Dear students,

Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission - Jason Rheinberg, has asked our university to relay this important message to all UK students.

As you may be aware, the UK’s transition period ends on 31 December 2020. Until the end of the transition period, the rights and the ability to move and take up residence for work or study under existing rules will not change. UK students who are enrolled on a course of study in the EU and move to their country of study before the end of the transition period are protected under the Withdrawal Agreement for the duration of their studies. In light of this you should be aware that:

- If you move to your country of study before the end of the transition period, you are entitled to reside in your country of study but may need to register or apply for a new residence status.

-  If you have not moved to your country of study by 31 December 2020, for example, because you are attending classes virtually, you will need to apply through relevant immigration routes for non-EU nationals if you choose to move afterwards.

There may also be actions around ensuring access to healthcare, travel, student support and tuition fees. More information is available on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-poland

Key messages and information for UK students enrolled at EU universities

Top lines:

- The Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU provides for a transition period, which ends on 31 December 2020.

- Until the end of the transition period, the rights and the ability to move and take up residence for work or study under existing rules will not change.

- UK students who are enrolled on a course of study in the EU and move to their country of study before the end of the transition period are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement for the duration of their studies.

- The Withdrawal Agreement will not protect UK students who move to the EU after the transition period, even if they are enrolled but commenced virtual tuition prior to the 31 December 2020.

- Students moving to the EU to study after the 31 December 2020 will have to apply through relevant immigration routes for third-country nationals in their country of study.

Messages:

Check your residence.

- If you have started a course of study in the EU this year but have not moved to your country of study, for example, because you are attending classes virtually, you should be aware that the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.

- If you have not moved to your country of study by 31 December 2020, you will not be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.

- If you move before the end of the transition period you may need to register or apply for a new residence status in your country of study.

- More information is available from your university or on gov.uk/livinginguides.

Check your access to healthcare.

- To study in the EU you are required to hold comprehensive sickness insurance. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also recommends taking out travel insurance.

- Until the end of the transition period, your healthcare cover will continue to be provided by your UK-issued EHIC. If you usually live in the EU, your EHIC will be issued by the country you live in.

- To continue to be eligible for a UK-issued EHIC under the Withdrawal Agreement you need to move to the EU before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. You will need to apply for a new UK-issued EHIC on gov.uk. For further information, please call +44 (0)191 218 1999.

- If you move in 2021 you may no longer be eligible for a UK-issued EHIC and need to take out your own private health insurance. This is subject to the outcome of negotiations on the future relationship with the EU.

-  More information is available from your university or on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-residents-visiting-the-eueea-and-switzerland-healthcare#students

Check your travel.

- You should also check the guidance and travel advice for your country of study on gov.uk, if you are yet to move there: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

Check your student support and tuition fees.

- The student support you may be eligible for and the fees you need to pay will depend on which EU country you are planning to study in and when you move there.

- You will be eligible for broadly the same support, including fees, as students from the EU country you are studying in, as long as you are living there by the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.

- More information is available from your university or on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/study-in-the-european-union

Decide what actions you need to take.

- If you have not moved to your country of study before the end of the transition period you will not be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.

- The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises that no foreign travel can be guaranteed as safe, and you take personal responsibility for your own travel.

- Any decision to travel to, stay in or leave a country is for you to take on the basis of the best available information from our travel advice and other sources relating to the end of the transition period.

- More information on the end of the transition period and living and studying in the EU can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-europe

- If you are studying in the EU as part of an exchange programme or placement from a UK provider you may also wish to check any additional guidance they have provided