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On 23 August, Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities, Sciences, Research and Innovation, replied to the joint statement to the Prime Minister and MPs from UCL President & Provost Michael Arthur, UCL’s campus trade unions and UCLU, of 18 August.
The text of Mr Johnson’s letter is replicated below:
Dear Professor Arthur,
Thank you for your letter of 18 August to Theresa May, about the outcome of the referendum and its impact on the higher education (HE) sector. I am replying as this matter falls within my portfolio.
I recognise that there will be many questions about how the outcome will impact on HE institutions and their students. Many of these questions will need to be considered as part of wider discussion about the UK’s future relationship with the EU. Where we can provide reassurances and information we will do so.
As you will have seen, both the Government and the Student Loans Company (SLC) took immediate steps to publish information for students and the wider HE sector. This included information on: EU nationals and student finance in England; EU student/staff status; Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 research funding. You can find further information at:
and
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/latest-news/eu-nationals-and-student-finance-in-england.aspx.
EU and international students make an important contribution to our world-class HE sector and our European neighbours are among some of our closest research partners. Further details will be developed as part of the coming negotiation. I am pleased to confirm that current EU and international students who are eligible, and those who will start their students in this coming academic year, will continue to have loans and grants from the SLC.
Our priority will be to work with all in the HE sector to fully understand the impact of the UK leaving the EU in order to help shape our approach to the coming negotiation. We are also continuing to implement the commitments set out in our manifesto and the Bill, to ensure we have a robust regulatory framework that protects students and encourages greater choice of high-quality institutions.
Yours sincerely,
Jo Johnson MP
More information
For further Brexit-related statements from UCL, please visit the UCL EU referendum advice website.