St Andrews University will pay to ensure staff can stay

St Andrews University will pay for its staff to secure legal guarantees to stay in the UK after Brexit, its principal has confirmed.

In a letter to employees, seen by The Courier, Professor Sally Mapstone said the institute will cover the cost of application for permanent residence or an EEA registration certificate.

Prof Mapstone said she intends to make the university’s voice heard during the negotiations which will take place between the UK and 27 remaining European countries, adding that the voices of staff and students has already been “heard at the highest levels of government, both at Westminster and Holyrood”.

In her letter, she added: “Our human resources department is arranging a series of drop-in sessions across the university for EEA colleagues who may wish to consider applying for UK residency or British citizenship.

“I have also asked that we explore the opportunity to provide subsidised expert legal advice from Scottish solicitors’ firms with particular expertise in these matters, should there be demand from colleagues for this type of service.

“We will be strengthening the practical advice that we offer you through our webpages and I have asked that we put in place arrangements to cover the cost of application for permanent residence or for an EEA registration certificate.

“This will also apply retrospectively to any member of staff who has applied for residence since June 23 last year.”

Prof Mapstone vowed that St Andrews would remain “a highly connected global university” and will continue to accept staff and students from around the world after the UK has left the EU.

She also said the university would be “materially affected by the decision of the Scottish Government to call for a second independence referendum,” adding it would open “a further layer of complexity”.