Please choose from the options below:

• Tuition Fee Loans for undergraduate students
• Working in the UK
• General information about the cost of living in the UK
• General information about living in London
  
• Useful contacts

Tuition Fee Loans for undergraduate students

EU nationals studying an undergraduate degree course may be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England to cover the cost of tuition fees. Ideally applications should be made in advance of the start of the course although the closing date for applications is not until the end of May during each year of the course. EU nationals do not have to be living in the UK in order to qualify for this support.

In addition to the Tuition Fee Loan, some EU nationals already living in the UK may qualify for additional Student Finance England loans and grants to support their living costs. The eligibility rules are complex but for basic information about the qualifying rules and how to apply please visit our EU Nationals student funding section.

Working in the UK

If you are an EEA national from Austria, Belgium, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain Sweden or Switzerland, you are able to work in the UK and have no immigration restrictions on the amount or type of work you can do. 

Until 30 April 2011, nationals of Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, or Slovenia had to to register their work under the Workers Registration Scheme.  However, nationals of these countries no longer need to register their work and can work unrestricted. For information visit the latest news and updates section on the UKBA site.

For further information about working in the UK visit UKCISA.

If you are a student from Bulgaria or Romania you need to register with the UK Home Office before you are able to do any work in the UK. 

Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals

If you are a national of one of these countries and you want to work in the UK while you study you must obtain a Student Workers Registration Certificate before you do any work.  To obtain this you must apply to the UKBA using the application form BR1.  You can print this form from the UKBA website.  You will need to include your passport or national identity card, two recent passport photos, a University letter confirming your student status and the start and end date of your course and evidence that you can support yourself while in the UK. You must have started your course before a registration card will be issued. 

The BR1 form asks if you have comprehensive/private health insurance. Although you will be entitled to use the UK National Health Service if you come to study in the UK for more than 6 months, you should also apply for your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you come to the UK.  The BR1 indicates that this is accepted as evidence your health insurance providing you also confirm in writing that you intend to remain in the UK on a temporary basis only.  If you intend to remain in the UK permanently, you will need to obtain extra health insurance in order to meet this condition. 

Once you have the Registration Certificate you can work for up to 20 hours per week during term-time and an unlimited number of hours during the vacation periods.

If you have been working in the UK for 12 months or more you may be exempt from Registration.  Details about who is exempt can be found in the guidance leaflet for Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals available from the UKBA website.

You can also visit the UKCISA site for information and you can use their EEA Work Checker to check your work status.

Other Information

UKCISA, the UK Council for International Student Affairs produce a range of useful information.  For example they provide information on immigration, working rights in the UK and about Keeping Healthy.

For information about the general cost of living in London, budgeting and other money tips visit our Smart Spending pages.

Useful Links 

The AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe)
 
UK Borders Agency (UKBA information on workers registration schemes) 

Contact Student Advice