HE and FE Scotland ‘home’ fees: addition to the category for relocated Afghan citizens and family
July 09, 2026
A small change has been made to the category for relocated Afghan citizens and family. Information about it has now been incorporated into UKCISA’s materials about fee status for higher education and further education in Scotland.
Background
The rules about who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education and further education in Scotland are set by the Scottish Government (they are not set by UKCISA). They are set out in regulations, which the Scottish Government amends over time. The regulations identify all the different ‘categories’ of student who can insist on paying at the ‘home’ rate. They set out all the requirements a student needs to meet, to fit one of those categories. UKCISA provides information to help you understand the requirements of the regulations.
The change
In paragraph 12 of the Education (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (No 156), as amended, (also known as 'the fees regulations'), the category for relocated Afghan citizens has been amended.
Up until now, this category in the fees regulations has provided for those who have been granted leave under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme or the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme. From on or after 1 August 2026, the category will also provide for those who have been granted leave under the Afghanistan Response Route.
If you are the spouse, civil partner or child of a person who has leave under the Afghanistan Response Route then this change might help you too, because the category is not just for someone granted leave under this route but also for family members in some circumstances.
In order to qualify for ‘home’ fees under this category, you must also be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date.
Is the change incorporated in UKCISA’s information?
Yes, the change has been incorporated into UKCISA’s two webpages for Scottish fee status:
If you are a student and you think you might be eligible under this category, send a link to this story to your fee assessor, to ensure they have seen it.
If you are a fee assessor in an institution, check through any assessments you have already made for this autumn, to make sure they are in line with this new provision.
Further reading
If you want to see the regulations that made the change described in this story, they are the Education (Fees and Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026 No.63). They were laid in February.
Further developments
The Scottish Government makes changes to the regulations (and how they interpret them) over time. Make sure you check UKCISA’s web info regularly to ensure you know about the latest provisions.
If you are a UKCISA member, subscribe to the 'Fees assessment' forum category of the UKCISA forum, where we post stories for those who work in fees assessment. Furthermore, you can see a consolidated version of the Scottish fees regulations in our member Manual.
