Turkish Businesspeople's Children Facing International Student Fees in UK Universities

In the wake of Brexit, significant changes have been observed in the educational landscape of the UK, particularly affecting the children of Turkish businesspeople settled under the Ankara Agreement (ECAA). Previously, these children were eligible for local student fees, benefiting from the same status as British students if their parents held the Ankara Agreement visa and were actively working in the UK.However, recent alterations in regulations have led to unexpected challenges for these families. Despite residing and studying in the UK for the past three years, as mandated by the university application criteria, their children are now being classified as "international students." Consequently, they are subjected to exorbitant international student fees, at least triple the amount paid by local students, and are ineligible to apply for student finance.

The basis for this classification stems from the UKCISA document published in 2021 and the Department for Education's policy document, which retrospectively applies regulations requiring children of Turkish workers to have been UK residents as of December 31, 2020. Unfortunately, these documents do not recognize a distinct category for the "Children of Turkish Businesspersons" visa holders, leading universities to assess their applications similar to those holding a "Turkish Worker" visa.

It is crucial to highlight that at the time of obtaining the "Turkish Businessperson" visa in 2021, families were unaware that their children would be considered international students for university applications in the UK. They believed that their rights at the time of visa applications remained valid. 

To address these disparities, they seek support in several areas:

- Re-evaluation of university applications based on the educational rights at the time of "Turkish Businessperson" visa application, before Brexit completion.
- Confirmation of educational rights aligned with the "Turkish Businessperson" visa, not currently covered in existing documents.
- Ensuring eligibility for local student status and access to student finance, safeguarding the right to education for these children.
- Additionally, to garner public support, a petition has been initiated on this matter, accessible via the following link:

Petition Link: