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Since the referendum, Professor Michael Arthur, UCL President & Provost, has been a leading presence in policy stakeholder groups, media and public debate.
- maintaining freedom of movement and minimal restrictions for EU academics, staff and students
- retaining full access to and influence over EU research and innovation programmes
- international students to be removed from the net migration figures
See below for UCL statements and other key strategic activities.
For statements about the EU referendum of key relevance to UCL, please refer to our external statements page.
Provost's public statements
- 11 February 2020: Provost's View: Sustaining UCL's world-leading position
- 31 October 2019: Brexit update - Provost's message
- 30 May 2019: Provost's View - Where are we with Brexit?
- 12 April 2019: Brexit update - Provost's message
- 1 April 2019: Message from the Provost on Brexit
- 5 February 2019: Provost’s View – Investing in universities brings lasting public benefit: what UCL is doing
- 15 January 2019: Video message to the UCL community from UCL President & Provost, Professor Michael Arthur, in light of Parliament voting against the Government’s proposed Brexit deal on 15 January 2019 (see below for embedded video)
- 6 November 2018: Provost’s View – Preparing for Brexit: UCL’s Response
- 12 June 2018: Provost’s View – Bringing together the best minds, in Europe and beyond, though the Cities Programme
- 11 May 2018: Provost's view - Critical to democracy and society? Making the case for the public good of universities
- 7 February 2018: Provost's view - Horizon 2020 and UCL’s leadership role across the European Research Area
- 18 December 2017: UCL staff communication on EU citizens' rights following the joint report on phase 1 of the Brexit negotiations
- 29 March 2017: Video message to the UCL community from UCL President & Provost, Professor Michael Arthur on the triggering of Article 50
- 18 August 2016: The Provost and unions press the government on EU/EEA citizens’ status: a joint statement to the Prime Minister
- 13 July 2016: UCL submission to Science and Technology Commission inquiry on leaving the EU
- 27 June 2016: Video message to students and staff from UCL President & Provost, Professor Michael Arthur
- 24 June 2016: UCL to intensify its global and European engagement after EU referendum result. Statement from UCL Vice-Provost (International), Dame Nicola Brewer
- 24 June 2016: UK vote to leave EU: UCL statement
Other key Provost's activities
- In May 2018, UCL President & Provost, Professor Michael Arthur, was appointed as a member of the board of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), a network of 23 leading European universities which plays a key role in representing the sector at the highest European levels.
- The Provost chairs the EU Advisory Group of the Russell Group, which represents the UK’s 24 leading universities. As such, he plays a key role in a group that seeks to ensure that the interests of the sector are communicated at the highest level – in Westminster as well as in Brussels. Pro-Vice-Provost (Europe) Dr Uta Staiger is also a member of this group.
- The Provost is a member of the government’s High Level Stakeholder Working Group on Brexit, universities, research and innovation, which is chaired by Universities Minister Sam Gyimah. The purpose of the group is to provide a monthly forum for government officials and representatives of the universities, science and research communities to discuss issues relating to Brexit and government policy. Professor Graeme Reid, Chair of Science and Research Policy at UCL, is also a member of this group.
- UCL hosted the House of Commons Education Select Committee in January 2017, with Professor Michael Arthur, UCL President & Provost, giving evidence on the impact of Brexit on Higher Education, highlighting the key concerns of UCL and the sector.
- To inform and consult on these activities, the Provost chairs UCL’s Brexit Mitigation Group, a high-level working group that meets monthly to plan for and mitigate the impact of Brexit on UCL as an institution.
High level policy engagement
Engaging with government and parliament
- UCL’s institutional response to Brexit is grounded in long-standing policy engagement with UK and EU authorities and organisations. In March 2017, Professor Michael Arthur and Sarah Chaytor, Director of Research Strategy & Policy at UCL’s Office of the Vice-Provost (Research), outlined in detail how UCL engages with government and parliament.
- UCL regularly makes institutional submissions to parliament, coordinated by the OVPR. As well as hosting the House of Commons Education Committee, UCL has submitted written evidence on Brexit to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on multiple occasions, in addition to the House of Commons Exiting the EU Committee, Education Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Migration Advisory Committee. Professor Graeme Reid was a Specialist Advisor to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee enquiry on the impact of Brexit on science and research. Many of these initiatives and relevant documents are listed on the UCL Brexit Hub.
- Senior leaders and academics from across UCL regularly meet with high level representatives from government departments, parliament, the civil service and European embassies to discuss Brexit related policy in both public and closed settings. Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer MP, Foreign Office Europe Director Caroline Wilson, and Anna Soubry MP, all sit on the UCL European Institute Advisory Board.
Engaging with key sectoral organisations
- To improve the policy environment for universities in the Brexit context, UCL also actively engages with key sectoral organisations, such as the Russell Group (particularly through its EU Advisory Group), Universities UK (especially UUK International), the Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, the CBI, and the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CASE).
Engaging at EU level
- UCL is also active at EU level. Professor David Price, UCL’s Vice-Provost (Research), chairs the Committee of Vice-Rectors of Research of the League of European Research Universities (LERU). A network of 23 leading European universities, LERU plays a key role in representing the sector at the highest European levels. Michael Browne, Head of UCL’s European Research and Innovation Office, also has a leading role in LERU and the open research platform Vision2020.
- From 1 January 2018, Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, became Special Advisor on Mission Driven Science and Innovation to EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas.
- The IoE’s Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE) has received funding to investigate the implementation and consequences of Brexit for UK universities.