The UK government has defended plans to stop treating EU citizens as home students if they study at English universities after Brexit, arguing that it was only fair that they paid the same tuition fees as those from India or China.
Amid growing criticism of the government’s post-Brexit strategy for higher education, universities minister Chris Skidmore insisted: “It’s not right that we should discriminate against our [non-EU] students.”
But Angela Rayner, shadow education secretary, accused Mr Skidmore of “utterly undermining” the government’s own strategy of attracting more students to English universities and of “building walls” between academic institutions on both sides of the Channel.
Sam Gyimah, former Tory university universities minister, told the House of Commons that the government’s approach to international students increasingly gave the impression that it was “against young people”.
Mr Gyimah said the combination of a more restrictive immigration regime, the threat of higher fees and uncertainty over Britain’s future participation in EU education schemes such as Erasmus was highly damaging.
Although Mr Skidmore told MPs no decision had been taken on the future financial deal for EU students, cabinet ministers are being consulted on a plan to rip up current funding arrangements from the 2021/22 academic year.
The Treasury has signalled its opposition to the plan, which would end the current regime where EU students at English universities qualify for student loans and have fees capped at £9,250, the same level as for home students.
Instead, the Department for Education wants to end student loans and allow universities to charge the same fees as they currently impose on other international students, typically from £10,000 to £25,000 a year.
The Treasury is concerned that the proposal would cut off a flow of EU talent to Britain and undermine the country’s competitiveness; some 135,000 non-British EU students studied at UK universities in 2017.
EU students who enrol in English universities this autumn are guaranteed domestic fees for the duration of their course. But Mr Skidmore is under fire from universities for failing to offer any clarity about the financing arrangements for EU students planning to enrol for courses starting in 2020. The minister promised to give “sufficient notice” of any changes to the fees.
Jess Cole, director of policy at the Russell Group of leading British research-based universities, said clarity was needed urgently. “Prospective students make decisions about where to study many months and often years in advance,” she said. “Continued uncertainty over their fees, Brexit and the UK’s future immigration system could lead talented EU students to go elsewhere”.
Her organisation estimated that among its 20 members, courses particularly at risk would include computer science and business studies, where EU students from outside the UK made up more than 10 per cent of undergraduates.
While EU undergraduates studying in the UK have risen slightly over the past two years, some have attributed that to the lower exchange rate of the pound and the prospect of locking in tuition at existing domestic rates.
Paul Teulon, director of admissions at King’s College, London, which has a large intake of EU students, said that while many applicants from western European countries were self-funded, the removal of student loans would have a particular impact on students from eastern and southern Europe.
EU students from outside the UK borrowed £444m from the student loan programme last year.
“We will have to take legal advice on what we are allowed to charge EU students, and whether universities can put in place bursaries,” Mr Teulon said.
The National Union of Students called it a backwards step for UK higher education that sent out the worst message.
“Not only does this impact on EU students who will not be able to afford to study here, but it will reduce income for UK universities at a time when their cost pressures are increasing,” a spoekseperson said. “On both counts it will severely damage the quality of education UK students receive.”
Katrina Koppel, vice-president of the European Students’ Union, an organisation that represents students across the continent, called the proposed changes “both unfortunate and unsustainable.” She said: “The UK used to be one of the key destinations for students from both Europe and other countries — this proposed change will surely reduce the number of learners.”
John Cope, head of education and skills policy at the CBI employers’ group, said: “Any future decision needs to take into account the significant economic, social and cultural contribution EU students make to the UK.”
