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| Brexit could see EU student numbers nose dive, Cambridge warns Brexit could see EU student numbers nose dive, Cambridge warns | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Cambridge University has said it faces significant risks from Britain’s exit from the EU, including an estimated two-thirds fall in the number of EU students it enrols each year. | Cambridge University has said it faces significant risks from Britain’s exit from the EU, including an estimated two-thirds fall in the number of EU students it enrols each year. |
| In a written submission to MPs on the education select committee, the university indicated that it expects annual admission numbers for EU under- and postgraduates to fall from 1,100 to below 400. | In a written submission to MPs on the education select committee, the university indicated that it expects annual admission numbers for EU under- and postgraduates to fall from 1,100 to below 400. |
| “Assuming that EU students move to the unregulated international [tuition fees] rate, it is almost certain that application numbers will fall further. We are currently modelling a two-third reduction in admissions from the non-UK EU,” Cambridge said in its submission to the committee’s forthcoming hearing on the impact of Brexit on higher education. | “Assuming that EU students move to the unregulated international [tuition fees] rate, it is almost certain that application numbers will fall further. We are currently modelling a two-third reduction in admissions from the non-UK EU,” Cambridge said in its submission to the committee’s forthcoming hearing on the impact of Brexit on higher education. |
| Neil Carmichael, the Conservative MP who chairs the committee, said: “This written evidence from university leaders, academics, businesses and others highlights the degree of concern about the fate of UK universities post-Brexit. | Neil Carmichael, the Conservative MP who chairs the committee, said: “This written evidence from university leaders, academics, businesses and others highlights the degree of concern about the fate of UK universities post-Brexit. |
| “It’s crucial that we don’t allow Brexit to become a catastrophe for our university sector.” | “It’s crucial that we don’t allow Brexit to become a catastrophe for our university sector.” |
| Cambridge also said its latest data for undergraduate admissions in 2017 had already revealed a drop in applications from the EU by 17%. Because applications to Cambridge close well ahead of most other institutions, it is the first solid evidence of a “Brexit effect” hitting university applications. | Cambridge also said its latest data for undergraduate admissions in 2017 had already revealed a drop in applications from the EU by 17%. Because applications to Cambridge close well ahead of most other institutions, it is the first solid evidence of a “Brexit effect” hitting university applications. |
| The fall comes despite the British government guaranteeing access to student loans to EU-based undergraduates until the end of their course. | The fall comes despite the British government guaranteeing access to student loans to EU-based undergraduates until the end of their course. |
| University College London told Carmichael’s committee that Brexit would cut its income from teaching if funding was not addressed. “If access to the student loan book is withdrawn, student numbers could drop substantially,” UCL said. | University College London told Carmichael’s committee that Brexit would cut its income from teaching if funding was not addressed. “If access to the student loan book is withdrawn, student numbers could drop substantially,” UCL said. |
| “We expect that the effects of such an announcement would be immediate and our evidence suggests that the greatest impact will fall upon our students from eastern Europe.” | “We expect that the effects of such an announcement would be immediate and our evidence suggests that the greatest impact will fall upon our students from eastern Europe.” |
| The Russell Group of research-intensive universities told the committee that fewer EU students would not necessarily open more places for UK nationals. | The Russell Group of research-intensive universities told the committee that fewer EU students would not necessarily open more places for UK nationals. |
| “If the numbers of EU undergraduate and postgraduate students were to decrease as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, it is not necessarily the case that they could be replaced easily by UK nationals,” it said. | “If the numbers of EU undergraduate and postgraduate students were to decrease as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, it is not necessarily the case that they could be replaced easily by UK nationals,” it said. |
| The group said “feedback from our members shows that some prospective staff [both from within and outside the EU] are now changing their minds about continuing with job applications or accepting work contracts because of the Brexit vote”. | The group said “feedback from our members shows that some prospective staff [both from within and outside the EU] are now changing their minds about continuing with job applications or accepting work contracts because of the Brexit vote”. |
| That warning was supported by Cardiff University, which said: “We believe there is a risk that EU staff, and UK staff with EU spouses, will seek employment outside the UK if they no longer feel welcome or are uncertain over their right to remain. This could affect our ability to attract the best staff.” | That warning was supported by Cardiff University, which said: “We believe there is a risk that EU staff, and UK staff with EU spouses, will seek employment outside the UK if they no longer feel welcome or are uncertain over their right to remain. This could affect our ability to attract the best staff.” |
| Imperial College London said its ability to carry out world-beating science research could be tarnished by the loss of EU funding. | Imperial College London said its ability to carry out world-beating science research could be tarnished by the loss of EU funding. |
| “The impact of the loss of EU research funding on the research productivity of the UK’s universities will be substantial, especially given that Imperial wins more than its pro-rata fair share of research funding,” it said. | “The impact of the loss of EU research funding on the research productivity of the UK’s universities will be substantial, especially given that Imperial wins more than its pro-rata fair share of research funding,” it said. |
| UCL said that replacing EU funding “would require a significant increase in the proportion of GDP invested in higher education”. Its preferred solution “would be for no restrictions or visa requirements to be imposed on EU students, staff and researchers”. | UCL said that replacing EU funding “would require a significant increase in the proportion of GDP invested in higher education”. Its preferred solution “would be for no restrictions or visa requirements to be imposed on EU students, staff and researchers”. |
| Many universities also called for EU students to be taken out of the government’s immigration statistics. | Many universities also called for EU students to be taken out of the government’s immigration statistics. |
| But Universities UK, the lobbying group representing the universities sector, said higher education could still thrive despite Brexit. | But Universities UK, the lobbying group representing the universities sector, said higher education could still thrive despite Brexit. |
| “Universities UK believes that, with the right support and investment from government – both now and in the future – universities can thrive outside the European Union,” it told the committee. | “Universities UK believes that, with the right support and investment from government – both now and in the future – universities can thrive outside the European Union,” it told the committee. |
| A government spokesperson said: “The UK is home to some of the world’s best universities and our investment of an additional £2bn per year by the end of this parliament for scientific research and development will ensure we continue to be a global leader in science. | A government spokesperson said: “The UK is home to some of the world’s best universities and our investment of an additional £2bn per year by the end of this parliament for scientific research and development will ensure we continue to be a global leader in science. |
| “As we prepare to exit the EU we will maximise our potential by building on our achievements so we remain a leading destination for the brightest and best minds at all stages of their careers. | “As we prepare to exit the EU we will maximise our potential by building on our achievements so we remain a leading destination for the brightest and best minds at all stages of their careers. |
| “We have already provided assurances for EU students applying for student funding in England for courses starting in the academic year 2017-18.” | “We have already provided assurances for EU students applying for student funding in England for courses starting in the academic year 2017-18.” |