Officer Blog: Statement on the EU Referendum
By current Student Officers Sayed Alkadiri and André Thompson, and Vice Presidents-elect Katie Drogomirova and Joe Cox
The UK has voted by a substantial margin, 52 % to 48%, to leave the European Union.
The result has prompted the resignation of the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron. The broader picture that is emerging is of a heavily polarised country, with London having voted overwhelmingly for remain, but outside our capital, every English region had a majority for leave.
Although this is not an outcome some would have wished for, particular given the high proportion of young voters who have voted to remain, we should and will respect the decision of the UK electorate.
What happens now?
It is clear leaving the EU will create challenges for universities and raise many critical questions for students and their futures.
We should remember that leaving the EU will not happen overnight — there will be a gradual exit process with significant opportunities for universities and students to seek assurances and influence future policy.
Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty foresees a two-year negotiation process between the UK and other Member States, during which time the terms of the UK’s exit from the European Union will be decided.
You can read the message from Middlesex University Vice-Chancellor Tim Blackman regarding the EU Referendum here.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Tim Blackman said in a statement this morning: “Barring unilateral action from the UK Government, the vote to leave the European Union does not mean there will be any immediate material change to the UK university sector’s participation in EU programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+, nor to the immigration status of current and prospective EU students and staff”.
Current EU students
The immigration status and associated fee status of our current EU students, as well as their access to the student loan book, have not changed as a result of the vote. This will remain the case until the Government decides otherwise.
EU students with a place to start in academic year 2016/17 and 2017/18
At this stage there is no reason to assume any change to their immigration status or access to student loans.
EU students studying in the UK under the Erasmus Programme
The immigration status of Erasmus students has not changed, and they continue to be eligible for their Erasmus grant until at least as long as we remain a member of the EU and could well be extended beyond this.
UK students studying in the EU and elsewhere under the Erasmus Programme
The immigration status of UK students currently studying under the Erasmus programme has not changed, and they continue to be eligible for their Erasmus grant until at least as long as we remain a member of the EU and could well be extended beyond this. UUK is liaising with the British Council as National Agency for Erasmus+ and we are advised to check the Erasmus+ websites regularly for updates including student-focused communications.
Next Steps
They are critical questions about how the vote to leave will affect students, particularly EU students in the UK and UK students studying in the EU. The National Union of Students (NUS) National President has written to Downing Street to ask for a range of assurances over the future of further and higher education in light of the Brexit vote. You can read the letter here.
The MDXSU Student Officers will continue working closely with the University and the National Union of Students' to understand and mitigate the risks to Middlesex students and we will provide further updates as these challenging issues are addressed.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any specific enquiries.
Sayed Alkadiri — MDXSU President (13–14) & Vice President Business and Law (15–16)
Andre Thompson — MDXSU Vice President Art & Design and Media & Performing Arts (15–16)
Ekaterina Dragomirova — MDXSU Vice President-Elect Business and Law
Joe Cox — MDXSU Vice President-Elect Art & Design and Media & Performing Arts
