Last week, the NUS came out and nailed its flag to the mast of continued EU membership. Outgoing NUS President Megan Dunn said that universities, and Britain, must stand together for continued membership. While it is certainly true that the younger generation are more likely to vote to remain (and an NUS poll showed that over 3/4 or students will vote to remain), the matter is yet to be settled with the electorate; only a marginal win for the “In” campaign is currently predicted.
The national debate is under way; here, we look at the issues affecting students. We do not want to sway you either way, but help you make the right decision for yourself and summarise the arguments on both sides as they pertain to the student population.
The Arguments to Stay In
From a student perspective, the main reasons for staying in are economic. Many on both sides agree that should the UK leave the EU, the economy will be affected negatively. The only thing they disagree on is how long that bad patch will last. As students graduating in the next few years, your chances of getting a job will be lower should the economy suffer. Your wages may be lower and your debts higher after graduation.
Your opportunities for working abroad may be more limited than before. Though we do not know whether a visa system will be introduced, there are likely to be more restrictions on Brits working abroad than there are now. Presently, you are free to work in any member state you like. That opportunity to work abroad will be lower in future. Certain degrees will still be in demand but the freedom to work will limit your options and make the process longer.
The Argument to Get Out
The “Out” campaign is arguing the opposite on the economy – their strong focus on immigration points out that too many jobs are being taken by people not born in this country. Their message is simple: if you want better jobs in the UK for graduates, and more pay, then vote to leave. They realise that this is a monumental task as the overwhelming majority of students support staying in the EU because of the benefits of working abroad and money injections to regions.
The main argument, and one that applies to students as much as the general population, is the right to sovereignty. This will include the right to negotiate our own trade deals with other countries unshackled by EU regulation, and that the £350m per week membership fee can go towards infrastructure that could have a positive effect on your employment opportunities, quality of life, the NHS and on scientific research.