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1. EU students will still study here... but they'll need a visa
Good news for student’s wishing to study in the UK – If you’re in the European Union and a no deal Brexit passes, you’ll still be able to study here, they’ll just be a few changes…
The government implemented a new EU Settlement Scheme on 30th March (the day after the original Brexit deadline). Under this scheme, students will be asked to complete their visa applications named European Temporary Leave to Remain. This ensures you can stay in the UK to study, live and work for up to three years.
This might have a knock-on effect on the amount of EU students on campus, but it’s something governments are keen to figure out to avoid loss of numbers (and that all-important income!)
If you are already studying or have confirmed arrangements to study as an EU student in the UK, nothing will change for you.
2. Erasmus will be cut short
The Erasmus scheme has benefited over six million European students, but its fate for us Brits is looking unhappy if no a deal Brexit passes through.To continue, we’ll need approval from Europe to take part – without this we won’t be able to take part any more.
Students wouldn’t be offered any funding or living costs without the scheme; Both Spain and Norway have already warned their students to avoid looking at British universities, and no alternative Erasmus scheme is in place for UK students.
The Government published a report on 15th October - based on the belief that Brexit would happen on 31st October 2019 - outlining what would happen to the Erasmus scheme. You can read that here.
3. You might not pay the same tuition fees as before...
Another thing up the air is the fees we’d pay at EU universities. At the moment, if UK students study abroad, we pay lower fees than the locals.
With a no deal Brexit, the degrees will cost local prices, not the British standard, impacting both the intake EU universities are receiving and their financial income.
Affecting both the UK and the EU, no one is too sure what could be done to avoid this.
4. So EU universities are encouraging you to commit now
Some universities such as Maastricht University are encouraging UK students to apply sooner rather than later if they wish to take advantage of the Netherland’s significantly lower tuition fees. British students at Maastricht currently pay around £1,600 per year, however this could increase by over £5,000 per year. Yikes.
5. UK universities may have less research partnerships
A lot of uni students will partake in research, both as undergrad and postgrad students, but a no deal brexit might massively impact this. Firstly, the funding of these schemes will lessen, as European universities will be put off by the price increase of partnering with a British university.
While this doesn’t stop any research partnerships, it does make them less attractive to others. For you, this might mean there’s less choice in the partnerships you can choose, possibly standing in the way of what you want to research and who with.
Basically, a lot of opportunities will disappear, along with the money pot the EU supplies us.
6. Staff may disappear
Not just students are impacted by the results of the Brexit deal. Much like European students, EU staff will also have to apply for permission to work, dependant on how long they have worked in the UK.
This means a lot more paperwork, a lot more hassle and the possibility that staff may choose to work in the EU instead of the UK. With back-up plans to leave their UK universities, some staff members have doubt over their job security if they remain here.
7. Financial support may waver
Just like the impact on research opportunities, funding from the EU into UK universities will inevitably vanish to some extent. Uni’s are currently given a significant money pot from our European counterparts, so without this funding will take a dent.
If a deal is reached, we will stay in the Horizon 2020 research programme (which funds us), but no deal would mean existing projects would have access to the funding, but once these end the funding stops.
8. But the government is taking steps to lessen any impact
Whilst some of these possibilities sound a bit doom and gloom, it’s important to look at how the government is dealing with the situation.
Rather than leaving the British education system hanging high and dry, steps are being taken inside government to “minimise turbulence and maximise the opportunities”.
The Russell Group is working alongside the government to find the best outcome for students, and it’s increasingly clear that communication is the key to finding the best solution for those in education.
