Education fees in the United Kingdom will be slashed starting September 1 for Bermudians.

Earlier this year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced that students from British Overseas Territories would be eligible for the lower fees previously reserved for British students seeking high education in England.

Now, not only will students studying in England be eligible, but also those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the 2007 -2008 academic year.

Currently Gibraltar is the only British Overseas Territory whose students qualify for the home fee rates. This proposed change will also mean that students in the overseas territories of European Union (EU) Member States will be treated equally. Bermudians who wish to qualify for the lower fees will be assessed by the educational institutions in the United Kingdom based on the published criteria.

Under the Regulations for England, Northern Ireland and Wales a student must be a European Commission (EC) national on the first day of an academic year of the course, be undertaking the course in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, have been resident in the overseas territory for a three year period preceding the first day of the first academic year of the course and not have been a resident in the relevant territory for the purposes of receiving full time education.

The criteria for Scotland are the same as that for England, Northern Ireland and Wales, however the student must be a British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) and must be taking a course in Scotland.

Students were warned that a BOTC passport is not proof of British nationality and failure to provide this information could result in higher overseas student fees. These changes were implemented through the Education Fees and Awards and the Education Qualifying Courses and Persons Regulations 2007 of England; The Student Fees Qualifying Courses and Persons Regulations 2007 of Northern Ireland; The Education Fees and Awards Regulations 2007 of Wales; and The Education Fees and Awards Regulations 2007 of Scotland.

And in a move to help all university students, Premier Ewart Brown last night announced a link on Government's website for college students to input their information in a database.

To advertise the weblink the Premier has emailed a letter to students he met during the College tour. In the letter, the Premier states that: "This database will be an important tool — allowing us to bring you together with potential employers who serve as our partners in an effort to ensure no Bermudian is left out of a job for which he or she is qualified. We will not allow your education to be under-utilised here at home."

Students wishing to input their information can visit the Government's home page at www.gov.bm.