What Could Brexit Mean for the British Higher Education System?
As it stands, the United Kingdom is currently ranked second in the world for its Higher Education System, and inevitably, departing from the European Union threatens to eradicate this accolade.
Canada is already edging ever closer to overtaking us and China has announced its plans to supersede the UK as a study abroad destination. Thus with Brexit nearing ever-closer, slipping from this highly-respectable position seems inevitable.
Recently released data doesn’t do much for the UK’s prospects, either. Of those questioned, 39% of European Union students and 10% of non-European Union students were less likely to consider studying in the UK due to feeling unwelcome.
But will Brexit have an impact on UK global university rankings?
As it stands, the UK ranks first in 13 out of 48 subjects, which is up by three from last years QS World University Rankings by Subject. And in terms of ranking highest in their specialist areas, the UK is second in the world behind the USA.
However, Director of Research for the QS rankings, Ben Sowter, explains that one of the reasons for the United Kingdom’s international prowess has been due to European partnerships — the collaboration with EU higher education institutions and participation in EU schemes. Splitting from Europe threatens UK QS rankings gravely and thus the global respectability of British universities.
What if it’s a no-deal?
Institution leaders have speculated a no-deal Brexit could be the biggest threat that UK universities have ever faced. As a matter of fact, some have shared their concerns with MPs, stating they worry it could take “decades to recover” from such an ordeal.
Their panic is well justified; the current annual contribution of international students to the UK economy currently stands at £21bn, and Brexit heavily threatens a drastic plummet.
Plus, the threat Brexit poses to scientific research — both current and future — is alarming. Any losses of partnerships with EU higher education institutions could threaten vital research areas concerned with cancer cures and climate change combatants.
The BBC said that if the UK lost its place in European research networks, both the European Research Council and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action funding schemes could be cut. Between the two, they would be worth £1.2bn to British institutions over the next two years. If it’s a no-deal, universities in the UK would become immediately ineligible for this type of funding.
What’s going to happen to international and EU students?
If you are a student from outside of the European Union studying in the UK don’t fret. Your visa requirements and tuition fee level will all be handled in the same way as they are now. We’re quite sure that nothing will change for you.
EU students are currently treated the same as UK students, with fewer rules and regulations than their international peers. Although, this will almost certainly change and it is unknown what those changes will be. It is likely EU citizens will have to abide by the same rules international students do; we will not be aware of any exceptions until much closer to the time, or until we have officially left.
It’s going to mean a number of things, but the truth is nothing’s certain — rarely anything is.
Originally published at www.kortext.com by Matthew Maynard
