Students across the Uk who are looking to study abroad are facing uncertainty as the UK withdraws from the Erasmus programme.
Erasmus is an EU funded programme that organises student exchanges. It offers grants and funding, as well as application support to students studying abroad. However, as part of the Brexit deal, the UK will no longer be participating in this scheme.
Savira Sharku, a student of Spanish and History at the University of Leeds said that the withdrawal has “created a lot of uncertainty” with regards to the compulsory year abroad that goes along with her degree, along with thousands of other students. She said: “It’s quite uncertain as to how the whole year abroad will happen and what partnerships there will be and also how we’re able to fund our year abroad”.
In 2017, 16,561 students participated in Erasmus, making use of the funding and support available to them.
The government is planning to replicate the scheme with a national programme. However, a report from the House of Lords EU Committee has warned that the benefits of Erasmus would be very hard to replicate.
If the UK decides to participate again in the scheme, the opportunity may not be available until 2027 as the Erasmus programme runs in cycles of 7 years, the latest one starting at the beginning of this year.
Universities UK guidance is that “staff and students can complete mobility periods and receive funding up until the end of the 2021-22 academic year”. Meaning that some students will still be able to benefit from the programme.

Universities UK and the National Union of Students have shown there is a 'degree gap' between black, Asian and minority ethnic students.

Both groups contributed to a joint report, calling for vice chancellor and academics to show 'strong leadership' making sure to encourage racially diverse student bodies.

The report concluded: “A change in culture is needed alongside a clear institutional message that issues of race will be dealt with as part of wider, strategic, organisational practice, not as an ‘add on’.”

Although there has been a rapid increase in black Asian and minority ethnic students in the past decade 71% of Asian students and 57% of black students gained an upper second or first in their degree compared to 81% of white students. Statists also show that black students are estimated to be one and a half times more likely to drop out compared to Asian or white students.
Amma Atteeq, president of the University of Aston’s student Union has stressed the importance of role models in universities and how universities should find more BAME role models.

“We know that stubborn gaps in attainment between certain ethnic groups are stopping some students from fulfilling their true potential. In particular, black students are much less likely to complete their studies, secure a first or upper second-class degree, or find graduate-level employment than their white peers. This is not right, and it must change.”

Image from Tim Hoggarth