《2011年教育（學生支援）條例》及其修訂版本，英國大學及學徒制的「本地生學費」資格主要受「三年居住規則」規管。
 

The eligibility for “home fee status” in UK universities and apprenticeships is primarily governed by the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 and its subsequent amendments, particularly through the application of the 3-year residence rule.

一般嚟講，如果你係英國公民、愛爾蘭公民，或者已經獲得英國定居身份（settled status），你必須喺開學當日第一個學年開始之前連續三年，一直喺英國、海峽群島（Channel Islands）或曼島（Isle of Man）通常居住，先至合資格申請Home Fee同學生資助。

Generally, to be eligible for home fee status and student support (like student loans), you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for three consecutive years prior to the first day of the first academic year of your course. This rule applies to UK nationals, Irish citizens, and those with settled status in the UK.

如果你未獲得定居身份（settled status），根據現行規例，通常唔可以攞Home Fee資格。即使你已取得定居身份，如果你未連續住滿三年，一樣唔符合本地生學費資格。

Therefore, BN(O) visa holders who have not yet obtained settled status are typically not eligible for home fee status. For those with settled status, if they have not lived in the UK for three consecutive years, they are also not eligible for home fees.

根據蘇格蘭政府現行生效嘅規例，持有 BN(O) 簽證嘅港人可以喺符合以下條件，就可以得到蘇格蘭高等教育（Higher Education）同持續教育（Further Education）嘅本地學費資格同學生資助：

1. 喺開學前連續通常居住三年喺英國 (不限於蘇格蘭)，；

2. 開學當日前嘅「相關日期*」已經通常居住喺蘇格蘭國內，而居住蘇格蘭嘅目的唔係純粹為咗接受教育 (處理申請嘅人會參考英國法院判決去決定申請人係咪符合定義) ；

3. 持有有效嘅入境或居留許可（例如 BN(O) 簽證），而該許可未過期。

符合以上條件嘅學生，無需擁有「定居身份」（settled status），即符合獲得本地學費資格。

*「相關日期」:

係用嚟判斷你係咪符合申請本地學費資格（Home Fee）或學生資助資格嘅一個關鍵日子。呢個日期取決於你嘅課程幾時開始：

• 如果你嘅課程係 8月1日至12月31日 之間開始，相關日期係 8月1日

• 如果你嘅課程係 1月1日至3月31日 之間開始，相關日期係 1月1日

• 如果你嘅課程係 4月1日至6月30日 之間開始，相關日期係 4月1日

• 如果你嘅課程係 7月1日至7月31日 之間開始，相關日期係 7月1日

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Under current regulations in force in Scotland, individuals holding a British National (Overseas) visa may qualify for home fee status for both Higher Education and Further Education in Scotland, provided you meet the following criteria:

1. Ordinary residence in the UK (not limited to Scotland) for three years prior to the start of the course

2. Ordinary residence in Scotland on the relevant date* prior to the start of the course. The purpose of residence in Scotland must not have been solely for the purpose of receiving education. When assessing this, decision-makers will refer to relevant UK case law to determine whether the residence meets the definition of “ordinary”.

3. Holding a valid immigration permission (e.g. under the BN(O) visa route), and this permission must not have expired at the relevant date.

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*The "relevant date" is a fixed date used to determine whether an applicant meets the eligibility criteria for home fee status. The date when a student’s course starts determines the ‘relevant date’. It is:

• 1 August for courses that start between 1 August and 31 December

• 1 January for courses that start between 1 January and 31 March

• 1 April for courses that start between 1 April and 30 June

• 1 July for courses that start between 1 July and 31 July