Brexit advice

This page provides practical information on Brexit for university students and provides links to further information.

Following the result of the EU Referendum in June 2016, the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020.

After the UK’s exit from the EU, the parties entered into a transitional period until 31 December 2020. During the transitional period EU laws continued to apply in the UK, as did freedom of movement between the EU and UK for citizens.

This means EU, EEA and Swiss nationals did not need a visa to travel to the UK to study or work before 31 December 2020.

Questions?

For general queries regarding Brexit in relation to your studies at the university, please complete the form to contact our International Student Advice Team.

We will continue to update this information as it becomes available.

Last updated: 27 May 2022

Current students and applicants

  • There will be no change to the immigration status of EU students who are already here or who arrive before the end of the government’s Brexit implementation period on 31 December 2020. There will be no change to the tuition fee status of current EU students attending UK universities or for those coming for courses starting in 2019–20 or in 2020–21. This means that EU students who meet the residence requirements and are studying at UK universities will pay the same fees as 'home' students for the full duration of their course, even if the course finishes after the UK has left the EU.
  • There has been no change in the eligibility requirements for current EU students at UK universities to receive loans and/or grants to fund their studies for the full duration of their course. The same will apply to those students who start in 2019-20 and 2020–21.
  • For courses starting in the academic year 2021-22 EU/EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members who are eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme and have lived in the UK EEA or Switzerland for the 3 years prior to their course will continue to be eligible for home/EU fees on broadly the same basis as before Brexit. However, EU/EEA nationals who are not covered by the EU Settlement Scheme will no longer be eligible for home/EU fees for courses starting in 2021-22 (courses starting after August 2021).  Further information can be found on the gov.uk website and detailed guidance is on the UKCISA website.

Brexit advice for EU applicants and students

EU Settlement Scheme

EU, EEA and Swiss students and non EEA nationals family members already in the UK prior to the end of the Transitional period (31 December 2020) exit day will be eligible to apply under the new EU Settlement Scheme. It is free to make an application to the scheme.

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members will have until 30 June 2021 to make an application under the EU Settlement Scheme (see Residence guidance).

Find out more information in our international pages.

Other useful information sources

This guidance is for the sole use of University of Brighton applicants and students. It is a guide only and must be used in conjunction with the information referenced on the gov.uk website. The information in this guidance is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. However, the University of Brighton accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy.