While the largest student loan debt has skyrocketed to £213,000 and the average outstanding sum in England hit £45,000, students from Scotland enrolled in Scottish universities enjoy exemption from tuition fees, providing a pathway to debt-free graduation.
There are numerous criteria that determine who is qualified for this, especially if you have resided elsewhere. Telegraph Money investigates the practicality of migrating to Scotland for free tuition, as well as how to take advantage of it.
What are the Rules Regarding Tuition Fees in Scotland?
Scottish universities can charge home students £1,820 per year in tuition fees, but this amount is reimbursed by the Student Awards body Scotland (SAAS), a Scottish Government body similar to Student Finance England.
Students at Scottish universities can thus complete their four-year degrees debt-free.
Scotland is home to some of Britain's best and oldest universities, yet students there pay no tuition.
Four of the country's top five universities were founded before 1600, and the oldest, St Andrews, is consistently ranked among the best in Britain.
Scottish tuition prices vary according to each student's fee status. This is divided into "home students" for those who are deemed to be from Scotland, "rest of the UK" for students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as Foreign students.
Each Scottish institution, of which there are fifteen, makes its own decisions on a student's fee status. However, the universities adhere to the legislative framework established by SAAS.
To be regarded as a home student, all three of the following requirements must be fulfilled:
- You must be a British citizen or have indefinite leave to remain.
- You must have lived in the UK for three years before the start date of your degree.
- To apply for a degree in Scotland, you must be regarded "ordinarily resident" at the time of application.
The third point is vital for anyone considering a cross-border relocation to save on tuition fees.
What Does it Imply Being 'Ordinarily Resident' in Scotland?
SAAS considers a student as normally resident if they spend "day-to-day life, whether for a short or long time" in Scotland.
To be deemed usually resident in Scotland, you have to declare the country your home and plan to stay and live there. Occasional absences should be ignored and will not count against you.
However, the Scottish Government agency adds: "If you are just in Scotland to study but would otherwise be living elsewhere, you are not ordinarily resident in Scotland."
Simply put, you cannot move to Scotland the month before registring for university and claim to be a Scottish resident.
Your application would be declined because you are merely moving there for educational purposes.
However, while the laws require you to have resided in the UK for a minimum of three years, there is no defined time limit for how long you must have resided in Scotland to be eligible for free tuition.
It's a murky issue, and in some situations, institutions will use ordinary residence case law to guide their decision on your fee status.
However, it remains difficult to deduce a general concept or guideline about whether or not a student will be given home student status, and it is not uncommon for various Scottish institutions to reach different conclusions about a student's fee status.
Expect to Present Proof Explaining Why You Live in Scotland
Unfortunately, there is no rule that specifies how long you must have resided in Scotland before applying for home student status. Instead, institutions will be more interested in the perceived motivation for the relocation.
It is not as straightforward as stating that if you complete your Highers in Scotland, you will be considered usually resident, or determining which year of study you require to enter the Scottish system.
When applying to Scottish institutions, you should expect to fill out a fee status questionnaire, which provides some insight into the information a university will use to examine your case.
It is crucial to demonstrate that you relocated to Scotland for reasons other than schooling, therefore documentation of your entire family moving rather than just a student moving to attend a Scottish boarding school can be helpful.
Scottish universities have rigorous measures in place to prevent students from outside Scotland from taking advantage of the system and receiving free tuition. If you are denied home student status, you can appeal, but success is not guaranteed.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs provides guidance but does not resolve disputes. Planning for such a relocation should begin years in advance, with contact with university admissions and legal professionals recommended.