Turingfailstest

With the student exchange programme, the Turing scheme, now open for applications, it should be noted that this is a pale reflection of its predecessor, the EU’S Erasmus+ programme. The ending of Erasmus has crushed the hopes of many students who want to live, study and travel abroad. Unlike Erasmus, Turing will not pay tuition costs and living allowance have been slashed by a fifth.

While the European Commission paid travel costs of up to £1,315, now only students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds will receive help from the UK Government.

And, most significantly, free studies in any EU country, plus some others in Europe, has been replaced by pressure on universities and colleges to strike deals. The UK Government committed to helping disadvantaged students access study abroad opportunities, but without support to cover tuition fees this will be impossible for many.

To add to this, it is also scarcely credible to explain how a scheme costing only £100m could fund the travels of 35,000 student – working out at only £2,850 each. It is also unclear whether students will be funded to come to the UK, potentially depriving British universities of a significant source of income. Not doing so would “blow a hole” in the UK’S economy worth £243m a year, a group of education and business leaders calculated last year.

The loss of Erasmus, which brings different countries and nationalities together and generates such massive cultural and educational benefits, is a huge blow and yet another example of the devastating impact of Brexit.

ALEX ORR Marchmont Road, Edinburgh