Recommendation 89

As pointed out by both Universities UK and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, it is not currently envisaged that the Turing Scheme will fund overseas students coming to the UK, as Erasmus+ did. As outlined earlier in the Chapter (paragraph 74), international students play an important role in the education and cultural experience that UK/Scottish students gain whist at university. A reduction in international students will also mean that UK universities, including those in Scotland, will miss out on an important source of income. It has been reported that withdrawal from Erasmus+ will cost UK education intuitions more than £200 million per year.208 Inward student placements also contribute significantly, as consumers, to local economies.209