About me

My name is Nigar Abdullayev and I am fighting for my right to study at university as a home student. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Kent, preparing to go into my second year.

However, for a year now, I have been fighting a David and Goliath battle with the University to be able to continue my studies. They insist on imposing overseas student fees, which are impossible for me to afford. They seem to neglect the fact that I have created a life here, within the 7 years that I have lived in the UK (my family and I moved from Azerbaijan in 2009, fleeing war crimes). All I seek to do is to study and get a degree!

In 2012 I won the Manchester Educational Award, as one of 2 students from my school

What has happened

The university asserts that I should be treated as an overseas student, even though my family and I were granted the right to remain by the UK Government in 2009 as victims of war crimes.

Nonetheless, the University insists that I be treated as an "overseas" student, which means paying much higher fees than domestic students. The University refuses to change their decision, even though the Supreme Court has ruled that children and young people in my position should be regarded as resident here and being able to benefit this country and British society.

My long-lasting fight with the University has left me demoralised and with a sense of injustice.

We want to take this case to the High Court, in order for the Judge to examine the University’s irrational and unlawful decision in great detail and impose fair fees and get a student loan which I will repay just as all students do. I particularly want to be treated as a domestic student and I request a fair conclusion on my case.

How the university's decision changes my day-to-day life

The decision affected me greatly. This discouraged and demoralised me enormously, the reason for this is that I should be concentrating on my degree, yet the university has put me through extreme pressure and stress. The university’s decision only limits my chances of becoming a benefit to this country.

The conclusion from the High Court when I take my case will aid other potential students, who continue to face injustice from their universities despite the recent Supreme Court ruling, hoping that this will result in that important group being accepted as domestic students.

Why support my case?

By supporting my case, many other people like me, who have a discretionary leave to remain will be able to benefit from this decision too and this will liberate them to study at university as home students. Our argument will convince the universities to minimize discrimination towards citizens with a discretionary leave to remain and generate more awareness of people in this situation.

If the Supreme Court decision that has already been made, is applied to my case, it will encourage many hopeful students that they can focus on a fairer education and present our communities with an educated and ambitious generation.

How much I'm raising

I am aiming to raise £4000 to be able to pay a barrister to prepare the papers for the application, to attend the hearing and the court fees and related costs. Every penny counts so I'm aiming to raise at least £2000 by crowdfunding.

My Barrister is Usha Sood of Trent Chambers supported by the Trent Centre for Human Rights.

About the claimant

My name is Nigar Abdullayev and I am fighting for my right to study at university as a home student. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Kent, preparing to go into my second year. However, for a year now, I have experienced unfairness as the university has imposed overseas fees on me. They seem to neglect the fact that I have created a life here, within the 7 years that I have lived in the UK. All I seek to do is to study and get a degree!

Fast facts

### Case name Nigar Abdullayev v Kent University (overseas fee decision) ### What’s at stake: Ensuring that any student who has lived in for some years as a refugee or part of a migrating family and who is a student in the UK is treated as a home student. ### What’s the next step We are challenging the university’s decision at judicial review, and relying on a recent Supreme Court judgment.