Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2018 to Question 199286 on Overseas Students: Immigration, what criteria are used to assess whether a student has a recognised connection with the UK.

Generally, to meet the eligibility requirements for student support, a student should be resident in England and have ‘settled’ status. 'Settled' means being ordinarily resident in the UK without any immigration restriction on the length of stay in the UK. An exception to this rule is made for Refugees, Stateless Persons, Persons Granted Humanitarian Protection and those who can demonstrate Long Residence in the UK.

To qualify for student support, individuals should normally have been a resident of the UK and Islands (Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) for the 3 years prior to the start of the course. Refugees are exempt from the three year residence requirement.