Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provision has been made within the (a) Homes for Ukraine scheme and (b) Ukraine Family Visa scheme to access (i) student loan scheme and (ii) home fee status so that Ukrainian refugees can attend higher education.

We are extending access to Higher Education (HE) student support, home fee status, tuition fee caps, Advanced Learner Loans and FE19+ funding for those who are granted leave under one of the three schemes for Ukrainians introduced recently by the Home Office, the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme, the Ukraine Family scheme, and the Ukraine Extension scheme. This ensures Ukrainians who have been affected by the war in Ukraine can access support on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories (such as refugees).

In line with those within existing protection-based categories, these persons would not be required to meet a three-year period of ordinary residence for HE support, Advanced Learner Loans or FE19+ funding, but would need only to have been ordinarily resident in the UK since their grant of leave.

I have written to English HE providers asking that they exercise flexibility in their approach to eligibility for home fees and draw upon the £4million of additional funding made available to distribute to students from Ukraine in need of financial assistance.

Access to student support is crucial in enabling students from Ukraine to attend education to improve their skills and enhance the ability of Ukrainians to contribute to the UK, or to the rebuilding of their home country.