms of the criteria. Perhaps if you consider doing a masters you can do it in Hong Kong where the fees may be cheaper?

Good luck with the rest of your studies.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, you are only a local student if you reside there.

I'm English, with a British passport, but have lived abroad for the last 14 years. Local fees don't apply to me, so I'm sure they won't to you either.

Sorry.

Answer 3

Those are indeed the rules. You're not local, by definition, and going to school "in residence" most of the year does not make you local.

Answer 4

as long as all passports are real, i don't see why not. The wording on your question makes me think of you're of Pakistan beginning yet living interior the united kingdom. ie,"" I Holder of British Passport"" No offence meant!!

Answer 5

You will have to get confirmation form all the Boarding Houses etc you stayed at that you were there, and for what periods.

You should also get the following:

Details of any bills you have paid over this period (that youcn get hold, obviously not everything), taht are in your name (UK bills)e.g. mobile phone, supermarket, shops, etc

Informaion from Travel agents regarding he journeys you booked from UK to Hong Kong (they should have address in Uk you were at then on them)

Credit card bills showing expenditure in Uk over this period

Confirmation from Hong Kong Emassy or whichever department that you were only there for short visits over this period (there may be stamps on your pasport)

Confirmation from Hong Kong Address that you were having mail etc forwarded to UK

Tjhis of course will be very laborious and may require you to pay for copies of bills etc, but may save you money in long run

With hindsight if yoy knew you intended to study you shoudl have been building up your portfolio of evidence.

Of course the most important thing is how Hong Kong views your status, do they class you as a Hong Kong Studentt, do you have a student visa,etc. If they class you as this you will have to continue to pay, as you have also not made yoru intentions clear to them, and you may need to check that you had any permissions/vis's etc that may be required for that period, as (I am not an expert on these matters) you could potentially be classed as an "overstayer", Australians, Canadians,South African siwth dual pasports etc also encounter this problem.

Answer 6

sorry we are local