By Ed Wallace
Nearly five years after the UK’s exit from the European Union, Brexit’s influence still reverberates across nearly every aspect of life in the UK, and higher education is no exception. At Bristol University, the ripple effects of Brexit are felt through changing student demographics, financial challenges, and altered international opportunities. Now that the UK has distanced itself from Europe, students too have felt a certain disconnection. Despite this, the number of international students at Bristol University has increased from 6,510 in 2019 (25%) to 9, 994 (33%). However, it’s where the international students come from that has changed at Bristol. Bristol University describes itself as a “multicultural community,” which is true, but one might ask whether this diversity would have been even greater had the UK voted to remain in the EU.
Since Brexit, the university has experienced a marked increase in students from Asia and Africa, alongside a decline in students from the EU. While this broadening cultural diversity enriches the university experience, it also helps create stronger international connections between Bristol University and other universities worldwide. The changing face of international education in the UK has begun to unfold, revealing a new cast of characters and creating a new, dynamic landscape. Nationally, the number of EU students at UK universities has dropped from 152,000 in 2019 to 95,000 in 2023. At Bristol, this trend reflects the broader national shift, with EU students now constituting only approximately 5% of the university population. As demographics change and evolve, the university experience is being reshaped in correlation. Lecture halls and seminar rooms now reflect the mixing of cultures and backgrounds that foster collaboration and innovation. Extracurricular activities are now infused with international undertones, promoting cross-cultural connections and ultimately preparing all students for the globalising world. Bristol University now has students from over 150 countries, reaching 6 of the 7 continents and enriching the intellectual milieu of the students.
However, some of the deeper structural impacts of Brexit have been more profound. Research funding and educational programmes across the UK have faced significant setbacks. Horizon 2020, the EU’s flagship research and innovation funding program, came to an abrupt end with the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in 2020, after operating for six years with a budget of nearly €80 billion. This program has since evolved into Horizon Europe, a comparable initiative, but with one significant distinction: the UK is no longer part of the equation. The UK’s exclusion has been a significant blow. Only recently, after months of uncertainty, did the UK reach an agreement to rejoin Horizon Europe, offering a belated sense of relief. Nevertheless, Bristol University has been able to thrive through collaborations with new businesses and research teams from a larger range of countries such as the collaboration with the University of Nairobi about nanoparticle diagnostics. Similarly, Erasmus+ has long stood as the beacon of educational reform within Europe, but the recent recalibration in the UK’s relationship with the EU has left its participation in this transformative programme in jeopardy. In a world continually characterised by globalisation, programmes such as Erasmus+ are vital for maintaining interconnectedness among institutions across borders. But Bristol University, along with many other UK universities since the start of 2021, has been excluded from the ambitious framework Erasmus+ offers. The program aims to ensure widespread access to transformative educational opportunities. Serious questions are raised as to the potential loss for UK students of these enriching opportunities.
Last but most important, Brexit coincided with Covid, which has resulted in a pint in Spoons costing as much as £7.40. While a budget-conscious drinker like me may find solace in £2 ales, it’s the ripple effects on everyday expenses that truly start to take their toll. More significantly, student rooms in Bristol have risen by almost 15% in the last 2 years, fees for EU students have doubled between 2019 and 2024 and the overall cost of living has drastically increased in Bristol and across the UK. It’s crucial to recognize that these rising costs cannot be attributed solely to Brexit; the pandemic has also played a significant role in disrupting supply chains and driving inflation. However, the cumulative effect of these factors creates a daunting landscape for both UK and EU students. As the financial burden grows, many may find it increasingly challenging to pursue their education, raising concerns about accessibility and the long-term implications for the future of higher education in the UK.
In light of the ongoing changes brought about by Brexit, we must consider the broader implications for the future of higher education in the UK. While the influx of international students has enriched Bristol University’s cultural landscape, we must also recognise the challenges posed by diminished access to collaborative programs like Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. These changes do not affect the funding and budgets of the university, but also limit opportunities to engage in essential exchanges which foster global perspectives. Moreover, the rising costs for students may in turn deter international students from studying in the UK, which would be detrimental to Bristol's claim of being an international university. Ultimately, Brexit has created substantial challenges, from increased costs to reduced access to vital programmes, yet it has also opened doors for new opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world. Bristol University must navigate this evolving landscape with both resilience and adaptability and seize new opportunities while addressing the obstacles that have been created.