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'No decision' on post-Brexit EU student fees, says minister | 'No decision' on post-Brexit EU student fees, says minister |
(about 20 hours later) | |
No decision has been made about whether to charge EU students more to study at English universities after Brexit, the government has insisted. | No decision has been made about whether to charge EU students more to study at English universities after Brexit, the government has insisted. |
They currently pay the same as those from the UK, but it has been reported fees could rise from 2021. | They currently pay the same as those from the UK, but it has been reported fees could rise from 2021. |
Labour's Angela Rayner accused the government of "building walls" between top British universities and the EU. | Labour's Angela Rayner accused the government of "building walls" between top British universities and the EU. |
Lib Dem Tom Brake said the EU would likely reciprocate, meaning only the richest from the UK could study abroad. | |
And the EU's Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, wrote to the prime minister to warn against the move. | |
In his letter, he said the "unique and close nature" of the UK and EU's education programmes had been a "major driver for academic excellence" and "undermining it... would deprive our younger generations". | |
Buzzfeed reported on Saturday that Education Secretary Damian Hinds is proposing to remove so-callled "home fee status" and financial support from EU citizens as of the start of the academic year in 2021. | Buzzfeed reported on Saturday that Education Secretary Damian Hinds is proposing to remove so-callled "home fee status" and financial support from EU citizens as of the start of the academic year in 2021. |
Tuition fees for international students vary, with undergraduates paying between £10,000 and £38,000 per year. | Tuition fees for international students vary, with undergraduates paying between £10,000 and £38,000 per year. |
During an urgent question in the Commons from shadow education secretary Ms Rayner, Education Minister Chris Skidmore did not rule out a fees rise, but said a decision had not yet been taken. | During an urgent question in the Commons from shadow education secretary Ms Rayner, Education Minister Chris Skidmore did not rule out a fees rise, but said a decision had not yet been taken. |
Discussions, he said, were "ongoing and should remain confidential"- the leak to Buzzfeed was "deeply regrettable". | Discussions, he said, were "ongoing and should remain confidential"- the leak to Buzzfeed was "deeply regrettable". |
The minister said the government had guaranteed "lifetime funding" for joint education projects between the EU and the UK - such as Erasmus and Horizon - because it recognised the "vitally important contribution" of EU students and staff to the UK's university sector. | The minister said the government had guaranteed "lifetime funding" for joint education projects between the EU and the UK - such as Erasmus and Horizon - because it recognised the "vitally important contribution" of EU students and staff to the UK's university sector. |
However, he said the government wanted to ensure that "we, as a country and as a nation, are attractive internationally" as a destination for study, not just to the EU. | However, he said the government wanted to ensure that "we, as a country and as a nation, are attractive internationally" as a destination for study, not just to the EU. |
"Does (Ms Rayner) believe that somehow we should offer a student finance package to European students once we have left the EU? Is it right then that we discriminate against Indian students, Chinese students?" | "Does (Ms Rayner) believe that somehow we should offer a student finance package to European students once we have left the EU? Is it right then that we discriminate against Indian students, Chinese students?" |
Earlier this year, Mr Hinds promised EU students could still have home fee status if they were starting courses in 2019, and on Monday, he said a decision about 2020 would be made "shortly". | Earlier this year, Mr Hinds promised EU students could still have home fee status if they were starting courses in 2019, and on Monday, he said a decision about 2020 would be made "shortly". |
But BBC education correspondent Sean Coughlan suggested universities would be "grinding their teeth" about the ongoing uncertainty about funding. | But BBC education correspondent Sean Coughlan suggested universities would be "grinding their teeth" about the ongoing uncertainty about funding. |
Ms Rayner said the government had "time and time again... undermined our universities by their shambolic handling of Brexit". | Ms Rayner said the government had "time and time again... undermined our universities by their shambolic handling of Brexit". |
She added: "It is not in our interest to build walls between our world class universities and our nearest neighbours, yet this government is committed to doing exactly that." | She added: "It is not in our interest to build walls between our world class universities and our nearest neighbours, yet this government is committed to doing exactly that." |
The SNP - which has pledged to keep home fee status for EU students until at least 2020 - said fees could be as high as £25,000 if the new government measures are agreed, with the party's higher education spokeswoman Carol Monaghan criticising the UK's "hostile immigration environment" and "harsh conditions" for current international students. | The SNP - which has pledged to keep home fee status for EU students until at least 2020 - said fees could be as high as £25,000 if the new government measures are agreed, with the party's higher education spokeswoman Carol Monaghan criticising the UK's "hostile immigration environment" and "harsh conditions" for current international students. |
Labour's Wes Streeting - a former president of the National Union of Students - accused the government of planning to treat EU students as "cash cows". | Labour's Wes Streeting - a former president of the National Union of Students - accused the government of planning to treat EU students as "cash cows". |
Mr Skidmore said issues around fees were for future negotiations with the EU, and called on Parliament to back Theresa May's Brexit plan so that next stage could take place. | Mr Skidmore said issues around fees were for future negotiations with the EU, and called on Parliament to back Theresa May's Brexit plan so that next stage could take place. |
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