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Dutch Foreign Ministry Soothes British Students' Fears Over Brexit

British students at Dutch institutions of higher education need not fear that the favorable conditions under which they are currently studying will change abruptly if no Brexit agreement is reached by the time the UK leaves the EU on 29 March.  

The Dutch ministry of foreign affairs gave this assurance in a letter addressed to parliament the past week. “Current British students can continue their studies under the same terms, but it will change,” the ministry warned.  “Cabinet intends to ensure all British citizens who are living in the Netherlands on the leave-date, will be able to stay under the same conditions as other EU citizens. Those who start their study after the date, will be treated as international students.” This means British students could be charged full institutional fees – the same as non-EU/EEA students and/or they lose their access to tuition fee loans.

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences currently has two British students studying at its Amsterdam campus. Management has indicated that it will meet as soon as possible with the University of Brighton in the UK to discuss its ongoing partnership.

The Dutch ministry does not foresee major changes for Dutch students in the UK. "Nothing will change for them in terms of study financing, but in the future their study fees might change. That is, however, up to the UK to decide."

Wittenborg’s chair of the executive board, Peter Birdsall, said that in the short term Wittenborg sees only slight disruptions because of Brexit as most days taught by Brighton staff in 2018 - 2019 will have been completed by 29th March.  

“In case of a no-deal Brexit, WUAS will make arrangements with Brighton for the teaching of these days by staff who don’t need a work permit. However, it’s important to understand that Brexit has no influence or implications for the quality of education offered by the University of Brighton, including the joint degrees offered with WUAS. Also, UK-accredited university degrees and UK masters and bachelor's titles will remain recognised in the Netherlands and worldwide after Brexit.”
 

WUP 31/01/2018
by Anesca Smith
©WUAS Press