UK willing to spend £450m a year on EU students if it can join Made in Europe scheme
Exclusive: Plan to allow students from bloc pay same fees as Britons contingent on entry to industrial programme, officials say Ministers are prepared to spend as much as £450m a year to give students from the EU discounted university fees, the Guardian has learned, but only if Brussels allows the UK access to its Made in Europe industrial programme. The UK government has drawn up plans to allow…
UK government is willing to spend up to £450 million annually to provide EU students with discounted university fees, contingent on their country's entry into the EU's Made in Europe industrial programme, according to officials. The plan involves compensating universities for the potential loss of income. British officials insist that concessions on fees will only be made if the EU allows Britain entry to the industrial scheme, which would impose trade restrictions on non-EU countries.
Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves praised Prime Minister Andy Burnham's willingness to think boldly about the UK's relationship with Europe, but noted that arguments for closer ties must resonate with the public. The government hopes a deal struck at a Brussels summit later this month will unlock significant benefits for British companies and demonstrate the benefits of closer ties with the EU.
However, giving EU students cheaper access to British universities could face domestic opposition, particularly from graduates advocating for changes to their student loan repayment plans.
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