Dear applicant,
As we consider the outcome of the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, I thought it important to write to all of you who are considering future study at the University of Bath to reassure you that the qualities which convinced you to apply here remain firmly in place.
Our international outlook, the quality of our staff, the excellence of our research and our academic programmes, and our campus facilities are still what they were before the referendum result was announced.
Whilst none of us yet know exactly how the implications of the referendum will unfold, I am aware that some of you have raised specific questions about what this means for your individual circumstances.
The message being emphasised by the UK government and others and to which I would like to draw your attention is that any change will not be immediate and for now the current arrangements with regard to participation in schemes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+, the visa status of staff, students and applicants remain as they were before Friday morning.
The Student Loans Company have issued a statement which applies to EU nationals who are currently in receipt of student loans from the Student Loans Company (SLC), and to EU nationals who intend to begin studying in autumn 2016. This assures current EU students and these applicants that their access to student loans has not changed as a result of the vote.
The process of leaving the EU will not happen overnight. Universities collectively and individually will throughout this negotiation be seeking to secure the best outcome for our students and staff and for the future of academic endeavour in the UK.
There will inevitably be a period of uncertainty but let me reassure you that our University will remain a truly international centre of excellence for teaching and research.
Over the next weeks and months as the situation becomes clearer, we will keep you as up-to-date as possible on any changes that may affect you. If you have specific questions about your own application I would encourage you to contact admissions@bath.ac.uk in the first instance.
President and Vice-Chancellor