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European Union students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 academic year will still have access to student funding support.
The government has announced on 21 April 2017 that EU students applying for a place at an English university or further education institution in the 2018 to 2019 academic year will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants as well as home tuition fees.
- European Union students studying in England and enrolling in 2018-19 and in 2019-20 will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee status’, which means they will be charged the same tuition fees as UK students. More information is available from the Department of Education website.
- European Union students studying in Scotland and enrolling in 2018-19 and in 2019-20 will be guaranteed free tuition for the duration of their courses. More information is available on the Universities Scotland website and from the Scottish Government.
- EU students studying in the UK under the Erasmus programme: Their immigration status has not changed, and they continue to be eligible for their Erasmus grant until as long as we remain a member of the EU and could well be extended beyond this. UUK is liaising with the British Council as National Agency for Erasmus+ and institutions are advised to check the Erasmus+ websites regularly for updates including student-focused communications.
- The UK Government has stated publicly that the United Kingdom is committed to continuing full participation in the Erasmus+ programme up until the UK leaves the European Union. The UK will continue to benefit from all EU programmes, including Erasmus+, until the end of the current budget plan (2014-2020).
- The UK government has also announced that it would extend the guarantee to cover all successful collaborative bids to the EU Horizon 2020 funding programme involving UK entities (including institutional partners) in a "no deal" scenario up until the end of the programme. This is a post-exit extension of the ‘underwrite guarantee’ from August 2016 and will cover the lifetime of all Horizon 2020 projects, even where they last beyond 2020. The government expects that the underwrite guarantee will not be needed – it is for the “unlikely event that the Withdrawal Agreement is not ratified”.
The UK has some of the best universities and researchers in the world, and international students, academics and researchers play a significant part in that success. If you've applied to study in the UK and are concerned about what the referendum results mean for you, here are some things you can do to find out more information:
- Visit individual university websites to find out what they are saying about the referendum. You can find these on the UCAS website. (link is external).
- For financing, visit the Student Loans Company website which provides more information at EU national and student finance in England or EU national and student finance in Wales on the Universities Wales website (links are external).
- Check the GOV.UK website for up-to-date information, including statements from Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities and Science (link is external).
- Visit the website of UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) and read its article on the EU referendum (link is external).
Universities UK (UUK), which is the representative organisation for the UK's universities, has issued the following initial advice until the UK Government decides otherwise:
- EU staff: Their immigration status has not changed as a result of the vote.
- Current EU students: Their immigration status, associated fees and access to student loans have not changed as a result of the vote.
Further information is also available on the Study UK website.
