Adult Education Fees

[MF]

Hello,

My wife went to apply for a course at the local adult education centre today for web design.

After completing the application from she was told that because she had not been resident in the UK for more than three years she would need to speak to an advisor. On speaking to the advisor she was told that she would not be eligible for home based fees and would have to pay the so called full price. This is three times the normal fee.

After checking on a number of websites it appears that they are applying the standard terms for overseas students.

Has anybody else had any experience of applying for courses for spouses when they had not been in the UK for more than three years?

Our residency in the UK has not been good but my wife has held an ILE for more than three years and been in the UK for three years over the last five years.

Any comments would be most welcome.

Martin

[DOG]

MF, I take it your wife is not British yet ?If so, i think they are looking down that route to charge you the higher fees,because if she was British it would not matter if you both lived on the moon and came back to do the course.

This sort of happened to my wife when she was doing the ESOL,(she british/Thai)when later she went to enrol to carry on with the ESOL,for interest, then introduced new fees,she then decided to opt for English litracy course,The college told her she can't,she has to carry on with ESOL.

With a few phone calls later they looked pretty stupid.They tried to say the same as you MF,only to find out my wifes British and she do not have to carry on with ESOL and be charged,but can do the Litracy cse free.

I think you may have pay a visit in person ask them to explain the break down in fees,in a naive approach with questions and mention being unfair and see what they can do for you.

I hope this gives you an insight

[Tobias]

Martin, I would do as DOG suggests and go and see them in person. Advise them that your wife is not an 'overseas student' but a UK resident who has "settled status" in the UK and who is the spouse of a British citizen. Suggest to them that, in all the circumstances, she must be afforded the same rights and privileges as any British or EEA citizen ... indeed she is entitled to receive state benefits in the UK!

It may not work, but there is no harm in trying!

[Marcus]

if she was British it would not matter if you both lived on the moon and came back to do the course.

Possibly, but maybe not.

I remember when I was back in the UK in 2005 I went along to the university in Cambridge (no, not that one - the other one) to see if I could do a Masters degree.

"Sure" they said, "but we're going to charge you the oversees student rate as you've been outside the country for too long".

Suffice to say, that put an end to that!

[cardiffnoddy]

I too encountered a problem when I registered at uni after living in Thailand for 3 years. Apparently as I had not lived in the UK for the previous 2 or 3 years I would be charged! Oh I said, so decided to register again on a different day. Unfortunately it was the same lady but this time she said "You're not going to tell me you've been out of the country this time are you?" So I didn't have to pay any fees.

[MF]

Thank you all for your responses.

Luckily, they phoned my wife and she has been allowed to take the course at the local rates.

Therefore it was a successful conclusion and Tai starts here web design course in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks.