As you will no doubt be aware Britain is to leave the European Union. There are many questions that the Government and other bodies are focused upon, regarding the impact this will have upon different aspects of life.
It is important to remember that there is no immediate change, and for the UK university sector in particular, programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ continue as normal. The process of negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU will take up to two years and the University along with Universities UK will work with the government to influence the negotiation process.
Universities UK has offered the following advice:
For current EU students there are no changes to your status as a result of the referendum result in the UK. Your immigration status and associated fee status, as well as your access to the student loan book have not changed as a result of the vote.
For EU students with a place to start in academic year 2016/17, the UK Government has confirmed there will be no change to your immigration status, fee status or access to UK Student Loan Company student loans.
If you are thinking of applying for a place in 2017/18, we guarantee that your fee will be no higher than the standard University fee for UK home students. EU students will continue to be able to access UK Student Loan Company student loans in 2017-18. The UK Government has confirmed that EU students applying for a place at an English university or further education institution in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants - and will be for the duration of their course. See www.gov.uk/government/news/funding-support-for-eu-students.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2018/19 academic year will remain eligible for financial support. This applies for the duration of their courses.
For EU students starting once the UK has left the EU, Universities UK have said, “the fees that EU students starting courses at UK universities after the UK has left the EU (likely to be from 2019 onwards) are required to pay and their entitlement to loans will depend on what is agreed as part of the UK’s exit negotiations.”
If you would like to discuss this with an advisor at the University please contact The Student Funding Unit by email at studentfunding@plymouth.ac.uk or call us on +44 1752 587680.
As an internationally focused university, we remain fully committed to supporting our community. Our mission remains to transform lives through education and research, and to offer our students the best experience possible.
We will, of course, keep you updated in the coming months as more questions are answered and details of the negotiation process become clear.
Best wishes,
Professor Judith Petts, CBE
Vice-Chancellor