University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Leszek Borysiewicz has joined 95 other university vice-chancellors in writing a letter to The Independent, the signatories of which say they are “gravely concerned about the impact of a UK exit from the EU on our universities and students”.

The letter, which includes the signatures of the Vice-Chancellors of Cambridge, Oxford, Durham and Edinburgh, represents the majority of university leaders in the United Kingdom.

The letter says that the impact of universities should “not be underestimated”, and adds: “Strong universities benefit the British people - creating employable graduates and cutting-edge research discoveries that improve lives.”

The 96 vice-chancellors say that the facilitation of collaborative working is a key benefit of the UK's membership of the EU.

“EU membership supports British universities to attract the brightest and best minds from across Europe, enhancing university research and teaching and contributing to economic growth.

“Voluntarily cutting ourselves out of the world’s largest economic bloc would undermine our position as a global leader in science and innovation, impoverish our campuses and limit opportunities for British people.”

The letter goes on to say that they “believe that leaving Europe would create a difficult environment for the long-term investment in higher education and research”, which they describe as “necessary for the UK to maintain its position as a highly skilled and a globally competitive knowledge economy.”

It is the latest of several interventions by Cambridge VC Borysiewicz in the EU referendum. Last Wednesday, Varsity exclusively revealed that he had given a speech at the College of Europe in Warsaw, at which he described the vision of the campaign to leave as a “fantasy”.

There are two days left until the EU referendum, which takes place on the 23rd of June.