Tag Archives: post-euref

Funding support for EU students 2017-18

The Department for Education has today (Tuesday 11 October) announced that European Union students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support.

The Government’s press release states that:

‘EU students applying for a place at an English university or further education institution in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants – and will be for the duration of their course.

‘The decision will mean that students applying to study from 2017 to 2018 will not only be eligible for the same funding and support as they are now, but that their eligibility will continue throughout their course, even if the UK exits the European Union during that period.

Further information is available on the Government website.

Staff star in ‘We are European’ video

A new video featuring Kent staff highlights the huge number of European activities that members of the University are involved in.

The new staff-focused video is part of the ‘We are European’ project, led by Dean for Internationalisation, Dr Anthony Manning and follows the success of a similar video featuring Kent students.

Dr Manning commented: ‘Kent is well-known as the UK’s European university. This video tries to capture how being part of the University of Kent gives staff and students a unique opportunity to take advantage of the many European and international dimensions that are available through study at this institution.

‘A number of important themes emerged when creating the video, including the wide range of activities that our community is engaged with and the strength of European feeling among colleagues and students from across the globe. Importantly, whilst many of these experiences draw on our connections and academic resources that are liked to Europe, they are also relevant across the wider world.’

He added: ‘We are hugely grateful to all of the staff, occupying a diverse range of roles, who gave up their time to take part in the video and to showcase their experiences.’

Staff featured include: Alexandra Leduc-Pagel, Laura Garcia Rodriguez Blancas, Frank Mikus, Kimberley Attard-Owen, Professor Alex Stevens, Dr Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, Rosdip Rai, Dr Tom Casier, Lauren Frake, Sandy Relf, Catherine Butler, Catherine Kinsella and Alastair Ross.

To find out more about Kent’s European and international connections, see the University website.

Our participation in Erasmus+ Programme

The University welcomes the announcement that there is no immediate change to the UK’s participation in the Erasmus+ Programme following the EU referendum result.

According to a statement issued by Erasmus+, all participants and beneficiaries should continue with their Erasmus+ funded activities and preparation for the published application deadlines in 2016 and 2017. The UK National Agency will continue to manage and deliver the programme across the UK.

This position is supported by the statement from Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities and Science, published on 28 June 2016. His statement also outlines some initial information regarding the UK’s future access to the Erasmus+ programme.

University update following EU referendum

Message from Mary Hughes, Director of Enrolment Management Services:

The University has reinforced its commitment to remain a European university following the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. We are proud to be an outward facing and international university. We are especially proud of our diverse student body and our European and international staff, and we recognise that we benefit greatly from this diversity.

A vote to leave the EU clearly raises many questions; however, the exit process is likely to take a very long time and we may not see any proposals or changes that affect students for a number of years.

If you are a EU national currently registered at the University we would like to reassure you that:

if you have been in receipt of a loan from the Student Loan Company, your eligibility to access this loan scheme will continue for the duration of your programme; – that your tuition fee status will not change; and
there is no reason to assume any change to your immigration status.

In short, we anticipate there will not be any change to your status as a student for the duration of your programme.

Equally, if you are either a EU or UK student currently registered to study under the Erasmus programme, you continue to be eligible for your Erasmus grant as long as the UK remains a member of the EU, and could well be extended beyond this.

The University is in contact with relevant government agencies and is seeking advice and guidance throughout the period of transition, particularly on the issues directly affecting our non-UK European students and we will alert you to any changes that effect you.

You can read the University’s response to the referendum and other updates on the Student Guide.

We will update this page with information on further developments as they occur. If in the meantime you have any specific queries regarding your application, please contact us via academicdivision@kent.ac.uk.

Funding for EU students to continue

Following the results of the referendum, the UK University Minister and the Student Loans Company have today confirmed that students from the European Union already attending UK universities will continue to receive financial support.

Students starting university courses in the UK this autumn will also have their student loans funding provided for the duration.

You can find out more from the BBC News site as well as the Student Loan Company.

Invitation to EU referendum Q and A sessions

Following the EU referendum result, the Vice-Chancellor will be holding two staff and student Q&A sessions to answer any queries or concerns you may have .

Julia will be joined at the Q&A sessions by colleagues from relevant professional service areas. Please book online, using the links below, if you would like to attend.

Monday 27 June, 16.00, Keynes Lecture Theatre 1, Canterbury campus – Book online at http://bit.ly/28TOxk4

Thursday 30 June, 10.00, Pilkington Lecture Theatre, Medway campus – Book online at http://bit.ly/28Rticx

Advice following referendum result

Universities UK has provided the following advice and reassurance until further details are known:

Barring unilateral action from the UK Government, members are advised that the vote to leave the European Union (EU) does not mean there will be any immediate material change to the UK university sector’s participation in EU programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+, nor to the immigration status of current and prospective EU students and staff.

Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty foresees a two-year negotiation process between the UK and other Member States, during which time the terms of the UK’s exit from the European Union will be decided.

EU staff
Your immigration status has not changed as a result of the vote. This will remain the case until the Government decides otherwise.
Current EU students
Your immigration status and associated fee status, as well as your access to the student loan book, have not changed as a result of the vote. This will remain the case until the Government decides otherwise.
EU students with a place to start in academic year 2016/17 and 2017/18
At this stage there is no reason to assume any change to your immigration status or access to student loan book.
EU students studying in the UK under the Erasmus programme
Your immigration status has not changed, and you continue to be eligible for your Erasmus grant until at least as long as we remain a member of the EU and could well be extended beyond this.
UK students studying in the EU and elsewhere under the Erasmus programme
Your immigration status has not changed, and you continue to be eligible for your Erasmus grant until at least as long as we remain a member of the EU and could well be extended beyond this.
All staff currently undertaking EU funded projects
The UK’s status as a full participating member of the Horizon 2020 programme has not changed as a result of the referendum vote and existing project grants and contracts will be honoured unless or until advised otherwise.

Read the University of Kent’s statement following referendum result.

University response to referendum result

Following the UK vote to leave the European Union, the University has reinforced its commitment to remain a European university and to continue to provide one of the best student experiences in the UK.

In a statement to staff and students, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow said:

‘The University of Kent is proud to be outward facing and international. We are especially proud of our diverse student body and our European and international staff. We recognise that we benefit greatly from this diversity.

‘I am naturally disappointed at the result of the EU referendum. It reflects neither my personal views nor those of the University. I recognise, nonetheless, the democratic process that has led to this outcome.’

The University will work with Universities UK and other agencies, seeking advice and guidance throughout the period of transition particularly on the issues directly affecting our non-UK European Union students and staff.

Staff and students have been emailed and we will be arranging information events, faqs and other assistance over the coming days and weeks.

In the meantime, any non-UK European staff members with particular concerns should contact Human Resources Department (M.Atkinson@kent.ac.uk). Non-UK European students should contact the Dean for Internationalisation in the first instance (deaninternational@kent.ac.uk).