Monday 27-06-2016 - 09:40

As a Students' Union we’re stunned and dismayed by the outcome of the EU Referendum.

It is too early to say what impact the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will have on our members, and it may be some time before it becomes clear. However, we’re here to offer support and guidance where we can, to any student with concerns about what the future may hold.

The earliest that the process to trigger Britain’s exit from the European Union is October, and after that will follow at least two years of negotiations between the UK and the other member states.

Lancaster’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Mark E. Smith issued a statement on the referendum result this morning.

In it he said: “Barring unilateral action from the UK Government which is unlikely, the vote to leave the EU does not mean there will be any immediate material change to the UK university sector’s participation in EU programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+, nor to the immigration status of current and prospective EU students and staff.”

In the months and years to come we will work with the university and Universities UK, the NUSand the wider higher education sector with the aim of securing pledges from the Government that will mean we can continue to be a genuinely global institution.

One of the things that makes Lancaster University such a great place to live, work and study is its cultural diversity and its welcoming and open-minded attitudes. We want to see that continue and will work tirelessly to ensure that our education system continues to uphold values of fairness and openness.

We continue to believe that remaining in the EU is the best interests of students and the higher education sector in general.

If you have any questions or concerns about the referendum result, visit us at our Welcome Desk or email help@lusu.co.uk

The Lancaster University Students’ Union Full-Time Officer Team

• For more information, read the responses to the referendum result from Universities UK and the National Union of Students.

University statement on fees

The university has issued the following statement on tuition fees for EU students:

“Lancaster can confirm that it has no plans to change the tuition fees for EU students that have already been published for 2016/17. EU students who are registered at the university in 2016/17 (either as a new or continuing student) will continue to be charged the home rate for tuition fees for all subsequent years of their programme. As further details become available, we will publish information on our website.”