President Alice Gast has repeatedly affirmed that “Imperial is, and will remain, a European university”. 

We continue to provide our current and prospective staff and students with support and regular updates as we work to mitigate and manage the impact of Brexit. 

Our European ambitions remain undimmed. We are growing our European collaborations. We are campaigning in Westminster and Brussels for access to European research networks and immigration systems that will allow science to thrive.

Latest News

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. 

Latest news

• The UK and the EU have agreed a Brexit deal which sets out key areas of the new relationship. The deal includes:

• a guarantee on ‘zero tariff and zero quota’ trade on goods
• cooperation in areas such as services, aviation, road transport, social security, health, fisheries and law enforcement
• the basis for UK participation in the Horizon Europe research programme.

The European Parliament will still have to vote on the deal and is expected to do so shortly. 

• The deal does not provide access to the Erasmus mobility programme, which is set to be replaced by a new 'Turing scheme' to fund UK students who want to spend a year at a university in another country (EU and non-EU).

• The deal paves the way for UK participation in Horizon Europe. The UK can formalise association to Horizon Europe through negotiations with the European Commission in the coming months. First Horizon calls are expected in the spring and it would be possible for the UK to be in the programme by that point, or shortly thereafter, depending on the negotiations.

Regardless of the deal, a number of changes in key areas have come in on 1 January:

• New immigration system: a new system has come into effect on 1 January 2021. You can find all the important information in our staff and student FAQs. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 will continue to be eligible for Settled/Pre-Settled Status through the EU Settlement Scheme and have until 30 June 2021 to apply. The College continues to support  staff  and  students  with this process.

• Travel to the EU has changed on 1 January: staff and students may need to renew their passport and check travel insurance and healthcare cover and they may need a visa or permit to stay for longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, to work or study. EU nationals can continue to travel to the UK without a visa for visits shorter than 6 months and EU ID cards will be accepted at the border until October 2021. In light of possible COVID-19 restrictions throughout Europe, staff and students should check each country’s travel advice page before travelling to and from the EU to see if any restrictions apply. It is also advisable to check with the travel operator/carrier.

• Possible disruption to supply chains: our suppliers have extra stock in place and departments had been advised as a precautionary measure to purchase some extra materials in advance of 1 January from European suppliers to avoid any likely disruption in the first quarter of this year. Staff can contact the purchasing department if they either need advice or any extra assistance.

• Staff and students may want to use the government’s Brexit checking tool to get more information tailored to their circumstances.

The College’s Brexit Advisory Group is preparing for any outcome and you can email Brexit.advice@imperial.ac.uk with any questions.

What happens next?

• January 2021                            European Parliament to ratify Brexit deal
• Spring 2021                               First Horizon Europe calls expected