Free university tuition fees for BNO visa holders living in Scotland

Hong Kong Watch welcomes the recent policy change from the Scottish Government which grants British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa holders access to free tuition fees in the devolved nation.

From the start of the 2023/24 academic year, BNO visa holders who are ordinarily resident in Scotland – usually achieved after three years of continuous residency – will be eligible for home fee status at Scottish Higher Education institutes.

The move will increase Higher Education accessibility for many Hong Kongers, who up until this point have been forced to pay international tuition fees at all UK universities, which at well over £20,000 per year are unaffordable to many.

It brings policy closer in line with other categories of British nationality derived from residency in current and former British overseas territories, the holders of whom are eligible for home fee status.

Currently, home fee status in the rest of the UK requires ‘settled’ status which is achieved after five years on the BNO visa.

Benedict Rogers, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch, said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government has taken this step to widen access to Higher Education for Hong Kongers.

“Education is a guaranteed way for migrants to succeed in a new society and we are encouraged that people fleeing the destruction of freedoms in Hong Kong, including academic freedoms, will now be able to access tuition fee support a lot earlier than previously was the case.

“We urge the UK Government to follow suit and offer home fee status to BNO visa holders who are resident for three years in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.”

The BNO visa first opened for applications on 31 January 2021, meaning that BNO visa holders living in Scotland and starting Higher Education courses from 2024, who satisfy the eligibility criteria, will be able to access the tuition fee support which all other Scottish residents benefit from.