Cambridge is one of the UK universities most likely to suffer a “Brexit brain drain”, a Times Higher Education report has revealed.  

The study found that, at a third of Russell Group universities, EU nationals constituted more than 25 per cent of academics. In Cambridge, this figure stands at 27 per cent. Out of 24 Russell Group members, all but three had a higher proportion of EU academic staff than the national average.

There are concerns that employing such a high proportion of EU staff leaves these universities particularly vulnerable in the wake of last June's referendum result, should EU academics decide to leave the country in large numbers.

In recent years, the number of EU nationals working in academia in the UK has risen by 29 per cent. The group represented 17 per cent of UK academics in 2015-16, compared to 14.4 per cent in 2012-13, according to the findings. However, a YouGov survey in January revealed that 76 per cent of EU academics would consider leaving the UK higher education sector following the Brexit vote, highlighting the potentially disastrous impact the so called “brain drain” could have on the University of Cambridge, and institutions across the UK.

Braving Brexit - how will leaving the EU affect the University?

The research, carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), showed that the universities with the highest proportion of EU academics were concentrated in London and the South East of England. The London School of Economics had the highest proportion of EU academics, making up 38 per cent of all staff.

The findings come just weeks after the government’s Higher Education Committee released a report into the potential consequences of leaving the European Union on UK universities, which also identified a potential “brain drain” of European academics from British institutions. The report stressed the need to adapt current immigration rules to make it easier for foreign academics to move to the UK.

Responding to HESA's findings, Head of Policy at the Russell Group Jessica Cole said that European academics make “a significant contribution” to the UK higher education sector, and urged the government “to confirm as soon as possible the continued working rights for current EU staff and their dependants.”