SCOTTISH universities will seek to influence forthcoming negotiations over Britain's exit from the European Union as fears mount over the future of research collaborations worth millions of pounds.

Universities Scotland, which represents the sector, said the outcome of the vote had "significant and direct" implications for the sector which relies on collaborations across the EU in cutting edge research.

In the short term, universities have been seeking assurances about the status of EU students who are already enrolled or are due to start courses in September as well as those enrolled in the Erasmus programme, which enables students from across the EU to spend up to a year studying in another member country.

A spokeswoman from Universities Scotland said: "This outcome has a number of significant and direct implications for Scotland’s universities, but the most important thing right now is to advise EU staff and students working and studying in our Scottish institutions that nothing changes overnight as a result of this referendum result.

“Higher education is truly global and our relationships with Europe, European universities and other institutions remain very important to us and we will work with all governments and stakeholders to ensure those relationships are preserved under the new arrangements.

“Our priorities are to influence the negotiations for the terms of Scotland, and the UK’s, future relationship with the EU... to retain the right for staff and students from EU countries to continue working and studying in Scotland."

Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, which includes Glasgow and Edinburgh universities, also said they would be working with the Westminster government to “minimise any disruption".

She said: "We will be seeking assurances... that staff and students currently working and studying at our universities can continue to do so after the UK negotiates leaving the EU.

“The free movement of talent, the networks, collaborations, critical mass of research activity and funding from EU membership have played a crucial part in the success of Russell Group universities.

"We will be working closely with the Government to secure the best deal for universities from the negotiations to come so that we can continue to form productive collaborations across Europe."

Other university leaders who spoke out included Professor Anton Muscatelli, principal of Glasgow University, said: "There are obviously many questions to be addressed, not least with regard to research funding and current and future academic collaborations."

Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, principal of Edinburgh University, said: "Our priority will be to maintain our research and exchange partnerships across Europe. "As far as our EU students are concerned, it is particularly important to note that, as things currently stand, there will be no change for existing and future EU students arriving in 2016/17 and 2017/18 for the duration of their studies."

Student body NUS Scotland said it was "extremely disappointed" with the result, particularly because Scotland voted to stay in the EU.

Vonnie Sandlan, NUS Scotland president, said: "This was a UK-wide vote, but the voices of the positive majority in Scotland cannot be ignored.

"In the coming weeks and months it is vital the UK Government works closely with the devolved governments, and with all of us who stood up proudly for our EU membership ensuring we do all we can to stem the damaging consequences we know this result could have."