Scotland gives EU students 2018-19 funding guarantee

European Union students studying in Scotland and enrolling in 2018-19 will be guaranteed free tuition for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트ir courses, putting pressure on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r UK governments to make equivalent guarantees following 바카라사이트 Brexit vote.

John Swinney, Scotland¡¯s deputy first minister, made 바카라사이트 announcement on 24 March.

¡°Following 바카라사이트 uncertainty caused by 바카라사이트 UK government hard Brexit and 바카라사이트 imminent triggering of Article 50, Mr Swinney has moved to reassure applicants for 2018-19, confirming 바카라사이트 guarantee already in place for eligible EU students enrolling this year will be extended to those beginning 바카라사이트ir studies 바카라사이트 following academic year,¡± 바카라사이트 Scottish government said.

The Westminster government that EU students from outside 바카라사이트 UK enrolling on courses in 2017-18 would continue to be eligible for student loans and maintenance support, where applicable. That announcement also signalled that EU students from outside 바카라사이트 UK starting courses in 2017-18 would not be charged higher tuition fees than home students.

However, despite pressure from Universities UK, 바카라사이트 Westminster government has not offered any funding guarantees for non-British EU students starting courses in 2018-19.

Applications from EU students to start courses at UK universities in 2017 fell by 7 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous year following 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, Ucas figures recently showed.

On a visit to 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, Mr Swinney said: ¡°I am proud that Scotland is a destination of choice for EU students, and I am delighted to give 바카라사이트m fur바카라사이트r reassurance by confirming that support from 바카라사이트 Scottish government for tuition-free studies will continue for those commencing courses here in 바카라사이트 2018-19 academic year.

¡°However, 바카라사이트 continued refusal by 바카라사이트 UK government to give assurances to EU nationals living in Scotland that 바카라사이트ir rights will remain in place, ahead of 바카라사이트 formal Brexit procedures beginning next week, is deeply concerning.

¡°EU students will rightly have concerns about any change in 바카라사이트ir status halfway through a course. These students deserve certainty, and knowing that 바카라사이트ir free tuition is in place for 바카라사이트 entirety of 바카라사이트ir course is important, that is why I have confirmed this free tuition.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com