Fees for 2016/17 and 2017/18
The Principal of Edinburgh Napier University has moved to further reassure EU students and applicants that their fees will be covered if there was a change in funding.
Last week the Scottish Government
confirmed that current EU students, and those preparing to start this year, would continue to have their tuition fees paid by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
Today Professor Andrea Nolan said that Edinburgh Napier would cover fees for EU students starting in the 2017/18 academic year if at a future date funding through SAAS is no longer available.
She said: “I recognise that the outcome of the EU referendum may have caused uncertainty among our EU students as well as those holding offers for entry this coming academic year, or considering applying to come and study with us in 2017/18.
“I want to reassure all current EU students as well as those EU students beginning undergraduate and postgraduate study in the academic years 2016/17 and 2017/18 that nothing will change immediately as a result of the referendum.
“We value the contribution of EU students to our university community, and to provide further reassurance, I can confirm two things: first, tuition fees for such EU students will not be increased during their studies above the level of Scottish students.
“Second, should there be a change in SAAS funding during the course of their study, the university will cover the cost of EU students’ tuition fees to allow them to complete their degree studies.”
Professor Nolan added that that the University would continue to provide updates on its
website “as the implications of the referendum outcome become clearer.”
EU regulations require member states to offer the same benefits to EU citizens as their own citizens, compelling the Scottish Government to provide fee-free education to EU students alongside Scottish students.
However, the Scottish Government may not be under the same constraints if the UK leaves the EU.
Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney issued a joint statement with Universities Scotland last week to reassure existing EU students, and those starting in 2016-17, that they will continue to benefit from free tuition.