1. Brexit & Higher Education
LO: To analyse the impact of Brexit on higher education in the UK
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2. Brexit & Higher Education
Contents
The current landscape – What rights UK students have when studying in other EU member states and the rights that EU nationals have when studying in the UK.
Explore a number of opinions and views on the potential impact that leaving the EU may have on the higher education system.
Analyse the potential opportunities and threats that leaving the EU may have on the higher education system.

3. Is this higher or lower than you thought?
Brexit & Higher Education
What percentage of Higher Education students in the UK are from the EU? 3% 6%
12%
Thinking point:
Is this higher or lower than you thought?
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4. Which of the below is rated as the best university in Europe?
Brexit & Higher Education
Which of the below is rated as the best university in Europe?
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Switzerland)
Karolinska Institute (Sweden)
Oxford University (UK)
Thinking point:
What do you already know about UK and other universities?
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5. Brexit & Higher Education
How much would a student from the EU pay in tuition fees every year to attend a University in the UK?
£12,000
£9,000
£20,000
Thinking point:
More students from outside the EU study in the UK than students from the EU, and they pay significantly more in fees.
Do you think it is fair that an EU student be entitled to pay less to study in the UK than a Nigerian/ Indian/ Chinese student?
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6. Brexit & Higher Education
Since 1987 how many students from the UK have studied or worked in Europe on the ERASMUS exchange programme?
(The ERASMUS programme is an EU funded programme which provides the opportunity and financial support for students in the EU to live and study in another member state of the EU for a year.)
20,000,
200,000
2,000,000
Thinking point:
Is this higher or lower than you thought?
What do you think the benefits of the ERASMUS programme are?
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7. Brexit & Higher Education
What are some of the advantages for British students if they study abroad in the EU?
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8. Threats Opportunities
Brexit & Higher Education
What do you think?
What do you view as the biggest threat and the biggest opportunity of Brexit for future and current university students?
Threats
Opportunities
Threats
Opportunities
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9. The current situation- Equal Fees & University Funding
Brexit & Higher Education
The current situation- Equal Fees & University Funding
UK students who want to go to university in an EU country will pay the tuition fees of that country, and vice versa for EU students who want to study in the UK.
At present 15% of UK universities’ funding comes from the EU, which makes up around 16% of research funding.
As well as research funding, there are lots of networks and cooperation that happens across EU universities. For example, the Geography department at the University of Valencia work with Birmingham and Coventry universities in the UK and they do not want to lose those links.
NB: Many universities have links with universities outside of the EU. For example, the University of Birmingham advertises international partnerships in Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America and North America. While these links are undoubtedly assisted by membership of the European Union they are essentially institution to institution.
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10. The current situation - Qualifications
Brexit & Higher Education
The current situation - Qualifications
Due to EU law (Directive 2005/36/EC) certain qualifications are transferable and recognised across the EU.
Some of the qualifications recognised are for nurses, midwifes, doctors (general practitioners and specialists), dental practitioners, pharmacists, architects and veterinary surgeons.
Having your qualification recognised does not mean that you can automatically get a job in the UK. You may have to meet other criteria. For example, you may need to pass a language test.
Belonging to the EU means that member countries cooperate on areas such as equal treatment for university access; lifelong learning, and the development of an EU education area.
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11. Bina – A Dean of a top British university
Brexit & Higher Education
Bina – A Dean of a top British university
The UK has some of the best universities in the world with 4 of our universities currently placing in the top 10 in the world and this isn’t something which disappears overnight. We do rely on EU funding for income and funding grants but hopefully we will be able to ensure that this shortfall is made up, either by the government or international student fees. This could pose as a good opportunity for students in the UK accessing Higher Education and potentially new visa regulations might make it easier for international students to come to the UK to study.
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12. Brexit & Higher Education
Jakub – A Polish Professor of Engineering at a University in Birmingham
This is a disaster, personally and for higher education in the UK. 16% of academics in the UK are from the EU and the research that I carry out is funded by the EU. Even if the UK government is somehow able to fund it I might not be allowed to stay without a visa. And to be honest, I am not even sure if I would want to stay, the inevitable decline of British Universities will lead to a brain drain – all the academics are going to move abroad to work at better universities, so why would I stay here?
(Key word: Brain drain. A brain drain refers to the emigration of highly trained and qualified people leaving a country for better opportunities elsewhere. )
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13. Sarah, a British student who took part in the ERASMUS programme
Brexit & Higher Education
Sarah, a British student who took part in the ERASMUS programme
I feel really angry that young people in the UK might not be able to benefit from the ERASMUS programme in the future. Over 200,000 students have benefitted and for me, personally, it was amazing and I loved living abroad. I wanted to live in Spain in the future but I now don’t know if that will even be possible. The National Union of Students, our representative body, campaigned to remain in the EU during the referendum – young people understand that globalisation is the future, so why is the UK shutting itself off.
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14. NUS – National Union of Students
Brexit & Higher Education
NUS has set out four key education priorities in the negotiations
for students and the education sector:
Ensure international students are welcome in the UK
Provide urgent clarity for EU nationals – for academics who are EU nationals, there’s a lack of clarity about their continued employment and residence, it also affects students who are currently studying here. EU students are not bargaining chips. Students who are already here or who will begin courses in the UK before the UK has formally left the EU need urgent clarity about their status
Maintain student mobility – Leaving the EU will threaten our continued participation in the Erasmus Plus programme and limits the transformational experience of studying and working abroad to those that can afford it. The Erasmus programme or alternative programmes like it should be a priority in negotiations.
Preserve UK-EU academic collaboration – a key priority for the Government in its negotiations must be to ensure years of academic collaboration on science and technology is not placed in jeopardy. 
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15. Threats Opportunities
Brexit & Higher Education
Feedback
Were you shocked by anything you learnt today?
What did your group view as the biggest threat and the biggest opportunity of Brexit for university students?
Threats
Opportunities
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16. Where do you stand? Big impact on students
Brexit & Higher Education
Where do you stand?
Big impact on students
Not sure of the impact on students
Small impact on students
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