Recommendation 54

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, and the end of the UK-EU Transition Period, 2020–21 will be the last academic year in which EU students will be eligible to apply to have their tuition fees paid for by the SAAS.127 From 2021–22 Scottish universities will be able to charge EU students international student rates,128 which can be up to £20,000 per year.129 EU students wishing to study in Scotland will also need to apply for a student visa before they arrive in the UK. The application costs £348 and the Immigration Health Surcharge (which grants access to the NHS) costs £470 (for student visa holders).130 126 Scottish Government, ‘University fees EU students: FOI release’, accessed 7 April 2021 127 “Update on HE and FE support”, Scottish Government, 9 July 2020 128 Scottish Parliament, The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on university funding in Scotland (23 July 2020), p 3 129 Q33 130 The Scholarship Hub, ‘Funding for EU students after Brexit’, accessed 8 April 2021 Universities and Scotland 25 EU student numbers from 2021–22