UK Home Student Status for University - how to get?

We moved to HK 13 years ago. Our two sons were born in UK. it appears that despite being UK citizens we will still have to pay full 'international' student status for them to attend UK universities. We do not own any property in the UK. Anyone know the tricks of gaining 'home status'..... I heard it is possible if you know how to approach the universities......thanks!

Hi Tulip, I went through this myself last year with my son. The good news was that he was offered 'Home Status' at 5 out of the 6 universities that he applied to ... the sixth one we never had a reply from regarding fee status so we don't know about that one.


Basically, you need to try to convince them that you are in effect temporarily employed/living overseas ... you may think this a bit difficult when you have been living here for 13 years, but it is possible. You need to write them letter and send it to the universities with the 'Fee Status Application Form' which you can request from the university at the time of applying, or some of them you can download from their websites. You need to lay it on thick that it is your full intention to return 'home' to the UK eventually and that the only reason your child is living in/being educated in HK is due to your husbands (or your) employment, otherwise state that your child would ordinarily be resident in the UK ... in otherwords, your child has no option but to be here with you. Explain that all your extended family are still residing in the UK and it is your intention to return there. Also, explain that when your child finishes university he intends to permanantly reside/work in the UK. If it is at all possible, get your husband's employer to write a covering letter confirming that he is here in HK working on a temporary contract (even if he isn't!!), and that it is his intention to return to the UK once the contract ends.


All of my son's friends managed to get 'Home Status' ... even the ones who were born here! We, ourselves, have actually been in HK for 7 years. I think it basically depends on the university ... they may offer one student 'Home Status' and not another ... probably depends on the course as well, as to how popular it is at a particular university.


Good luck, and if there's anything else you would like to know, I'll try to help.

Thank you so much for your helpful advice. That is more promising. We have four children and the thought of paying overseas fees for all of them is really worrying and impossible! We are on local terms and not some big expat package. Do you own property in the UK ... did you hve to supply loads of information to support your claim or did they take it on the word of a letter for you. I feel so much better already!

We do own a house in the UK, but rest assured, we know people who don't, who still managed to get home status. The only things we supplied with the 'Fee Assessment' application form was a lengthy letter from ourselves stating all of the above, and a letter from my husband's company stating he was on a temporary contract (even though he's here permanently!).


I know what you mean, we only have 2 children, but if we had to pay international fees, I honestly don't think we would be able to afford it ... it's not just the fees but everything else as well, like accommodation and monthly allowance, etc. It soon adds up!!

To Tulip2007,

our daughter started uni this year in the UK, she was born there, but we have lived here over 10 years. We managed to get home status at all the uni she applied 4. They send you a form to fill in, we also sent a letter stating we will eventually return to the UK, that we visit every year, still own our family house, family there etc.My husbands company also sent a covering letter, he is actually on renewable contracts which may have helped. But everyone I know who appled this year who have been here longer than us also got it. My friends son even got it at 2 unis, he was born in the UK but has never lived there, and is half Chinese. So I would say your chances are pretty high.

The average home status course fees are about 3,000 ukp, compared to 10,000 for overseas students. Not for medical type courses though, they are a lot more.

For us its the living expenses that are proving the real killer, 86 ukp a week for single room, plus food expenses, spending money, travel costs on top of that.

I am so encouraged by this. I have been really worried about University fees and how to go about the process of home status. I can imagine the cost of living expenses especially given the current exchange rate between UK Pound and Hong Kong Dollar! My children are also half Chinese but my husband has full British passport and lived in UK for 18 years before coming back to HK. Have to start thinking how to write the letter you suggested ... I really appreciate all the help and advice. Good to know we are not alone in this boat!