CONCERNED students were yesterday inundating universities and helplines asking whether their education will be affected after the Brexit vote was confirmed.

At the University of Southampton, where European students make up seven per cent of the student body, staff were taking calls from concerned students.

A spokesman said: “But we have told them: “We have been assuring them that at this stage there is no reason to assume any change to their immigration status or access to loans.

“Until the point we are able to receive further clarity on key specific issues, we have provided guidance and advice for those who may have concerns on our website.”

President and vice-chancellor of the University of Southampton Professor Sir Christopher Snowden said: “We are now entering a period of uncertainty as the UK government prepares to clarify its process for managing this significant change.

"We value our relationships with EU students, colleagues and partners and we recognise that this could be an anxious period for many people, either considering or currently studying and working at the University of Southampton.

"Until there is further clarity, we want to reassure our staff and students that we will do our best to understand the issues and reduce any impact that may occur.

“The UK has not yet left the EU so it is important that our staff and students from other member countries understand that there will be no immediate impact on their status at our university. Existing research collaborations and projects that receive funding from the EU also remained unchanged.

“As we get to understand the process of leaving the EU over the coming months and years we’ll work with all of our community to address the implications.”

At Southampton Solent University, vice chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin said he was “disappointed” at the result, and added: “I am naturally very disappointed at a decision which will have future implications for UK universities. However, advice from Universities UK (UUK) suggests that any future changes will not happen overnight, and that the sector’s participation in EU programmes and the immigration status of current and prospective EU students and staff will not see any change for some time to come.

Our international strategy will remain a key priority for the university and Solent will continue to work with Universities UK and the rest of the sector to seek assurances, give advice and influence future policy to ensure that UK universities continue to be the best in the world.”

Around half of all students coming to Southampton to learn English are European. Owner of Lewis School of English Alastair Walker said: “Funnily enough in the short term with the devaluation of the currency it will become cheaper for our customers because that’s been a major factor in our industry.

“But it’s not in our interests if they introduce further restrictions with visas because the message that goes out is that we’re not very friendly.

“Our competition is outside the UK – you can study for a degree in English in Holland, and Ireland is benefitting hugely because of all the uncertainty – a hundred euros is a hundred euros. But in the long term students may be subjected to much higher fees.”

Mr Walker, whose school has been in Southampton for 40 years, added: “The education sector has been battling against home office measures of migration. Your average person on Shirley High Street wouldn’t consider a wealthy person from Saudi as the same as someone who arrives in the back of a lorry, but the government does. The US don’t include students in their net migration figures but as an industry we’ve been pressing the home office for that. They’re not Syrian refugees – they’re bringing an awful lot of money with them. 

“Of course in the long term those people who grow up to be movers and shakers are likely to look back to the UK as a point of contact for business. But we’d be losing that.”

Owner of Southampton Language College David Tompkins thought the effect would be minimal. He said: “I don’t think people will stop coming to England to study. At any one time we have around 70 - 100 students from the EU here. Unless students get the wrong message it’s difficult to say - but I think a lot of people abroad respect our decision. As long as we say Britain is welcoming and open to business.”