Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK universities remain globally competitive after the UK leaves the EU.

UK universities are home to both world-class teaching and life-changing research, and exiting the EU will not change this. The Government has already announced that EU students applying for a place at an English university or further education institution in 2017/2018 (or before) will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants for the duration of their course, even if the UK exits the EU during that period. To support research and innovation, we have also announced that HM Treasury will underwrite funding for approved Horizon 2020 projects applied for before the UK leaves the EU, including where specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure.

Future arrangements for EU students and staff, funding and also UK students studying abroad will need to be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU. The Government is fully committed to ensuring that we get the best possible outcome for the higher education sector from its negotiations with the EU.