- Home
- Ask
Living in the UK for 3 years
Aug 2019I have a son born in the UK, but currently living in New Zealand. He wants to apply to either Oxford or Cambridge. We can't afford international fees. If he returns for A Level years and then takes a year out to make up the three-year residency rule, would we be eligible for home fees? Or would it be safer to do GCSE and A Levels in the UK also?

Before taking such major decisions, you should check whether your son will qualify for home fees if you stay in New Zealand. How long has your son been living in New Zealeand? Is the family there on a permanent basis or temporary? You should also be aware that you can't guarantee that your son will succeed in getting an offer from Oxford or Cambridge. If you come to the UK to cover the three-year residency rule, it's probably a question of when's the best time to move the family and specifically your son. Settling can be an issue. We suggest you contact SFE and find out if they can give you some advice. It's difficult to be definitive because decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by universities with all the evidence provided by you. If you're all UK citizens and spend three years in the UK, it's likely that your son would qualify for home fees. Take a look at the eligibility section on our page on student finance and funding.
Can't find what you're looking for?