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Leeds student in nationality wrangle
A Leeds woman who took time out from her degree to travel has been told she will now be classed as a FOREIGN student.
Jenefer McCabe said the crazy red tape decision has left her feeling like a foreigner in the city in which she, and generations of her family, were born.
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Miss McCabe, who has always held a UK passport, has been told she must
pay international tuition fees to finish her degree at Huddersfield University after she spent time in Australia.
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This would see the 29-year-old paying up to 10,000 for one year's study – three times the amount asked of other British-born students.
A letter sent by the university's admissions office blamed a government regulation demanding that students must have lived in the UK for three years prior to enrolling on a course if they are to be eligible for the discounted rate.
Greg Mulholland MP (Lib Dem, Leeds North), who has campaigned over tuition fees for the last six years, criticised the "arbitrary" rule.
He said that he had raised the issue with University Minister David Lammy MP.
Miss McCabe, of Burley-In-Wharefedale, Leeds, may now be forced to
leave the country again – this time to find a degree course that she can afford to take.
"I never took up official residency in Australia," said Miss McCabe.
"I was on a temporary visa. My parents even paid my national insurance contributions in the UK.
"It's absolutely ridiculous that as a British citizen I should be asked to pay the full fee. I am still a resident of this country whether I have been in it or not.
"It is not just me that has lived in England all of these years, but my sister, parents and all of our ancestors.
"I am so disappointed."
Miss McCabe has since enrolled on an Open University course to finish her degree in hospitality she spent four years working on at Huddersfield University.
She is also resitting her maths and science GCSEs and plans to eventually retrain as a nurse.
Mr Mulholland MP said: "This student is clearly a British national and should not be treated otherwise just because she chose to spend some time abroad.
"That she wouldn't be entitled to the same rates as other British nationals is simply wrong."
John Ramsdin, Huddersfield University spokesman, said: "We are a public service, funded by the public and must abide by laws set by the Government.
"It's very sad for Jenefer but sadly they are the rules."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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