Guaranteeing the work and residency rights of EU nationals working in UK universities tops the list of Universities UK's priorities for Brexit negotiations.

“It’s very clear to international students that the UK has become less welcoming, to say the least,” NUS international students’ officer Mostafa Rajaai said at an event this week, calling on universities to act as a "safe haven" and step up support services.

Higher education leaders in Australia and the UK have taken their first steps towards further education and research collaboration ahead of Brexit, holding high levels talks in London last week.

The UK government must be willing to make political concessions in order to ensure higher education cooperation is embedded in its trade agreements with other countries post-Brexit, according to a new report commissioned by Universities UK.

Around three-quarters of the British public would like to see the same amount or more international students in the UK, after finding out the economic contribution they make to the country, according to a recent poll.

A survey of finance directors at 39 higher education institutions across the UK reveals a drop in optimism of financial positioning over the last year.

UK education stakeholders have called on the government to ensure the country remains welcoming to students from the EU, as the official process of leaving the European Union begins.

Spending by international students generated £25.8bn in gross output for the UK’s economy in 2014/15, new research from Universities UK has shown. Universities, meanwhile, earned £13.1bn in export receipts in the same year.