Firstly, let’s talk about Brexit and what it means. Technically, Brexit unites two words, ‘Britain’ and ‘exit’, which represent that the UK is no longer a part of the European Union. The European Union consisted of 27 European countries, sharing a single market for trade and the same political policies.
Brexit occurred on 31st June 2020, so that the UK could take full control of laws and immigration. Since universities in the UK are highly reputable all around the world, students from the EU are most affected by Brexit. So, have a look at how some acts of government can affect a whole group of students.
Limited Favours From the “Home” Country
EU students have always been treated as locals in the UK. They are used to paying home tuition fees (which are much higher for international students) and applying for a student loan from Student Finance England.
Since Brexit, EU students are now considered international students, which means tuition fees will be the same as those for international students, that is, twice or sometimes thrice the original. The annual fees, which were £9,250 before Brexit, must be £20,000-30,000 now. Government help is no longer an option, making education in the UK hardly accessible.
Scholarships and bursaries are still an option, but competition is fierce, leaving students feeling left behind.
Just Another Fish in the Sea
Before Brexit, the UK was a home for the people of the EU, which allowed EU students to work, live, and study freely without any form of visa. But since EU students are considered international students, they must show a visa:
- As proof of admission to the university
- To show that you can be financed sufficiently
- To pay the immigration health surcharge
The paperwork for such processes may interfere with studies and can add more stress because some students have reported delays and, sometimes, rejections for minor mistakes in the documentation.
When Drizzling Turns to Storm
Brexit has left an emotional and psychological toll on EU students. The number of students has dropped by approximately 50%. A lot of students have reported feeling less welcome in the UK because of limited privileges and increased bureaucracy.
Not just emotional and psychological well-being, social integration for EU students is also being damaged. Students were able to easily go home and spend holidays, but now, strict immigration rules and increased transportation bills have restricted EU students from visiting home and feeling lonely during holidays. This sense of disconnection may affect students’ mental well-being badly and, thus, their academic performance.
A Safety Cushion in Chaos
With all the increased financial stress, visa process complexities, and feelings of differences between cultures, EU students are facing academic pressure more than ever. But after all these difficulties, such students are still expected to perform the same as local students who have all the privileges from the government and the university.
When international students don’t receive any internal support services, they move toward external support services like Assignment Writing Services UK and Dissertation Writing Services UK, which help:
- Non-native English speakers, who find it hard to write assignments in detail according to academic norms
- Students who have limited time because of part-time jobs, due to increased rents and bills.
- Some international students are unaware of UK academic writing standards.
- These services offer students citations, structure, and formatting.
- Provide support during high-pressure times.
In such moments when the students may feel a lack of support and no sense of belonging, it’s not rare for students to think, “Maybe I should pay someone to do my assignment“.
Not Only This, but That Too
Not only studies, but even work after graduation has been easily accessible for international students, but now they must apply for the Graduate Visa, only then will they be allowed to work in the UK for up to two years, which could be three for PhDs.
The process is competitive and involves additional costs. Not only this, but the transition from a Graduate Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa may require employer sponsorship and meeting a minimum salary threshold. This whole transition thing discourages EU students from making long-term plans in a country that isn’t welcoming anymore.
Efforts Matter, Even the Small Ones
Universities in the UK are not closing their eyes to these changes. A lot of professors, in order to help students, are trying to ramp up the international offices to provide EU students with visas and other finance-related information. New scholarship programs and bursaries are being introduced, aimed at EU students only.
Above all that, some universities are even expanding mentorship programs and alumni networks to help EU students work in the UK after their graduation. Even career services are doing an amazing job in offering tailored advice on how to move into the job industry after Brexit.
Looking Forward to the New Normal
Brexit sure has raised a lot of invisible barriers, but it has also encouraged resilience and adaptation in the students of the EU. The country that they once entered freely, now they come here with full preparation, planning, and resourcefulness. The rise in online exam help and other student services is a clear indication of how Brexit has affected students in the EU.
However, UK universities are playing it smart; in order to keep up their appeal, they are evolving educational and student support services to bring a change in the declining trend in the number of EU students.
Final Thoughts
The change Brexit has brought has turned the whole experience of student life upside down for EU students, with additional responsibilities such as part-time jobs, the visa process, and lack of social support. But with the right use of online academic help, university services for students, and personal resilience, any student can survive.
As long as universities and students are working together to adapt to this shift in the academic structure, education in the UK will always be a dream worth pursuing, even in the post-Brexit world.