SCOTTISH ministers have raised concerns that post-Brexit immigration policy could cause “confusion, anxiety and insecurity” for universities and students.
They claim that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, temporary leave proposals of 36 months – three years – will not provide adequate leave for the majority of students studying on four year courses in Scotland.
READ MORE: Blackford accuses Corbyn is 'facilitating' May's Brexit deal
Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead and Migration Minister Ben Macpherson have now co-signed a letter to Caroline Nokes, UK Immigration Minister, claiming the time limit will have “serious consequences” for Scottish institutions, and affect their ability to recruit undergraduates.
It is estimated around 9% of Scottish university students and 27% of full-time research staff are EU nationals.
Lochhead said: “Brexit is already the single biggest risk to universities, threatening our ability to attract and retain EU staff and students. This damaging policy can only make things worse.
“The UK Government is simply ignoring the fact that the majority of undergraduate courses in Scotland last four years, putting Scottish universities at a serious disadvantage when competing to attract EU nationals to study.
READ MORE: No-deal Brexit fears ramp up for Scotland's whisky industry
“This will increase the confusion, anxiety and insecurity around the status of EU citizens coming to Scotland and it’s wholly unnecessary.”
At a People’s Vote rally in Edinburgh last week, Glasgow University principal Anton Muscatelli said Brexit would impact on the Erasmus exchange programme which allows students to study at universities across the EU.
A UK Government spokesman said students wishing to study longer could apply through the “study routes of the new skills-based immigration system” or apply for student visas. “Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority,” he added. “Students from the EU make an important contribution to the universities sector and it is a testament to our system that so many students from around the world choose to study in the UK.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here