Alarm raised over no-deal Brexit threat to universities

A no-deal Brexit could drive a “wrecking ball” though science and research in Scotland’s universities, it has been claimed.

Scottish Government higher education minister Richard Lochhead said uncertainty over the UK’s departure from the EU could spell the end of free tuition for European students after 2021.

On a visit to Dundee, he said he feared the UK’s proposed three-year European leave to remain policy could deter students from choosing to study in Scotland, where most degrees take at least four years to complete, and affect staff recruitment.

During a debate in the Scottish Parliament later he warned vital research funding could also be cut.

Universities Scotland, which represents St Andrews and others in the higher education sector, said the three-year proposal could “inflict disproportionate damage to our institutions” and must be rectified.

A Home Office spokesman said students could stay in the UK for longer than three years if they apply for an extension.

International students at Dundee University said they believe undergraduates could be deterred from coming to Scotland due to Brexit uncertainty.

Conchita Fraguas, 21, from Madrid, is in her fourth year at the university, studying biological sciences.

She said she wants to stay in Scotland to complete a post-graduate degree but is unsure of what the situation will be for remaining in the UK.

Conchita said: “I would like to do a PhD or a masters – that would be a great opportunity.”

However, she said future European students may well

“It is really important to keep that bridge open. FOREIGN STUDENT FEDERICA CHITI

be deterred from studying in Scotland.

Federica Chiti, 20, from Italy, said Scottish and European students could both lose out if there is a no-deal Brexit.

Currently in third year, the physics and astrophysics student said she would not have been able to study astrophysics as an undergraduate in her home country.

She said universities will lose out culturally if fewer international students come to Scotland.

She added: “Dundee University has so many international students and so many of my class are European, as are teachers and professors.

“From that point of view, in two years it could be quite different. It is really important to keep that bridge open.”

Federica said the confusion of Brexit has been unsettling for students.

But she said: “The university has been really good, sending out regular emails to update us and help us feel safe.”

NUS Scotland president Liam McCabe said the UK Government must rethink its proposal to limit temporary leave for European students to three years.

He said: “This decision will needlessly discourage EU students wishing to study in Scotland and will directly disadvantage our institutions in relation to those across the rest of the UK.

“As it stands, EU students may be denied the chance to study in Scotland due to EU short-sighted, impractical and ignorant policy-making.”