Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
UK may offer EU students lower fees in bid for industrial scheme access
The UK government is considering matching EU students’ university fees to British students’ fees.
It could spend up to £450m a year compensating universities for the change.
The offer is tied to Britain gaining access to the EU’s Made in Europe scheme, which is expected to restrict trade with countries outside the bloc.
The UK sees access as a way to help British companies do business in the EU and strengthen ties with the bloc.
The fee proposal could cause domestic debate while many UK graduates are seeking changes to student loan repayments.
The two sides are still negotiating the fee and industrial-scheme issues ahead of a summit scheduled for 20 November.
Other potential agreements include emissions trading, agricultural products, youth mobility and access to European biometric databases.
The UK is considering spending up to £450m a year to give EU students the same university fees as British students.
The offer is conditional on the EU allowing the UK to join its proposed Made in Europe industrial programme.
The two issues are described as the remaining hurdles to a broader agreement expected to be discussed at a summit on 20 November.
The proposal could be controversial in the UK, where many graduates are calling for changes to student loan repayment plans.
Other areas of agreement are reported to include emissions trading, agricultural products and a youth mobility scheme.
- Who
- The UK government and the EU are negotiating the proposed arrangement.
- What
- The UK may subsidise lower university fees for EU students in exchange for access to the Made in Europe industrial programme.
- When
- Negotiators are working towards a summit on 20 November; the fee proposal has no stated start date.
- Where
- The negotiations concern the UK and the EU.
- Why
- The UK wants access to the industrial programme and hopes a broader agreement will benefit British companies and strengthen ties with the EU.
UK government
EU
Access to Made in Europe
UK government
The UK is willing to offer EU students discounted fees, but says it will do so only if the EU allows Britain access to the programme.
EU
The EU is seeking cheaper fees for EU students at British universities; the article does not state its position on the UK’s condition.
Student fees
UK government
The UK has drawn up plans for EU students to pay the same fees as British students, with universities compensated.
EU
The EU wants cheaper fees for its students, but the article does not specify its preferred fee level.
Negotiators have been working on a series of deals to be finalised at the planned summit.
Andy Burnham met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
A summit is planned at which the sides are expected to discuss the deals.
The Made in Europe scheme is due to be finalised.
- Proposed annual spending
- Up to £450m
- Proposed student fees
- EU students would pay the same fees as British students
- Summit date
- 20 November
- Youth mobility proposal
- Up to 80,000 young Europeans could be allowed to come to Britain to work, live and study
- Made in Europe scheme
- Due to be finalised next year
3 sources
What people are saying
We are willing to give the Europeans what they want on fees, but we will have to get something significant in return. The biggest prize we are pushing for right now is access to Made in Europe, so there is a deal to be done there.
We are building an ambitious, close relationship with the EU that will strengthen our economy, protect British industry, and create more opportunities for young people across the UK.
economic interests, common values and basic geographical reality all point towards Europe