The following insights have been collected by the British Council’s local education teams in Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain since the day the UK-EU’s future trade deal was announced. They give a snapshot of the mood among the sector in Europe, particularly regarding the UK leaving Erasmus+ and the announcement of the new Turing Scheme:

Positive coverage

• Much positive sentiment in general that a deal has been achieved
• Some countries – Greece, Romania, the Netherlands, Norway, for example – focus on positive aspects of bilateral cooperation in education, science and research (and other areas).
• We are pleased to see our messaging focused on the mobility that is possible (no need for a visa for study periods of less than six months; clear application process for visa; study abroad programmes) reported in some outlets.

Negative coverage

• Speculation that the UK’s Turing Scheme may turn out to be one-sided (i.e. focused on UK students going abroad, not vice versa), and therefore may impact mobility from EU to UK.
• Additional concerns that a scheme that turned out to be one-sided may result in difficulties in finding partners.
• Many European voices express the opinion that leaving Erasmus+ will cost the UK economy and society more than is saved long term.
• Concern that the new scheme may focus only on students and study opportunities, leaving out staff and internships.

Please note that these are direct reports and not intended to reflect the opinions of the British Council or our staff. If you would like to get in touch with us, please contact Almut Caspary (Almut.Caspary@britishcouncil.org).

BULGARIA

There has been limited commentary on the education side of the UK-EU deal (possibly due to the timing). A selection of coverage is below (in Bulgarian, but can be translated using Google Translate):

• Brexit has dealt a heavy blow to Erasmus+
• ‘Among the losers from Brexit, for example, are definitely British students who will no longer be able to participate in the EU's Erasmus program, which the British government claimed was too expensive. It will be more difficult for students from the continent to study at expensive British universities. And that will cost British society more than the cost of participating in Erasmus. This meaningful programme, like many others, was sacrificed on the altar of the stubborn neo-nationalism of Brexit supporters. Experienced populist Boris Johnson played the card of sovereignty to meet a response from the British. He claims that Britain has regained control of what it had handed over to Brussels. In fact, none of the Member States is under the control of any diffuse occupying force from faraway Brussels – all are involved in passing laws. And everyone obeys court decisions in the same way. No one was forced to become a member.’

Anecdotally, we report concern from Bulgarian academics that the Turing programme may involve reciprocity of payment that they would not be able to afford.

FRANCE

There has been coverage of the UK-EU agreement across French media (le Figaro, le Monde, as well as education specialist outlets such as Etudiant), including the fact that the UK will no longer participate in Erasmus+.

Reactions generally have not been very positive in the French higher education community. There is particular concern that the removal of the UK from Erasmus+ will impact heavily upon French student mobility to the UK (11,656 students in 2019). A couple of university presidents and CPU representatives have seized the opportunity to share their thoughts on radio such as France Inter or France Culture.

However, there is recognition of the work UK universities are doing to offer discounts and scholarships, and some professionals hope this will help to mitigate the situation.

GERMANY

German coverage of the UK’s departure from Erasmus+ is overwhelmingly negative. German press and education partners also pick up the concern that the new Turing scheme may be ‘only’ for students (as opposed to staff), and that it may not cover fees.

The British Council has been asked for comment from journalists about whether students from Germany will still be able to do individual semesters at UK universities if they pay the fees themselves. In response to these, the British Council mentions study abroad programmes, that UK universities are autonomous and can have partnerships that include exchanges if they wish, and that the UK visitor route means that no visa is needed for studies of up to six months. We also continue to keep partners updated on news about the Turing scheme.

GREECE

For Greece, press coverage on the EU-UK deal has mainly been in relation to Greece’s readiness to deal with Brexit issues. It has been positive in the sense that the Greek government made positive statements towards maintaining and reinforcing bilateral relations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a special website dedicated to the impact of Britain's exit from the European Union on UK nationals living in Greece or planning to travel to the country.

On TV there have been a few references to studies becoming more expensive for Greek students but these have been largely factual rather than having an overtly negative tone.   

Press references to the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+ have tended to have the sentiment of ‘end of student exchange with Britain’.

The British ambassador met in early January with Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs to confirm mutual interest in jointly addressing issues arising from Brexit and pursuing opportunities together. This meeting was covered positively in the press. Among the items discussed was the common desire to update and refresh the bilateral convention of 1953 for education and culture. This is very important to the British Council and we will be working closely with the Embassy and team on this.

ITALY

British Ambassador Jill Morris gave an interview to Quotidiano Nazionale about the UK-EU deal, which was overwhelmingly positive in tone on the subject of a deal having been achieved. Education questions included:

• The UK has left the Erasmus programme. Will it be possible to study in the UK with similar projects?
• How will an Italian student be able to apply to a UK university (for more than six months)?
• What will they need to do to get the right visa?
• What can recent Italian graduates do to work in the UK?

THE NETHERLANDS

A senior advisor on international relations at a Dutch higher education institution contacted the British Council, saying: ‘I think that the phenomenon of internship is not very well reflected in the information provided by the British. It does look like an internship in the UK will be very unattractive for EU students. Apart from the termination of the Erasmus grant in the long term, students now have to apply for a disguised work permit. The procedure will not be easy for students and also expensive. I understand that such a permit must cost around £200!’ (Citing https://www.gov.uk/government-authorised-exchange).

