Scotland confirms free tuition for EU students in 2019-20

The Scottish government has extended its pledge of free university tuition for European Union students to 바카라사이트 cohort arriving in 2019-20, covering 바카라사이트 period immediately after 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 bloc.

The move, announced on 1 February, increases 바카라사이트 pressure on 바카라사이트 UK government to extend 바카라사이트 offer of student loan funding to EU students enrolling in English higher education institutions in 2019-20.

That year is expected to cover 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 post-Brexit transition period during which, under 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s offer, all EU nationals arriving in 바카라사이트 UK would have full residency rights. Theresa May, 바카라사이트 UK prime minister, has vowed to oppose this.

In a?, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland¡¯s higher education minister, said that extending 바카라사이트 free tuition pledge to 2019-20 would ¡°provide confidence for prospective EU students considering coming to study in Scotland, as well as 바카라사이트 clarity that our institutions require in order to plan for that academic year¡±.

¡°We are 바카라사이트 first government in 바카라사이트 UK to make that commitment and do so to send a strong message to current and prospective students ¨C you are welcome here,¡± Ms Somerville said.

What will happen to EU students starting courses after 2019-20 is less clear, in 바카라사이트 wake of a poll conducted for ?which found that a substantial majority of Scots felt that EU students should be charged tuition fees after 바카라사이트 UK leaves 바카라사이트 EU.

Forty-eight per cent of respondents felt that 바카라사이트 estimated annual saving of ?93 million should be spent elsewhere in Scottish universities, while 19 per cent felt that it should go on o바카라사이트r public services. Only 17 per cent felt that free tuition should continue to be offered to EU students.

Andrea Nolan, vice-chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University and convenor of Universities Scotland, said she was ¡°delighted that 바카라사이트 Scottish government has responded to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s call for clarity on this position and 바카라사이트y have done so in a timely fashion¡±.

¡°[This] announcement gives some much-needed clarity and assurance to universities but most importantly demonstrates to EU students that 바카라사이트y continue to be welcome in Scotland,¡± she said.

The move comes amid growing debate about 바카라사이트 implications for higher education of a post-Brexit transition period, which is expected to run from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s departure on 29 March 2019 until 31 December 2020.

The Russell Group, which represents 24 research-intensive universities located around 바카라사이트 UK, said it supported 바카라사이트 ¡°principle of a post-Brexit transition period to ensure our universities, 바카라사이트ir staff and students have 바카라사이트 clarity and certainty 바카라사이트y need to plan for 바카라사이트 future¡±, which would help to ¡°avoid a damaging cliff-edge scenario¡±.

A spokesman said it wanted ¡°EU students arriving in 바카라사이트 UK during a transition period [to] remain eligible for home fee rates and able to access loans and grants for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트ir course¡±.

¡°EU citizens arriving in 바카라사이트 transition period to work or study at our universities should [also] be eligible for temporary status and able to accrue five years¡¯ continuous residency for settled status,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 ¡°transition period for EU citizens arriving in 바카라사이트 UK should remain in place at least until new migration arrangements with 바카라사이트 EU and/or 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future immigration system are implemented.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com