The European Universities Association (EUA) and Universities UK have published a common document in order to assist universities prepare for a no-deal Brexit. AEC believes that this document, as it is affecting all European and British universities and its students, is of interest to AEC members as well.

If the Brexit negotiations end without a deal in place, then from 29 March 2019, implications for universities are, that: 

  • there would be great uncertainty on the scale and scope of the government's enacting of specific commitments agreed as part of the Draft Withdrawal Agreement on continued participation in Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+
  • there would be no agreement on implementing a transition period between the date of Brexit and 31 December 2020, during which time it was envisioned that freedom of movement would essentially still apply.
  • there would be no certainty on what the UK’s future relationship with the EU would look like, including in areas like the mobility of citizens and access to EU programmes.
Implications for the mobility of teachers and students are, that:
EU nationals entering the UK for more than three months would need to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain and, if intending to stay for more than three years for study or work reasons, might need to apply for a visa to cover any period of stay beyond three years the UK’s ability to participate in Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ could cease the continued mutual recognition of professional qualifications covered by the current EU Directive would be uncertain.

Any other implications, areas of uncertainty or other related matters can be found in the attached document by the EUA and Universities UK.