The British Council has also been contacted by the organisation of Dutch universities of applied science, who reported that the consequences of the UK’s departure from Erasmus+ (described as ‘the UK’s unilateral decision’) has been the subject of much discussion and concern, and that ‘the efforts of the Netherlands and the Commission were that the UK as a programme country continued to participate in Erasmus, so this outcome is unfortunately not in accordance with our wishes’.

There is some confusion among education contacts about whether the UK will be participating in other programmes, such as European Universities. There is also concern that not all students were clear whether already-approved programme funding would remain (we assured that anything confirmed before the end of 2020 is guaranteed). 

The British Council understands from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and other sources that the Netherlands is entering into talks with the UK to discuss the options for maintaining mobility and cooperation between institutions from the Netherlands (because Erasmus is more than just student mobility) and the UK, but that these discussions are in early stages.

The British Council’s office conducted interviews with Dutch higher education institutions in December. We found that feelings towards partnerships with the UK were mixed. While some HEIs mentioned the UK as a valuable partner and that they wanted to work together through any obstacles and changes, others said that if the UK leaves Erasmus+, there are enough EU countries with great things to offer that will take the UK's place in partnerships and projects.

The Universities of Applied Science, Hogeschool Utrecht, has published an article (in Dutch) on their website in which they express disappointment about the UK’s departure from Erasmus+, but say they expect to be able to have individual agreements and contracts with UK universities. The article explains they already have this with non-EU countries, so the admin work is not a worry. However, it goes on to say that the UK’s higher fees for EU students are concerning; the UK was very popular among students, and if no funds will be available, top universities will only be accessible to the students from wealthy families, which will have a further negative effect on accessibility of UK education. Changes to internship rules for EU students are seen in a very negative light.

Finally, a few articles in the Dutch press around study in the UK and the UK-EU deal:

1. https://nos.nl/artikel/2362941-verrassing-uit-brexitdeal-vk-stopt-met-uitwisselingsprogramma-erasmus.html (Surprise from Brexit deal: UK stops Erasmus + exchange program)
   
   talking to Martin Paul from Maastricht University and others)

'The Brexit deal came as a surprise for educational institutions and students: the United Kingdom is no longer participating in the Erasmus+ program. This allows Dutch students and teachers to go on exchange abroad, but the European program will continue without the UK. Tuition fees in the UK are increasing by thousands of pounds per year for Europeans, potentially increasing the number of international students studying in the Netherlands.'

***

Paul says he regrets the decision: 'The UK has beautiful universities, the top in Europe. Our students enjoy studying there.' His British colleagues were as surprised as he, according to Paul. 'The UK is considering a new programme, but as it stands it will be one-sided. It aims to send their students, but not receive them. The society there is becoming more anti-Europe, and more global Britain.' Unfortunately, this fits with that.

***

Ineke Sluiter, president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), calls the decision awkward and time-consuming, but thinks it will all work out in the end. It is a pity that the money and effort that could have been spent on research is now going to logistics. A shame.

***

Chances are that Dutch educational institutions will have an additional influx of international students in the coming years. A survey conducted last June among 2,500 EU students shows that if tuition fees in the UK become too high, 49 percent of respondents will choose the Netherlands.

2. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2021/01/08/alleen-rijke-buitenlandse-studenten-kunnen-nog-in-het-verenigd-koninkrijk-studeren-a4026792 (Only wealthy foreign students can still study in the UK)

Talking to Tibbe van den Nieuwenhuijzen and others

'Everything I feared has become reality,' says Van den Nieuwenhuijzen. "'rexit not only has a negative effect on the individual opportunities of young people, but also on collective connection.'

***

The current British government finds Erasmus too expensive and will set up its own programme in the course of this year, named after Alan Turing. (…) The new Turing programme should enable British students to study not only in Europe, but worldwide with a scholarship. It should contribute to the "Global Britain" that Prime Minister Boris Johnson likes to boast about. But for EU youngsters who want to go to the UK, this programme offers no solution.'

***

'British universities are now allowed to ask what they want from European students,' said Dahran Coban, president of the national student organisation ISO. This also means that access to prestigious institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge will become a privilege for children of wealthy parents. 'Of course you can go to other European universities, but the British are often among the top.'

ROMANIA

From an informal review of press coverage it appears that local journalists have preferred to focus on the announced Turing successor programme rather than overtly negative coverage of the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+. However, there has been some translation of negative commentary from other European countries, such as the criticism of a Humboldt University professor of the decision to leave Erasmus+.

Many outlets took their lead from the way the national press agency Agerpres covered the story on 27 December:

‘Britain plans to invest more than £100 million to develop a new student exchange program as it is no longer participating in the Erasmus programme after the decision to leave the European Union. The UK's Department of Education has announced that the new programme, Turing, will allow about 35,000 students to study abroad starting next September. The programme, named after British mathematician and cryptographer Alan Turing (considered the father of computer and artificial intelligence), is expected to benefit from £100 million for the 2021/22 academic year. Funding will then be determined by future budgets. The Turing programme is being introduced as London leaves the European Union's Erasmus+ student exchange programme, a decision criticised by many after discussions on a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU reached an agreement on Friday.’

On 22 December, shortly before the trade deal was announced, the Romanian Ministry for Education and Research published an FAQ on Brexit on its website, detailing areas such as recognition of academic and professional qualifications.

SPAIN

The Spanish sector largely focuses on concerns that there will not be funds for reciprocity (e.g. for exchanges) and that it may be hard to find partners in the UK (or for UK institutions to find partners). There are also comments that building a structure to support any scheme, even if building from existing Erasmus+ structures, will take time.