EU family member (EEA2) - postgraduate funding eligibility

[culka11]

Hello everyone - have a weird question, hoping you can help.

I'm a non-EU national, married for over 2 years to an EU national working in the UK. I currently hold an EEA2. I've been in the UK for over 5 years and out of education for 4.

I know my status means I am treated as a home-student at universities (which of course means I pay much much smaller tuition fees).

I have been unable to find out if this means I am also treated as an EU/Home student in therms of various funding and scholarships, particularly the AHRC ones. I've contacted universities, UKCISA and the council itself and no one seems to know - instead they keep referring me to each other.

Most funding is intended for UK students, EU students resident and out of education for over 3 years and non-EUs with ILR - which of course doesn't apply to me as my status is outside UK immigration. Am I still eligible for it - in the same way I'm not really an EU citizen but get to use the EU line at the airports?

Would appreciate any help!

Thanks.

[asian_atheart]

Hi culka11,
Interesting question! I believe that if you qualify as a Home/EU student for fee purposes, it should work the same for Funding positions. If you're talking about PhD opportunities, would be best to check with the researcher/academics advertising the funding opportunity. Or check with the university directly what their rules regarding funding are.
I read somewhere (can't seem to locate the source now) that you need to meet the requirements of living 3 years in the UK with a family member residence card to qualify to be treated as a home student. However, from the university's point of view, assessing a settled person is easier as there is no limit on your stay. For example, if they need to award you a scholarship for 3 years or 4 years (as most doctoral positions are) and your card expires in 2 years, it complicates the situation slightly-they will need to review your bursary yearly.
Just thinking out loud though.

[culka11]

Hello - thanks for the reply.

In terms of qualifying as a Home/EU student, I found this (and have been quoting it to universities liberally:))

In order to qualify for 'home' fees under this category, you must meet all of the following criteria:

a) on the first day of an academic year of your course, you must be:

an EU national; or
the relevant family member of a non-UK EU national, and that non-UK EU national is in the UK as a self sufficient person or as a student; or
the relevant family member of a UK national;
and

(b) you must have been ordinarily resident in the EEA and/or Switzerland and/or the overseas territories for the three years before the first day of the first academic year of the course (if you have not, see the Special Provision below); and

(c) the main purpose of your residence in the EEA/Switzerland (or the overseas territories if applicable) must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of the three-year period (if you have not, see the Special Provision below)

My problem seems to be that no one really wants to make a decision:) Funding bodies say it's better to contact the university, universities say it's up to the research council - so I need some sort of hard-core evidence to send their way. I'm sure I can't be the first one asking this question, but it does seem to be rare enough.

[asian_atheart]

Hi culka11,

Ahhh..that makes sense. Thanks for providing the wording. You certainly seem to meet the requirements.
Yes, it is usually up to the universities I believe. Research councils award funding directly to universities (rarely directly to indivduals-unless they are post-doc fellowships). So its not much use talking to them. So your best bet will be to convince the person advertising the funding.I would say keep e-mailing the positions you want and keep asking until you get an answer . Usually its them and the student office that need to sort it out. If the funding extends beyond the expiry of the card, usually they may review your funding on a yearly basis-which is up to them to decide unfortunately
Also, depending on the university, I think you can change your funding status during studies once you get PR. I had a fellow PhD colleague whose status changed from International to ILR during the PhD and his funding became that of a local student. Maybe you can start and once you get PR you may have access to better funding opportunities. Or just wait for PR-(i know, easier said than done when time is valuable).
One last thing, of course depending on your area of specialisation, you will have easier time applying for funding. From a Non-EU PhD student's perspective, I know for a fact that EPSRC funding for non-local students is far easier to obtain than ESRC and AHRC funding where demand is highest from local students.
All the best! Hope all goes well for you.

[culka11]

Ah that does make sense - though it is a bit frustrating to have to persuade people on individual bases

Thanks for your input and insight - alas my field of study is firmly in the AHRC category, so as you rightly said, it's a bit more difficult for everyone...

[Cihangir]

Hi

I am wondering similar point, despite I search over internet many pages couldn't fins any concrete information about it.

I am non-EEA(Turkish) citizen married with EEA citizen and living in UK atm. I applied for residence card 3 months ago and waiting for it.

Meanwhile looking for PhD research project on veterinary(mainly), biology and paramedic fields. I often encounter that issue grants available for UK&EEA students.

I just wonder as UK residence card holder via EEA partner am I eligibly for EEA funding?

Thanks for bring up this topic