Home thoughts from abroad: why should I have to pay international student fees?
When I completed my first degree, I got a job in a prestigious company abroad and I jumped at the chance. For three years, I have enjoyed myself and had a fruitful career. However, the time has come to move back to the UK with my husband, who is also British. I found a wonderful master’s course that I am so excited to start, and saved up to enrol.
My hopes were dashed when I was faced with the possibility of having to pay international student fees. I am not sure why, since I am a British national who has lived most of my life in the UK, working, paying taxes and attending school, college and university.
I was told that I could possibly get “home status” if I can prove my work abroad was temporary. But I don’t think this is feasible because I chose to leave my job and was not on a temporary contract.
I don’t own property in the UK, nor do my parents, nor my husband. I am worried this might be taken into consideration.
When I was studying for my bachelor’s, I was encouraged by the faculty to go abroad at any opportunity for employment and experience and also further education, yet they didn’t mention that, if you are away from the UK too long, coming back to study would result in double the tuition fees.
I am not able to afford international fees and I am going to be staying in the UK for the foreseeable future. I am beginning to lose sleep over this.
Jeremy says
I note that there is only a “possibility” of having to pay – so perhaps, with persistence, you can successfully be granted “home status”. I do hope so; on the face of it, it seems unreasonable that you should be penalised in this way.
But if not, you still have your bachelor’s degree and three years’ fruitful – presumably successful – work with a prestigious company. My first thought, which must also have been yours, is to establish whether it has a UK presence – or, at least, a UK associate – and whether they would be interested in hiring you.
In any event, comfort yourself with the knowledge that this master’s degree is highly unlikely to be a condition of your finding satisfying work.
Without knowing the nature of your bachelor’s degree, and the specialist nature of your career to date, I can’t be more specific – but maybe postpone the master’s until you’ve done a UK job for a few years, after which presumably the fee problem wouldn’t apply.
Readers say
• I got this when applying for my PhD. You need to show that you have remained a UK resident. Collect bills, bank statements, tax returns. Then write, explaining politely, how you won’t be able to attend unless accepted as a UK fee-paying student. It’s up to the individual university. They’ll be loth to lose you. Lower fees are better than no fees. If that doesn’t work – it did for me – you might have to set up home here, and apply later. Matthew Read
• Did you remain on the electoral register? If you did, and were entitled to a postal vote, it could be an effective argument. And look for any other evidence that you didn’t emigrate. For example, did you tell Borders UK you were emigrating? Did you close all your UK bank accounts? RossAnderson
• What about the converse case? Someone who was born outside the EU but had been living and working in the UK for 10 years. Should they pay international or home tuition fees if they study here. Even the universities seem confused about this. richie34
• First question on the further education fees checklist: “Have you been resident in the UK or elsewhere in the EU for the past three years?” If the answer is no, you don’t get a contribution towards fees and you have to pay the full cost (the rate charged to overseas students). I have to explain this several times a year to students … and it always comes as a shock. DebW
Considering a sea change in my choice of career … by joining the merchant navy
I’m in my mid-20s and struggling with my career choice. I graduated with an excellent graded degree in physical geography in 2012 and ever since I’ve felt completely lost.
After a year of job searching, I got a graduate role as a geotechnical engineer. I felt a bit of a fraud and not really qualified for the role.
It was highly pressurised and the conditions added to my stress. In just two years, my friendships suffered, I was exhausted, seemed unable to stand up for myself and became something of a wreck.
I did the best thing I could think of and went travelling. I was lucky to get a new job within a month of returning to the UK at a local authority but, three months on, I feel bored.
I’ve been thinking of retraining to work in the merchant navy but struggling to find the confidence to start somewhere new and worry about the application process, coupled with the prospect of taking out a loan for something which isn’t guaranteed to pay off in the long term.
Jeremy says
Sometimes sheer instinct can be a better guide to a career than the most painstaking evaluation of multiple pros and cons. Don’t ignore it.
Because you’re feeling dispirited, the prospect of going through the application process seems totally daunting but I encourage you to persevere. Your instinct could prove sound.
The hardest bit will be making the first move. After that, I’m fairly confident your growing interest will rekindle your belief in what you can achieve.
Readers say
• We run a website called Careers at Sea promoting awareness of the merchant navy and the range of careers available. Merchant navy is the collective term for the commercial shipping fleet worldwide. Although 95% of UK trade comes by sea, few people know of its existence, let alone the opportunities available which are on our website. Fena Boyle, Training and careers coordinator, Merchant Navy Training Board
• The only person I know who was in the merchant navy just “retired” at 42. It’s a hard life working six months on, three months off, but he saved, bought investment properties and owns a couple of dozen. It’s a lifestyle that suits some, but not others. However, you need to be qualified as lower ranks tend to be recruited from lower-paid countries. vn58hrw
• I have a friend whose husband is in the navy. There are advantages: it’s good for career progression, decent pay and conditions, he sees the world, he’s really into his health and fitness and the navy is great for that. He’s what I would call a normal guy and he loves it. Downsides: hard to maintain a relationship particularly if you have children – a partner has to be the homemaker; blokey male culture (which may or may not bother you); you have to be careful what you specialise in if you want it to be relevant outside the navy. I would go for it. Even if it’s not for you, you’ll undoubtedly come out knowing yourself and what you want a whole lot better! room32
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
