Tuition fee arrangements vary in different parts of the UK. Universities and colleges of higher education in England and Northern Ireland can set their own tuition fees for degree programmes up to a maximum of £3,000 per year in 2006. The vast majority of universities have opted to charge the maximum for all their programmes.

Students from other EU countries can apply for tuition fee loan from Student Finance Direct to cover the tuition fees while studying. Application forms (EU6N) for the tuition fee loan will be automatically sent to students that have secured a place at UK university. Forms are also available for download from the Student Finances Direct website. Students start to repay this loan after graduation, when they are earning more that £15,000 per annum. Please note that new EU students who applied in entry 2006 will only need to complete Parts 1-5, complete the loan request form and sign the declarations in Part 11. More information on repayment of the tuition fee loan is available on Student Finance Direct website.

Universities in Wales will start to follow similar fee arrangement in 2007. In Scotland,  a full-time higher education student will not be required to make a personal contribution towards the cost of his/her annual tuition if they are studying for the first time. All such tuition fees will be paid by the Scottish Executive through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Full-time students must apply to SAAS for payment of their tuition fees, even if they are not applying for any other means of support. Details of how and when to apply are available from SAAS.

CAN I APPLY FOR HELP FROM THE UK?

If you applying to Scotland and are an EU national, you must apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland SAAS to get your tuition fees paid during your studies.

EU-students studying in England or Northern Ireland can apply for tuition fee loan from the Student Finance Direct to cover the tuition fees while studying.

Accommodation and Living Costs

The cost of living varies from one part of UK to another. Generally it is more expensive to live in London and the south-east of England, and cheaper in the north of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

The figures below provide a rough guide only. They include basic living costs - accommodation, energy bills, food, daily travel and other necessary expenses for a single student for one year:

•London £730 per month

•elsewhere in the UK £650 per month

Accommodation in student hostels costs between £60 - 70 a week. Suitable accommodation for married students is expensive and difficult to find, particularly for those with children. There are not so many creches (vuggestuer) in UK as in Denmark, and a place in one is likely to cost £50 a week or more.

For help in arranging accommodation, contact the Student Welfare Officer or Accommodation Officer at your place of study.

Most universities do their best to accommodate first year students. You should inform the Accommodation Officer at your university as soon as possible if you require accommodation. If they cannot give you accommodation on university premises, they will help you find a room nearby. The weekly rent is approximately between £50 - 80. You may also search for accommodation on the student accommodation website: www.bunk.com