UK out of the EU – what happens now? How will Brexit affect international students?
Questions sure to have been asked by all those thinking of studying in the UK after the result of the EU Referendum was declared on the morning of June 24th. In particular, will international students applying to study in the UK have to pay higher fees than EU rates and what are the visa restrictions?
Don’t panic! Nothing is likely to change for at least two years – the deadline set after the British government formally notifies the EU parliament their intention to leave. The notification will be carried out by the newly elected Prime Minister towards the end of 2016, possibly even delayed until early 2017 if further formal judicial approvals have to be obtained.
So if you’re enrolling to study in the UK between 2016 and 2017, you will not be affected for the duration of your course. You can proceed as normal with your plans, such as remembering to apply for a Tier 4 visa, which still contain the same conditions and, of course, arranging for international student accommodation.
Visa restrictions unlikely for EU students already in the UK
It should be kept in mind that once the two year deadline has been passed and Britain has formally left the EU, future international students may find themselves subject to visa restrictions. This will mean that EU students will have to apply for a British student visa to be able to study abroad in the UK and to go through the same visa process as non-EU students. However, it is unlikely that EU students already in the UK when Brexit day arrives will be affected by a status change to their visa requirements or tuition fees.
There are round 125,000 non-UK students studying in Britain’s higher education, as of 2014/15. EU nationals represent just over 6 per cent of all full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students at British universities last year, according to The Times Higher Education rankings. The number of international applicants in 2015 had actually risen by 2 per cent, increasing by more than two thirds over a ten year period and is expected to reach more than one in five by 2018, according to latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
The British Council – who provide help and advice for international students applying to study in the UK and also sets the standard guidelines for hosting homestay accommodation – say they will “continue to work in partnership with other European countries and with EU institutions”.
In addition, of the 32 countries who participate in the Erasmus+ scheme – the EU programme combining education, training, youth and sport – several non-EU countries, such as Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, will continue to take part. The UK could also still be involved in Erasmus Plus but this is not guaranteed. The Erasmus Programme, which provides funds for undergraduates to travel to EU countries for between three and twelve months to study as part of their degree was established in 1987 and Erasmus Plus began in January 2014.
Colleges have no plans to raise their currently published tuition fees
So will international students be paying higher tuition fees after Brexit? Some universities and colleges have already stated that they have no plans to raise their currently published tuition fees for 2016/17 to cover any exchange rate losses caused by the announcement of the UK withdrawal. And homestay hosts will always ensure the service they offer to international students, whether from within the EU or outside, perfectly match all types of student preferences and budgets, whether a standard accommodation or house shares.
There is no doubt that international student hosting schemes in the UK will continue to be open to the world for all who wish to come and study in Britain long after Brexit begins. Hosting families have always acted as cultural ambassadors. More than ever, homestay accommodation will play a pivotal role in the sharing economy by enabling young people from overseas to experience a fuller and richer education and travel experience by living with a host family.