Dear Staff and Students,

As we consider the decision to leave the EU, we should remind ourselves that the strengths of our University community - our international outlook, the quality of our people, the excellence of our research and our academic programmes, and our robust financial status - 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, it is important to remember that we are entering what may be a prolonged period of uncertainty but from a very strong position.

Over the coming months and years we will need to work closely with the Government and others to represent the interests of our students, staff and the University as a whole. There will certainly be challenges but there will also be opportunities in this new reality and we must be agile enough to seize them.

I know that some of you have raised specific questions about what this means for your individual circumstances.

On Friday I met with the Minister of State for Universities & Science, attended a Board meeting of Universities UK and spoke with both the Chief Executive of the Student Loans Company and Head of Policy of HEFCE. The message they are all emphasising 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+, and the visa status of staff, students and applicants remain as they were before Friday morning.

The Student Loans Company are assuring current EU students and current applicants that their associated fee status and access to student loans have 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 we will continue to thrive together as a community if we redouble our efforts to show how our University remains 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.

President and Vice-Chancellor