Your tuition fee status will depend on your original country of residence and whether you are from the European Union with ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status, the Rest of the UK or are an International student from anywhere else.
International Students (EU and non-EU)
As an international student, you will need to pay tuition fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Tuition fees vary depending on the institution you want to attend and the course you want to study. Your institution will provide you with information on how and when to pay your tuition fees.
EU students who start a new course in academic year 2021-22 will pay international student fees. Each university will set its own fees for EU students, please visit the university website for specific details.
Only EU nationals who are ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ in the UK will remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees providing they meet the residency conditions. Please see relevant section below.
Undergraduate Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Rest of UK)
If your ordinary residence is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland (often referred to as the Rest of UK) you will be required to pay an annual tuition fee set by the institution you are applying to. These fees vary depending on the institution you want to attend and the course you want to study.
Students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales studying in Scotland are able to apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body, and will receive the same level of funding from these sources as they would if studying away from home in their home country.
Many universities in Scotland offer scholarships and bursaries to assist with the cost of tuition fees or living costs. To find out what tuition fees you might need to pay, and what scholarships and bursaries may be available, visit the website of the institution you want to apply to.
Undergraduate Students from Scotland, Ireland and EU with settled and pre-settled status
Undergraduate students from Scotland are eligible for home tuition fees, which means that tuition fees are paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
From academic year 2021-2022 or later, only EU nationals who are ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ in the UK will remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees providing they meet the residency conditions. Some EEA and Swiss nationals will be eligible if they meet residency conditions.
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals coming to Scotland to start a course of study in academic year 2021-22 or later, are not eligible to apply to SAAS for tuition fee support. Please contact your university or college for information about the level of tuition fees you may be charged.
Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, Islands or Ireland and are starting a course of study in Scotland in session 2021-2022 will be entitled to apply to SAAS for funding. The funding available depends on your residence eligibility.
More information on all the above can be found on the SAAS page.
Postgraduate Students from Scotland, the Rest of UK and the EU
Postgraduate students from Scotland and the Rest of UK will need to pay a tuition fee, which is set by the individual institution. To find out what tuition fees you might need to pay visit the website of the institution you want to apply to.
Tuition fees for postgraduate students from the EU has changed to international fees starting in academic year 2021-2022. To find out more check with the institution you are interested in applying to.
Fees and funding in the UK after EU exit
The UK has left the EU. The UK Government website provides advice on how the EU exit will affect EU students studying or planning to study in the UK, the Erasmus programme as well as other relevant information. There are also helpful FAQs and reference pages provided by Universities UK International, Study UK and UKCISA, all are updated regularly with the latest information.
Find out more on studying in the UK as EU students at gov.uk
Universities UK International FAQs for EU students
Universities UK International FAQs for EEA and EFTA students