In mid-2016, UK citizens voted to leave the EU. The process would take about five years to be fully implemented. 2020 was an important year for Brexit. Today, the exit has been fully implemented and the UK is no longer a member of the EU.
To the students pursuing higher education in the UK, the final exit means there will be changes in how they access education in terms of tuition fees, the application process, and visas.
EU students already studying in the UK
If you are currently enrolled in a UK university, you might not be affected. EU students who arrived in the UK before January 1, 2021, will not require a visa. Your tuition fees will not be affected and you will pay the same amount being paid by UK citizens.
However, the university you are in might make some changes and inform the students. You need to be on the lookout for any changes. You will be eligible to apply for loans and grants just like the UK domestic students.
UK home students
Students who are UK citizens will enjoy all the benefits as before. You will pay subsidized tuition fees which will be about 9,250 pounds per annum for a public university. You will be free to apply for grants, upkeep loans and scholarships.
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EU students planning to study in the UK
Beginning January 1, 2021, you will require a visa if you want to take a course in the UK that will last from 6 months and beyond. Your tuition fee will be higher, probably four times more than what a UK citizen is paying to study in a prestigious UK university.
According to the UK parliament, many EU students might choose to study in other EU nations that offer cheap tuition fees or free in some countries. Migration could affect the UK economy in a big way.
You will not be eligible for a maintenance loan to help you cover your cost of living while studying in the UK. You will also require to apply for settled status if your study will exceed six months and you would like to stay longer after your study.
International students from non-EU member states
If you are an international student who is not from any EU member state, you must apply for a UK study visa. You will not be eligible for student loans or grants. If you need to apply for any scholarship, you must apply back in your home country.
You will pay tuition fees that apply for an international student which is more compared to UK domestic students.
Choice of universities
The process of applying to a UK university will remain the same. The student will go to the UCAS portal and apply. You will choose the course you want to study, write your personal statement and apply.
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UK students who want to study in EU member states
The UK is no longer a member of the EU and therefore, any UK citizen who wants to study in the EU member states will be treated as an international student. They will apply for a student visa as per the requirements of the member state. Your tuition fee will also be higher compared to what the other students will be paying. Every rule applicable to an international student will apply to you.
Effect on the teaching staff
There are many teachers from the EU working in the UK and vice versa. The greatest challenge they will be facing is double taxation. The challenge is yet to be solved and many teachers feel that it might affect their work negatively.
Many teachers might decide to relocate to their home countries or other countries with favorable tax regimes. This move will affect education in many universities because it will create a shortage of teaching staff both in the UK and in the EU.
Conclusion
The EU Erasmus Programme has benefited more than 200,000 EU students since 1987. The program was made possible by the unrestricted movement of students within the EU member states. After the UK finalized its exit from the EU in 2020, the freedom of movement from and into the UK ended. Its impact on higher education is already being felt just a few months down the line. Unless the UK and the EU renegotiates, international students studying in the UK will have a heavy price to pay.
Author Bio:
Julius Sim is Head of Support Team at Edubirdie. He delivers the onboarding process to new writers that start collaborating with the company. Julius is also a human resources consultant.