Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to hand EU students a discount of nearly £30,000 to study in the UK, following demands from the European Commission. The deal, reportedly struck on the fringes of the G7 summit this month with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will see annual fees for EU students drop from £38,000 to £9,535.
Details of the Agreement
Under the terms, EU students heading to the UK will benefit from a significant fee reduction, bringing their costs in line with domestic students. Sources reported in the national press have described the move as a surrender to the Commissioner's demands. Before Brexit, EU students paid the same fees as UK students, but after the UK left the bloc, they were charged international fees of up to £38,000 per year.
Political Backlash
The decision has been met with fierce criticism, with opponents labeling it a betrayal of the Brexit vote. The Daily Express has launched a campaign called 'Give Us A Proper Brexit', demanding the UK leave the European Court of Human Rights, establish a protected fishing zone, and cut red tape. Sir Keir, a remainer, has already faced backlash for agreeing to EU regulations without parliamentary scrutiny.
Members of his own cabinet have called for the UK to rejoin the single market and customs union. His suspected replacement, Andy Burnham, has expressed a desire for the UK to re-enter the bloc within his lifetime.
Impact on UK-EU Relations
Additional talks between the UK and EU were scheduled for this month but were cancelled after Sir Keir resigned. Brussels officials reportedly believe Andy Burnham would be a softer touch in negotiations. The summit was intended to finalize deals on a youth mobility scheme and ease cross-channel trade barriers on food, drink, and energy.
Statistics on EU Students
According to figures for 2024/25, roughly 11 per cent of the UK's 685,565 foreign students come from the EU. The fee reduction is expected to make UK universities more attractive to European students, but critics argue it undermines the principles of Brexit.
