We are missionaries in Thailand (for the past 25 yrs) - but have been able to secure "home-status" and student loans for both of our sons returning to the UK for university. The main criteria is that we fall under the category "temporarily absent" from the UK on the basis that we are sent out by our home church in Manchester and return there at reasonably regular intervals (albeit only for about 2 or 3 months at a time every 2 or 3 yrs). We don't have a sending organisation. But being able to produce a "letter of agreement" (like a letter of contract) drawn up between ourselves and the church (stating when we go out e.g. Sep '04 and when will return e.g. June '07) has been very useful evidence which has helped the LEA's and universities in considering our case.

By Vicky Calver (Vcalver) on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 09:09 am:

Marion Knell has written on the subject of missionary kids and is very involved with COMET - Children of Missionaries, Education and Training. In June 2005 she revised a paper on Tertiary Education and Temporary Residence Overseas. This could be very useful to this discussion. The paper can be viewed at: http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/pdfs/tertiaryed0505.pdf

By Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 08:04 pm:

On the topic of missionaries entitlements upon return to UK, I'm not up to date with how the regulations have changed. When we returned after 8 years in Kenya, we had a son going to University. We were concerned that he would not be treated as an overseas student, and also that he would qualify for the grant (This was the last year of the full grant!) The most important and decisive factor in this was the fact that I had been recruited and employed by a UK organisation. The fact that I was an employee of that organisation was enough. It was far more important than whether we had a home, bank account, family, support base etc, or even whether we paid tax, although these things could also be considered.

By David Boydell (Dboydell) on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 02:13 pm:

We have been 22+ years in France now, and both our boys did their first degrees in Scottish Universities. We were in a similar situation : The British would give nothing since we had not lived in Britain for a number of years, and the French would not give a grant because the boys were "living abroad". Even what remained of our child allowance was stopped in France since the boys were in the UK! Vive l'Europe!

I do remember spending several days of a Summer holiday in Stornoway Public library poring over handbooks of private grant-giving institutions. I was amazed how many there were for children born in this or that town or county, or parents with this or that profession. I think I wrote to about a dozen trusts, and for several years we were able to receive a small grant from one trust because my wife does broadcasting. We also made enquiries in France, and found out that we could get another small grant from a pastors' fund here. From what I remember, these grants at least paid for travel to and from Britain and books, so it was worth the effort.

By Anonymous on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:47 am:

Adding to the message above, if only to say you are not alone.
We are British citizens who have lived in Germany for the passed six years and employed by a mission.
Our son 19 moved to England in June 2004 for a “year out” working (in Falmouth) before starting his degree course in advertising at Cheltenham & Gloucester University September 2005.
Application was made to Cornwall for education grant and student loan, this was refused because we or our son have not been living in England for the three years prior to starting the course.
We learned from the University that we can apply to the Department of Education and Skills for tuition fee support (on the basis of being considered EU residents) using form EU5N.
This still leaves us with the problem that our son cannot apply for a student loan in UK because of the three year residency rule.
He is also not eligible for a education credit from BAFOG (German Government) because a student must study one year in a German Uni’ before being eligible to study in UK and secondly further assistance is only available after successfully completing two years of study.
It seems that we fall between two stools, although our son is a British citizen wanting to study at a British Uni’, he can get help from neither the British system nor the German?
So, can anyone offer any further suggestion for funding our son through Uni’ for his accommodation, living expenses etc?

By Ron George (Ron) on Friday, July 08, 2005 - 11:49 am:

I've been in your place before. I suggest you come home and be with your kids until they graduate and play the role of a parent.

Ron

By Anonymous on Friday, July 08, 2005 - 10:38 am:

We are missionaries in Gambia and our two oldest children have been back in the UK for four and three years respectively. Last year my daughter started her nurse training at Kings London after two years in sixth form and one gap year - she was refused a student loan because we were living abroad. Our son is about to go to uni in September and we are afraid he will have the same problem. Is there anyone who can help or advise us on this? It seems that we do not fall into any of the normal categories but we cannot afford to pay their way through uni - our daughter only survived last year because she had worked through her gap year and lived on the money she had earned - she will not be able to do that this next year.

Please help if you can!

Jan Roy
jaroy@pmbx.net