There have been many warnings about the consequences of Brexit since the referendum in June 2016. Horror stories of stockpiled food and medicines have taken the limelight along with suggestions of miles of queueing traffic at Dover to get through customs.
The economy is not the only problem. There are many issues of concern to academia too including the loss of top talent to the continent and beyond. But despite warnings about losing access to talent in the lead up to the referendum, since the vote, one issue has largely been unremarked – ERASMUS.
What is Erasmus?
The term ERASMUS is an acronym: European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. It is funded by the member states of the European Union and permits movement of students for study between each member state. If you apply to and are accepted onto an ERASMUS programme, you are not required to pay additional tuition fees for your study. Students on the scheme will spend up to one of their degree years abroad – the second or the third, and gain valuable international experience, sometimes including a work placement.
The placement must be between two eligible institutions and the placement must be relevant to your course of study. It has helped many students gain life and study experiences, and work and live abroad that has given them career and life advantages.
How Will Brexit Affect ERASMUS?
ERASMUS has been around since the 1980s and in that time, around 4 million students from across all member states have enjoyed the privilege of working in another member state. But how students on the ERASMUS scheme will depend on what type of deal we have:
- If Theresa May’s current deal is accepted (and reports suggest it is not currently accepted by either leavers or remainers in Parliament) then the transition deal kicks in. British students will be able to continue to apply to and enjoy the benefits of the ERASMUS scheme until December 2020. Students from other member states will continue to be able to study here too
- If there is a hard Brexit in March 2019 – something that is even less likely than the acceptance of Theresa May’s deal with the European Union, then British students will no longer be eligible to apply to ERASMUS after March 2019 and international students will no longer be able to study here after that time either
Of course, if the government decides to revoke Article 50 temporarily of permanently, or a second referendum takes place in which remain wins, then nothing will change. As many students who may have considered taking an ERASMUS placing in the UK have now made other arrangements, it may be some time before the slowdown of talent resumes.