Brexit may open up UK for higher education; not for now

Thiruvananthapuram: Brexit has adversely affected the prospects of the universities in Britain to such an extent that a number of students who were supposed to confirm the country as their study destination choice are taking up other offers. However, many view that Brexit would open up Britain to the non-European students. T.M.S. Kutty, CEO of a Thiruvananthapuram-based career consultantcompany, told Deccan Chronicle that many agencies have signalled concern over the post-Brexit outcome.

However, some agencies in  non-European Union countries have raised distant hopes that visa rules may improve in their favour in the future if the EU student market shrinks in Britain. A report published HE Global, an international education journal provided evidence to back this view. A survey the journal carried showed that in two years from 2012-13, higher education delivered by UK institutions grew by 13 per cent. However, by contrast, non-EU international student recruitment into the UK grew by just 2.7 percent.

Four in five universities surveyed by HE Global intend to expand transnational education provision in the next three years to non-European students, Mr Kutty said. Universities are operating under the assumption that the government will continue to cover tuition costs for EU nationals for at least two years. The universities may look to expand beyond the EU including Asian countries such as India, Mr Kutty said.

Meanwhile, a number of Scottish universities have assured EU students that there will be no change to their current status as non-fee paying students. In a further bid to address the concern of European students studying in the country, universities and science minister Jo Johnson tweeted: “UK welcomes EU students. Current students and this autumn’s applicants will continue to receive student finance for duration of their course. We want to reassure them that EU students are an important part to the diversity of our university.”

In a statement, England’s Students Loan Company (SLC) confirmed those EU nationals and their family members who are currently in higher education and assessed as eligible to receive funding from the SLC “will continue to receive these loans and grants until they finish their course”. Current EU nationals studying in England are eligible for the same funding as domestic students, including loans to cover tuition fees for those who are residents in the European Economic Area (EEA) for three years. EU students who have been residents in the UK for at least three years can have access to loans and grants for maintenance, Mr Kutty said.