Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 July 2026

Letter to the Minister for Skills, relating to Student Loan eligibility for children of members of the Diplomatic Service, dated 14 July 2026

Summary

The Foreign Affairs Committee writes to the Minister for Skills regarding student loan eligibility for children of UK diplomatic service members posted abroad. The Committee reports that affected families are being denied student loans and home tuition fee rates despite their parents being Crown Servants ordinarily resident in the UK who pay UK taxes. The issue was first raised in December 2025 but remains unresolved, with the number of affected families increasing.

Key findings

Children of Diplomatic Service members are being told by the Student Loans Company they are ineligible for loans or home fees rates for UK universities due to parents' overseas postings
The Committee first raised this issue in December 2025 with the FCDO and again with the Foreign Secretary, but it remains unresolved
The number of affected families has increased since December 2025, despite assurances from the then-Permanent Under-Secretary that it was an important issue to resolve
No agreement has been reached at official level despite earlier assurances
The Committee emphasises urgency given A Level results arriving in summer 2026

Tone

Critical

Topics

education-policydiplomatic-servicestudent-financeequality-access

Key actors

Dame Emily Thornberry MP, Baroness Smith of Malvern, Foreign Secretary, Student Loans Company, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Department for Education

Notable line

“As Crown Servants who are ordinarily resident in the UK, pay UK taxes and serve the diplomatic interests of His Majesty's Government abroad, there is no reason why their children should be ineligible for student loans or home fees for UK universities.”

Key Quotes

“As Crown Servants who are ordinarily resident in the UK, pay UK taxes and serve the diplomatic interests of His Majesty's Government abroad, there is no reason why their children should be ineligible for student loans or home fees for UK universities.”
— Foreign Affairs Committee · Justifying why diplomatic service children should have access to home fees and student loans

“The Committee was therefore disappointed to have heard that the issue has yet to be resolved and the number of affected families has increased.”
— Foreign Affairs Committee · Expressing frustration at lack of progress on the issue

“With more young people potentially falling into this group as they receive their exam results this summer, it is urgent for a solution to be found.”
— Foreign Affairs Committee · Emphasising the time-sensitive nature of resolving the issue

View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