Changes to Residency Conditions for 2023-24 Academic Year
Eligibility for free student tuition support in Scotland will be extended to cover a wider range of immigration statuses under new proposals.
The Scottish Government has published its response to a recent consultation on student support residency conditions which was launched following the decision in the Jasim v Scottish Ministers court case.
Regulations have been laid in Parliament to extend student financial support to those currently residing in Scotland, who have been granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom where they have also been resident for three years.
The proposed changes, for the 2023-24 academic year, will also see eligibility widened for asylum seeking children to remove the time limit which previously applied. It means unaccompanied asylum seeking children and the children of asylum seekers will be able to apply for tuition fee support.
Background
The Scottish Government’s response to the consultation can be read online.
Regulations on the changes to eligibility, including unaccompanied asylum seeking children and children of asylum seekers have been laid in the Scottish Parliament – to be in force for the start of the 2023-24 academic year, from 1 August 2023. Impact Assessments have been published alongside the amending regulations.