President Alice Gast has repeatedly affirmed that “Imperial is, and will remain, a European university”.  Imperial is providing staff and students with support and regular updates as we work to mitigate and manage the considerable uncertainty surrounding the Brexit process. Our European ambitions remain undimmed.  We are growing our European collaborations. We are working to influence decision-makers in Westminster and Brussels as we campaign for access to European research networks and immigration reform that will allow science to thrive.

Latest News

The current political situation is fast-moving and uncertain. This page and our FAQs will be updated regularly with key developments. 

If you would like to receive our regular Brexit Briefings, please contact a.wolthuizen@imperial.ac.uk. You can also access past Brexit Briefings in our archive.  (login required)

• Thursday, 11 April: EU leaders have granted the UK a six-month extension to Brexit until 31 October. This means the UK will not have to leave the EU without a deal on Friday. The Prime Minister will address MPs in the Commons today. Parliament will rise for Easter afterwards and return on 23 April. Cross-party talks on a compromise will continue.
• The extension means that UK researchers will be able to apply for all Horizon 2020 funding until at least 31 October. More detailed information is set out in our Research FAQs. 

What happens next?

• Tuesday, 23 April: Parliament will return. Further votes on the Brexit deal could start.   
• 22 May: If the Prime Minister’s deal is passed before, the UK would not have to hold European elections and could leave on 1 June.
• 23 May: If no deal has been passed, the UK will have to hold European elections.
• 31 May: This could be date the UK leaves the EU if a deal has been passed before 22 May.   
• 20 June: EU review of progress the UK has made
• 31 October: This is the new date by which the UK will have had to pass a deal, leave without a deal or request a further extension.

• Despite the present Brexit uncertainty a number of guarantees are in place whether the UK leaves the EU with a deal or without one:

  • The government will protect the rights of EU/EEA citizens currently living in the UK. Hundreds of our colleagues successfully applied for settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme pilot, and Imperial is continuing to support staff. The scheme is now fully open. EU citizens will be able to enter the UK to visit, work or study after the UK leaves the EU. For stays longer than 3 months, European Temporary Leave to Remain will be required. See our staff FAQs page.
  • The government will underwrite all existing EU research funding from Horizon 2020, including existing ERC and MSCA grants. Future Horizon 2020 funding open to third-country participants will also be underwritten. We are urging the government to clarify the status of future ERC and MSCA grants. We continue to support new applications.  See our staff FAQs page. 
  • EU students starting an undergraduate or postgraduate course in 2019/20 will still be eligible for home fee status and for financial support as at present. See our students' FAQ page.

  • The EU has confirmed  that under a no deal-Brexit UK nationals will be able to enter the EU visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period after the UK leaves the EU, provided EU nationals enjoy the same conditions when travelling to the UK. The UK government has already confirmed that in the event of no-deal EU nationals will be able to stay in the UK for up to 90 days in any 180 day period without a visa.