Page 97 iStudy Guide 2019/20
P. 97
iStudy
2019/20
97
Whilst a post-Brexit society appears to be one that
will welcome a diminishing number of international
students, the reality is not so clear-cut. The arrival of EU
students has only fallen slightly since the referendum
and this is offset by the influx of non-EU students,
including record numbers of Chinese students in past
years, who are benefitting from visa extensions to stay
in the country beyond their studies. It seems that the
continuing prestige of UK universities combined with
the utility of an English-medium education is helping
to counteract anxiety surrounding Brexit and attract
international students. If negotiations result in the UK
leaving the EU without a deal, then one thing is clear –
new government schemes and subsidies will have to be
established to replace old EU policy and ensure that the
UK remains desirable to foreign nationals.
Another knock-on effect of a no-deal Brexit is Britain’s
withdrawal from EU-run international schemes such as
Erasmus+. Currently, UK universities use the Erasmus+
scheme to send tens of thousands of their students on
exchange to other European universities every year. The
programme has been safeguarded until a resolution is
reached with Brexit, but will undoubtedly be disturbed
once a deal has been negotiated. International
exchange is considered integral to education and so
the likelihood is that new exchange schemes will be
set up between the UK and other countries to replace
Erasmus+. University leaders are also particularly
concerned with the loss of significant research funding
from the EU. The European Research Council (ERC) and
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme (MSCA)
provide essential funding for UK-based academics in a
variety of projects, and the failure of the government to
guarantee replacement funding in the event of no-deal
will hinder academics’ research potential and some may
consider moving on to EU-funded institutions.
2019/20
97
Whilst a post-Brexit society appears to be one that
will welcome a diminishing number of international
students, the reality is not so clear-cut. The arrival of EU
students has only fallen slightly since the referendum
and this is offset by the influx of non-EU students,
including record numbers of Chinese students in past
years, who are benefitting from visa extensions to stay
in the country beyond their studies. It seems that the
continuing prestige of UK universities combined with
the utility of an English-medium education is helping
to counteract anxiety surrounding Brexit and attract
international students. If negotiations result in the UK
leaving the EU without a deal, then one thing is clear –
new government schemes and subsidies will have to be
established to replace old EU policy and ensure that the
UK remains desirable to foreign nationals.
Another knock-on effect of a no-deal Brexit is Britain’s
withdrawal from EU-run international schemes such as
Erasmus+. Currently, UK universities use the Erasmus+
scheme to send tens of thousands of their students on
exchange to other European universities every year. The
programme has been safeguarded until a resolution is
reached with Brexit, but will undoubtedly be disturbed
once a deal has been negotiated. International
exchange is considered integral to education and so
the likelihood is that new exchange schemes will be
set up between the UK and other countries to replace
Erasmus+. University leaders are also particularly
concerned with the loss of significant research funding
from the EU. The European Research Council (ERC) and
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme (MSCA)
provide essential funding for UK-based academics in a
variety of projects, and the failure of the government to
guarantee replacement funding in the event of no-deal
will hinder academics’ research potential and some may
consider moving on to EU-funded institutions.
