Brexit and the EU Referendum

Guidance for students

We know that students at the University of Leicester are uncertain about how they will be affected by Brexit. We are committed to supporting all our students throughout this period of change, especially EU students on campus, or those either on, or planning to take a year abroad in the EU as part of their degree. 

What have we done?

We have updated our FAQs on the subject and continue to link through to up-to-date information from the UK Government, UUK and UKCISA.

We have been in contact with all of our Erasmus+ partner organisations to reassure them that their students are still very welcome in Leicester. We are also asking them to continue to host our students during their year/semester abroad. A number of institutions have already replied positively, but students should be aware that some of their first choice institutions may not be available after the end of the transition period (January 2021 onwards).

We have decided that students who are registered on a course that includes a year or semester abroad which is required to achieve core educational objectives of that course should continue to do so irrespective of the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. This applies to all Modern Languages courses and courses of Law and Modern Languages for student intakes up to and including 2020. If needed, these students will receive the same level of financial support from the University that they would have received under the Erasmus+ scheme. (Please note that the amount received will be calculated on the basis of the 2018/19 grant rates.)

For all other students (from intakes up to and including 2020) we are currently unable to guarantee funding to support their mobility. Students who wish to continue with their year/semester abroad will have the option of covering the additional cost themselves. The University will put in place a fund to provide limited additional financial assistance as hardship scholarships which students on non-compulsory courses will be able to apply for in the event that Erasmus+ funding is no longer available to them.

The funding available is limited and will be allocated to students who can demonstrate the most need. Details of this scheme will be publicised on the University website if this scheme is needed. The University continues to explore other options that may provide financial support for students on non-compulsory courses and updates will be provided on the Brexit website.

Where can I get support?

  • Erasmus+ students: please contact the Study Abroad Unit via studyabroad@le.ac.uk
  • Placement/year in industry students: please contact the Career Development Service via studentservices@le.ac.uk
  • Immigration related queries: please contact the Student Immigration Advice and Compliance Team via visas@le.ac.uk

You can also find information and guidance in the following places:

FAQs

EU students currently studying at the University of Leicester on a full degree programme

Will my tuition fees change?

Students who are currently enrolled on a programme of study will continue to pay fees at the existing UK/EU rate. Please note that fees for all students may be subject to a small inflationary increase.

Will I need a visa to continue studying in the UK?

If you are currently studying in the UK you will retain your current rights to live, work and study here and will not need a visa for study during any transition period. You are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK at the end of the transition period when the UK has fully withdrawn from the EU. The deadline for this scheme will be either 30 June 2021 in the event of a deal and December 2020 if the UK leaves with no deal. After 30 March 2019 applications to the scheme will be free.

European students who are registered on courses with a total duration greater than three years may need to apply for a Tier 4 visa for after their first three years of study. Any student who thinks they are in this category should contact Student Immigration Advice and Compliance via visas@le.ac.uk or +44 (0)116 229 7400.

Will this impact my eligibility for a student loan?

On 2 July 2018, the Government announced that eligibility rules will remain unchanged for students from the EU and their family members who commence courses in England in the 2019/20 academic year. EU nationals will remain eligible for home fee status, undergraduate, postgraduate and advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for the duration of their courses under the current eligibility rules. Similar assurances have been made by the Government for earlier academic years. An Explanatory Memorandum setting out these amendments in detail can also be accessed on the Government's legislation website.

Will this impact my University of Leicester Scholarship award?

If you currently receive the University of Leicester Scholarship, your eligibility for this scheme will not change. You will continue to be paid your scholarship annually for the relevant years of your degree.

Will I still be eligible to participate in the Erasmus+ programme in 2021/22?

The UK will continue to participate fully in Erasmus+ until the end of the current programme, even if funding secured through the programme runs beyond the transition period and irrespective of the UK Internal Market Bill or any no deal scenario. This means University of Leicester staff and students can complete mobility periods (subject to public and global health requirements), and receive funding through the current Erasmus+ programme up until the end of the 2021/22 academic year, subject to the individual arrangements at each partner university.

The UK and EU are currently negotiating what role the UK might play in the Erasmus successor programme due to start in 2021. In the meantime, UUK is informing the Department for Education’s development of a ‘UK International Educational Mobilities Scheme’, as a national alternative to Erasmus, should the UK’s access to it be delayed or denied (see Universities UK Brexit FAQs).

I am a student from an EU member state and have just completed my studies. Will I be able to stay in the UK after graduation?

To remain in the UK after your student status expires, we would recommend applying for the EU Settlement Scheme or a visa as appropriate.

EU students currently studying at the University of Leicester via Erasmus+

I am currently studying on an Erasmus+ placement at the University of Leicester, are there any implications for me?

Under the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU, the UK will continue to participate fully in the current (2014-2020) Erasmus+ programme. This means that participants who are studying and training abroad through Erasmus+ exchanges that were established during the current Erasmus+ and ESC programmes (2014-2020) will be able to participate fully and for the full duration of their exchange.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national already in the UK (or planning to arrive before 31st December 2020) we encourage you to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme once you get here. This is a free, online application which will give you access to certain advantages if you wish to travel to the UK or remain in the UK after 30 June 2021. Even if you plan to leave the UK before that date, an application may still be beneficial for the future. UKCISA have a very clear summary of this scheme on their website if you require further information.

Will I still be eligible to receive my Erasmus+ grant funding?

Students are advised to confirm this with their home university's Erasmus+ Coordinator who is responsible for administering this funding. If you are unsure of who to contact, contact Leicester's Erasmus+ Team on erasmus@le.ac.uk for details of your home university's coordinator. The University of Leicester will continue to provide confirmation of your registration and ongoing programme as required by your home university.

UK or non-EU students currently studying at the University of Leicester on a full degree programme

In the event of the UK’s exit from the EU with a deal, and entering a managed transition period, it is expected that student mobility for the academic year 2019/20 will be able to proceed unchanged. Information about options for subsequent years will be provided when available from the UK Government and the European Commission.

Students from the University of Leicester should note the following in the event of a no-deal exit from the EU.

  • The University will guarantee funding equivalent to the level of support provided by the Erasmus+ program for any student where their study placement in Europe is a compulsory part of their course. This currently applies to all courses in Modern Languages and for Law with Modern Languages. Leicester’s guarantee will only apply for mobility within Europe in academic years 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23.
  • For students on all other courses, we currently cannot guarantee funding for your year abroad in the academic year 2019/20 or beyond. This will be kept under review as more information is provided by the UK Government and the European Commission. Students will be given the option to self-fund their placement or alternatively students may decide to transfer back to a normal variant of their course that does not require a year abroad.
  • The University of Leicester has established a hardship scholarship that will provide limited financial support for students who are intending to self-fund their year abroad. The funding available is limited and will be allocated to students who can demonstrate the most need. The level of funding for each individual award of £1,000 will be less than the standard Erasmus+ funding.

Will I need a new passport or a visa to travel to the EU?

The UK Government has issued essential information for UK nationals travelling to the EU. Students from outside the UK and the EU should follow existing guidelines for travel and visa documentation.

Will an exit affect my EU/non-EU dependants living in the UK?

EU nationals and their eligible family members currently in the UK will retain their current conditions during any transition period and will be eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme. The deadline for this scheme will be either 30 June 2021 in the event of a deal and December 2020 if the UK leaves with no deal. After Saturday 30 March 2019 applications to the scheme will be free.

  • UK and Irish citizens or those in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Enter need not apply as their rights remain unchanged.
  • If you are an EU citizen married to a British citizen, you will need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.
  • If you are married to a British citizen but from outside the EU you will not usually be eligible for the scheme.
  • The UK has negotiated separate deals for citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Nationals of these countries will be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from 30 March 2019.

I am currently on an Erasmus+ placement in the EU, are there any implications for me?

Under the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU, the UK will continue to participate fully in the current (2014-2020) Erasmus+ programme. This means that participants who are studying and training abroad through Erasmus+ exchanges that were established during the current Erasmus+ and ESC programmes (2014-2020) will be able to participate fully and for the full duration of their exchange.

In respect to immigration, we advise that you check the UK Government’s ‘Living-in Guides’ for specific advice on the country in which you are studying, and whether there are any changes you need to be aware of.

If you are starting a new placement after 1 January 2021, we advise you to check the UK Government’s ‘Foreign travel advice’ for your destination country.
Please contact the Study Abroad Unit at studyabroad@le.ac.uk if you have any concerns or queries.

I am planning to work in the EU for my year in industry/industrial placement in 2019/20, will this still be possible?

UK and EU nationals are currently entitled to work anywhere in the EEA as this has not changed as a result of the vote. The University of Leicester and its Career Development Service supports students to secure a year in industry or industrial placement both inside and outside the EU. As a full-time student, regardless of your nationality, you are entitled to undertake a year in industry or industrial placement in the UK which is recognised as part of your course.

The rules for travel to most countries in Europe may change if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK Government has issued advice for British passport holders in Europe after we leave the EU. If you are a UK student, you should check your passport for EU travel.

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