Levitate Student - Should I stay or should I go now.......

In the words of The Clash 

Should I stay or should I go now? (Yo! Me frío o lo soplo?)

If I go there will be trouble (Si me voy, va a haber peligro)

And if I stay it will be double (Si me quedo, es doble).....

It's nearly decision time and according to those in the know, it's seem still all too close to call in the UK EU Referendum.

Hopefully a vote for "Remain" will bring much needed sensible debate of the role the UK plays in the EU. Perhaps the tight vote will keep a sharp focus on public disquiet about how effective our membership is and how satisfied the public are with our investment.

A "Leave" outcome will be surely unsettling for many EU students already living in the UK and those considering a move to study here in the future.

I have supported many EU students over the years. It would be fair to say in my experience the vast majority are hard working, diligent and many balancing working alongside their full-time courses. Of course while they work they are contributing to the local and national economy, contributing to the public purse that assists with their student finance.

In recent years it has been harder and harder for EU students to access their student finance entitlement. Bulgarian and Romanian students were particularly hit hard by a tightening of eligibility rules. Hopefully a remain vote will seek to treat all EU member countries fairly with regard to their Treaty Rights.

On March 1st 2016 Joe Johnson MP (Minister of State for Universities and Science) announced a further significant  change to the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 changing the residency requirements for EU national students. 

Currently an EU national is entitled to apply for

• Tuition Fee Loan only if they come to UK to study in Higher Education

• Tuition Fee Loan and Living Cost Support (currently loans and grants) if they have lived in UK for 3 years prior to the start of their course.

• Tuition Fee and Living Cost Support if they are a EEA Migrant Worker or Family Member of a Migrant Worker

The proposal is to increase the residency requirement from 3 years to 5 years before an EU national can be eligible for the living cost support in their student finance package.

The government cited the increasing pressure on the student finance budget due to the level of EU applicants and their desire to manage the burden on the tax payer as their reason for the change. These changes will impact students starting a new course in academic year 2016/17.

Many EU nationals of course fall into the category of an EEA Migrant Worker. These changes will not affect the entitlement of Migrant Workers and their families according to the statement. Neither will it affect "those who are already studying". 

However if the UK vote to "Leave" what will happen then to all our EU students still in the Higher Education system once the mechanism for exit is negotiated?

How will our universities cope with the potential drop in income from the fee funded EU students?  Imagine our neighbour students from the Republic of Ireland being regarded as International or Overseas students by the UK.

A vote for "Leave" with throw the HE sector into a whorl and keep money advice services very busy indeed in support of the rights of EU students up and down the country.

Its interesting the polls that indicate reported divide based on age of the voters with a high percentage of 18-24 year olds looking to vote "Remain". Wonder how the 16-17 year olds would have voted given a chance to have a say on their future?

Whatever your viewpoint, do ensure you VOTE. Such an important issue, no matter how muddled the campaigning or divided the stance, deverse a strong public turn out.

Happy Polling Day - see you on the other side :)

Useful information and guidance for oversea and EU students is available through UKCISA