BREXIT/EUSS for January 2021 start students

If you arrived in the UK prior to 31st December 2020

The EU Settlement Scheme is an immigration route that allows eligible EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and their family members to live, work and study in the UK after BREXIT. If you are currently in the UK, have been here prior to 31st December 2020, and you have not yet applied the EUSS then you should do so as soon as possible. Having EUSS will also allow you to continue to access the National Health Service (as you will pay the mandatory Immigration Health Surcharge IHS fee) and could allow access to home fee status and student funding in the future (your current course is already protected as relates to fees and funding). However, you should make sure that you also get an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)  as you may be able to claim an IHS refund if you have one of those.

The application is made online and it is quick and FREE and you will find further information about the scheme and the application process on our EUSS page.

Please note that, as you are in the UK but you have not started your course yet, you will be able to apply for the EUSS using your University Offer Letter and further evidence of continuous residency as outlined In Annex A of the Home Office Statement of Intent regarding the EU Settlement Scheme. Once you have enrolled, you will be able to download a Student Statement yourself from your GradIntelligence account. 

If you arrived in the UK after 1st January 2021

If you arrived in the UK in January and you have no prior residency in the UK, you will not be eligible to apply for the EUSS on the basis of your being a student. You will need to make sure that you have the correct immigration to fulfil your Right to Study check.

If you are studying a course that is 6 months or less, you will be able to enrol as a Standard Visitor (this is what you will be stamped in as if you get immigration as you go through Port of Entry (at the airport). You will need either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or private healthcare insurance to cover any time in the UK. Students should always get an EHIC/private health insurance as they may need to evidence this, not only to access medical treatment, but also for future eligibility for some immigration routes (e.g. citizenship).

There are some companies that offer specific insurance plans for international students and families so it may be worth having a look at those. Two of these are Insure2Study Overseas or Endsleigh Insurance though you can use any provider you wish. You should also be aware that you cannot work as a Standard Visitor (that includes work placements and work experience).

If you are studying a course of more than 6 months, you will need to apply for a Student Route visa and should also get yourself a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This may necessitate you returning home please email International@CampusLife if you are worried you do not have the visa you need to be enrolled and they can help you look at your situation. We have full and comprehensive guidance on Making a Student Visa application overseas to help you. 

This action you need to take is dependant on whether you were previously resident in the UK prior to 31st December 2020.

I was resident in the UK prior to 31st December 2020

The law states that EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who are/have been resident in the UK prior to 31st December 2020 will be eligible to apply for the European Settlement Scheme (EUSS). Citizens who have EUSS status will be able to live, work, study and access health care in the UK- exactly the same as they can now. The EUSS application is free, made online and lots of our students have already made this application.

If you have not yet applied for the EUSS then we would advise you to take action to try and apply for the EUSS where you are now and as soon as possible. The process to do so is outlined on our EUSS pages. It is made online and is quick, easy and FREE- so you have nothing to lose by trying to do that. You will need to download a UKVI app to your phone and in order to do so will need a UK SIM card- so it may be necessary for you to try and get one online if you don't already have one. 

You will see in our step by step Guide to the EUSS (available vie the link above) that we have supplied you with a UK address that you can use if you do not currently have UK accommodation. If you do have an alternative UK address please use that.

You could include confirmation of your pre 31st December 2020 UK travel or residency details, alongside your University Offer Letter, as part of the EUSS application. Please see our comprehensive information regarding the EUSS and making an application here.

If you have not done so already, you should also try and get European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), Students should always get an EHIC if they can because, as well as helping smooth access to medical treatment, it may also help with future eligibility for some immigration routes (e.g. citizenship).

I was not resident in the UK before 31st December 2020

In this case, you may need to apply for alternative immigration permission before travelling to the UK- dependant on the length of your course.

If you are studying a course that is longer than 6 months, you should apply for a Student Visa (formerly known as a Tier 4 visa). Please see our information on Making a Student Visa from overseas. This visa will give you permission to work and you will also pay the compulsory Immigration Health Surcharge- which gives you access to the UK National Health Service, although you should also get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as having that docuemnt may mean you are eligible for a future refund of IHS fees paid.

If you are studying a short course of less than 6 months, you will need to apply for a Standard Visit visa. You will need either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or private healthcare insurance to cover any time in the UK. Students should always get an EHIC/private health insurance as they may need to evidence this, not only to access medical treatment, but also for future eligibility for some immigration routes (e.g. citizenship).

There are some companies that offer specific insurance plans for international students and families so it may be worth having a look at those. Two of these are Insure2Study Overseas or Endsleigh Insurance though you can use any provider you wish. You should also be aware that you cannot work as a Standard Visitor (that includes work placements and work experience).