The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Government could halt funds for EU students
Minister says option being considered as Scottish universities warn they are facing shortfall ranging from £380-651m
The Scottish Government could end free university tuition for EU students to try to help the institutions survive the pandemic.
Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead admitted there was an “option” of using the near-£100 million cost of the scheme to help plug a huge financial shortfall in the sector.
Universities in Scotland fear the impact of the coronavirus outbreak could leave them facing a funding gap of between £380m and £651m.
About 16% of university income in Scotland comes from fees paid by non-EU students but that is expected to be slashed as a result of travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic, and the value of research grants is also due to plummet.
EU students are currently entitled to the same free university tuition as Scots, but those from other parts of the UK are charged up to £9,250 in fees.
Labour’s Iain Gray questioned the future of the policy at a virtual meeting of Holyrood’s education committee yesterday.
Mr Lochhead said: “We have not taken a decision yet as to whether to fund – for the year 21/22 – EU fees. As we know in Scotland, we want to be seen as an outward-looking country, part of Europe, and we want the European experience in our campuses, which benefits our own students as well as our ties with other countries.
“But clearly we have postponed taking a decision on that because we are looking at what the impact of Covid-19 is in the round, and also if we’re not, for instance, going to have an extension of the transition period in the current UK view of those Brexit negotiations.
“So that is an option. Iain Gray has highlighted what is an option. We could take a decision that the £97m it is estimated to cost us in terms of funding EU students, part of that or all of that, whatever is decided, could be made available for the purposes of further and higher education.”
Mr Lochhead also used his evidence to the committee to issue a fresh call for action from the UK Government.
He said: “While we in Scotland will pull together the support resources we have at our disposal, considerable fiscal intervention by the UK Government is now urgently required.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Gray said: “Sending out this SOS shows that the Scottish Government is not waving but drowning when it comes to helping our universities through this crisis.
“Higher education is devolved, yet the minister had no plan beyond begging letters to UK ministers and rich alumni.”
Jamie Greene, Scottish Conservative education spokesman, said: “The minister’s enthusiasm for writing letters asking for donations to universities reveals the SNP’s total lack of understanding regarding the funding crisis faced by the university sector.”
Clearly we have postponed a decision on that because we are looking at what the impact of Covid-19 is in the round. RICHARD LOCHHEAD