GCC Expat Salary CalculatorUK university fees after the Gulf: start planning early
This one can cost tens of thousands of pounds, and it shows up years after your move. A child who grows up in the Gulf can be charged international fees at a UK university.
By Shiraz Hussein · Updated
The problem
UK universities charge two levels of fees: home fees and international fees. International fees can be several times higher. To get home fees, a student usually needs to have lived in the UK for the three years before the course starts. A child who spent those years in the Gulf may not meet that rule.
The exception that can help
There is an exception. A student can still count as living in the UK if they were away only because a parent was temporarily employed abroad. The rules do not define "temporary", so you need evidence that:
- the job abroad was for a limited time, for example a fixed-term contract, and
- the UK stayed your family's real home, and you planned to return.
Evidence to start keeping now
Universities may ask for many years of evidence, sometimes up to ten. A good time to start a folder is when your child is in Year 9. Useful evidence includes:
Start a folder in Year 9
- a letter from your employer saying the contract is temporary
- a UK home that the family uses on visits, with council tax and bills
- UK bank accounts that stay in use
- a UK pension, or UK tax paid
- links to a UK GP, clubs or a place of worship
- travel records showing regular family visits to the UK, such as boarding passes and e-tickets. Some universities ask for evidence of these visits.
Things that can count against you
- A long-term residence visa in the Gulf, such as a UAE Golden Visa, can suggest you plan to stay.
- Boarding school abroad in the last two years of school.
- Children visiting the UK alone, rather than as a family.
How the decision is made
Each university decides your child's fee status. It usually sends a questionnaire with a short deadline, often two weeks. Gather the evidence before you apply. You can appeal a decision.
Learn from other families
Many Facebook groups for expat families discuss this topic. They are a good place to see real examples. But each university applies the rules itself, so always check the fee status pages of the universities your child is applying to, and the UKCISA website.
Why this matters when you decide to move
This cost doesn't appear in any job offer, but it is a real consequence of a move with children. If you move with children who may study in the UK, plan for it from the start. The salary calculator shows what the package leaves you over the years you plan to stay. Planning to leave? Read Clear your debts before you resign. If you save for fees, read Sending money home without losing on every transfer.
Fee status rules are complex and change. This is an awareness article, not legal advice. Check UKCISA and each university's guidance.