PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Universities (14 December 2017)

We are working closely with the higher education sector to ensure we understand the potential economic and other implications of EU exit for universities, including through the High Level Stakeholder Working Group.

We know that, in particular, arrangements for EU students and staff and access to EU research funding are key interests for the sector. These issues will need to be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU.

The government has taken action to provide greater certainty. We announced that EU students starting their courses in the academic year 2018/19 or before will continue to be eligible for student loans and home fee status for the duration of their course, and remain eligible for Research Council PhD studentships on the current basis. The agreement we have now reached with the EU on the first phase of negotiations allows the UK to continue benefitting from EU programmes - including Horizon2020 and Erasmus+ - under this budget plan.

We frequently liaise with the Higher Education Funding Council for England on financial sustainability and soon the department will be working with the Office for Students to continue to understand the sector’s finances under the new regulatory framework.