FAQ

European students will no longer pay local fees nor have access to the Government Loan for degrees and postgraduate qualifications for courses starting after 1 August 2021 unless they have settled or pre-settled status.  Latest information regarding EU student in the UK is available at the following UK Government webpage.     

Many UK universities are offering reduced fees to EU students or maintaining fees for European students in line with those paid by British students.  A list has been published in our Study UK Guide for Advisors (Spanish edition).   You can also refer to the fee and scholarship information as provided by the universities you are interested in studying at.  

The projects successfully bid for during the current (2014-2020) Erasmus+ and ESC programmes will continue to receive EU funding for the full duration of the project, including those where funding runs beyond 2020. Find out more information about the transition period of the Erasmus programme here.

From September 2021 on, thousands of students will be able to study and do work placements across the world through the Turing scheme, a new programme that replaces the UK’s participation in Erasmus+. Find out more information about the new programme here.

From 2021, students travelling to the UK to study a degree or postgraduate qualification at a UK university or take part in an exchange programme, including Erasmus require a visa.  Language courses lasting less than 6 months are exempt from this requirement.  Your university will be able to provide you with guidance and support on this.  Your university is your sponsor  for the application and entry to the UK.   You can see all of the latest information about the visa application process at the UK Govenment's webpage. 

While there is no specific visa route for work based internships there are options available within the Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) category.  The GAE route is a series of schemes providing individuals with opportunities to come to the UK for a short time for work experience, training, research, fellowship or as part of an Overseas Government Language Programme.  Each scheme has tightly-defined objectives which are administered by the sponsor.  Applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves as well as a certificate of sponsorship form from  a licensed sponsor. 

It is important to note that there is no general internship scheme within the GAE route.  Internship activities are not included within the permitted activities which a visitors (tourists, business visitors)  to the UK may carry out without a visa.

Recognition of qualifications is not affected by Brexit but qualifications for professions which are regulated will require acceptance by the regulator of the profession unless there is a bilateral agreement between the UK and Spanish government or between the UK and Spanish regulators of the profession.

The Royal Decree of 29 December 2020 maintains access to the Spanish university system in 2021 for students with British qualifications such as A-Levels or BTECs.The UK mainains recognition of Spanish qualifications, IB and other European qualifications for access to UK universities.  

 On 3 July 2023, an agreement was signed between the Ministries of Education, Universities and the UK Department for Education to ensure that students with British qualifications maintain their options to study at Spanish universities under similar conditions to students from other EU countries. They will be able to access university without taking the EBAU if their cut-off mark is lower than 10 and they will have to sit the specific part to raise their mark if a higher cut-off mark is required.

The new Graduate Route, launched on 1 July 2021, will enable you to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, at any skill level for two years (or three years for PhD students) after graduation. This is a fantastic opportunity for international students that will help you to take your next steps into employment after graduation in the UK. 

The British Council and the British Consulates in Spain are not able to provide assistance with certifying or legalising UK educational documents.  From 31 October 2021, if you require educational or professional recognition in Spain of UK educational documents, these will need to be certified and then legalised by the FCDO Legalisation Office.  Please note that prior to sending your degree certificate or other educational document to the FCDO Legalisation Office your certificate or transcript must be certified by a notary public in the UK.  Further guidance is provided here.