EU Referendum Result

24 June 2016

In response to the decision for the UK to leave the European Union, Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said:

“Leaving the European Union creates significant uncertainty for our leading universities but we will work with the Government to minimise any disruption caused by this decision. Throughout the campaign both sides acknowledged the value of EU funding to our universities and we will be seeking assurances from the Government that this will be replaced and sustained long term.

“The UK has not yet left the EU so it is important that our staff and students from other member countries understand that there will be no immediate impact on their status at our universities. However, we will be seeking assurances from the Government that staff and students currently working and studying at our universities can continue to do so after the UK negotiates leaving the EU. 

“The free movement of talent, the networks, collaborations, critical mass of research activity and funding from EU membership have played a crucial part in the success of Russell Group universities. We will be working closely with the Government to secure the best deal for universities from the negotiations to come so that we can continue to form productive collaborations across Europe.”

Notes to Editors

1. The UK will now follow procedures set out in Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on the European Union which establishes a two year timeframe for negotiations between the withdrawing state and the EU. During the two year negotiation period, EU laws still apply to the UK.
2. Our publication sets out some of the benefits we received from EU membership that we will be working to secure from the negotiation process.
3. Russell Group universities received over half a billion pounds a year in EU investment in 2014/15. This is equivalent to the amount Russell Group universities receive from almost three of the seven UK research councils annually.
4. There are 22,880 members of staff from other EU countries working at Russell Group universities - one fifth of our academic staff. Over 58,000 students from other EU countries are studying at Russell Group universities. Both groups make a vital contribution to the success of our universities.

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