Reading the news about the EU referendum “Leave” result was shocking, indeed. The next day was more uncertain than we thought, either “leave” supporters or not. Highlighted by Farage’s confession that the promise of £350million a week on the NHS was a “mistake”, Brexit caused even more doubt about what’s coming next.
Most of my colleagues at the University (MRes, PhD students and post-Docs) were against a Brexit and therefore disappointed. It would definitely cost a lot for Britain for current scientific collaborations and European grants. For research, it has always been proved better to work in large, multicultural and multidisciplinary groups. Personally, I believe that united we achieve more, we have the power of diversity and common goals connecting us.
Source: http://kluwermediationblog.com/
Brexit caused much of anxiety to me and posed important questions. One of them was the future of EU students in the UK. Nothing has changed in my life and as far as I am aware, nothing is going to change dramatically in the next two years. We will go through a transitional period first. However, in my perception and after discussing with lots of friends in my country (Greece), I have realised that a great number of prospective students and graduates, especially doctors and engineers, have already started searching for other options. Although prepared to come to the UK for work or to start a degree and then stay to work, plans did change for many of them. Germany, Scandinavian countries and even the USA seem a more rational decision now.
When I first decided to come to the UK, there was no such thought as going to the USA when a leading country in research and science (UK) was so much closer to my home country. Today, this is about to change (and no one knows in what ways). Most prospective students consider the future visa issues and compare the opportunities, which can undoubtedly be more in the USA. This is a massive loss for the UK economy, apart from all the other problems including the drop of pound sterling and the general instability after the Brexit.
Source: http://voxeu.org/
Research students that had already started a degree and young professionals who worked here prior to Brexit are the least affected. They do consider other options for the future though. The possible introduction of stricter rules in crossing the borders, changes in the taxes for EU citizens and inequality in the workplace, which some people have already noticed, have all contributed in altering people’s minds about living in the UK for a long time.
Prospective students coming to Newcastle University have been reassured by the authorities that no change in fees will occur before 2018. I don’t see why students considering a one-year Master’s degree at Newcastle should cancel their plans. In fact, this is the right time to consider a one-year academic step forward, before any changes make it impossible to pay three times higher fees for a Master’s degree.
*Originally written upon request for the Newcastle University Students Union website.