THE loss of EU money will be a significant loss to the University of Brighton, says the pro vice chancellor for research and enterprise.

Professor Tara Dean said she hopes it may be possible the university can become an associate member that can still apply for grants, as it would be a great loss were it not to receive the money any more.

Brighton University has received almost quarter of its research grants and contracts from the European Union since 2012, accruing more than £10 million.

Asked what the money was used for, Prof Dean said: “Some schemes support individuals, so they may be paying for an individual’s salary for two, three, four or five years.

“Some schemes support projects, often multi partner projects and some schemes support exchange of staff, while some schemes support PhD students.”

Despite Brighton proving to be a popular destination for foreign students, Prof Dean said the university will have to recruit more home students and international students when the UK leaves the EU.

She said: “For this university the number of EU students we have is not as high as many others, but it will still be a loss so we will have to compensate with other recruitment.”

European undergraduate students are currently entitled to receive grants just like a British student. However, Mrs Dean states if that is not going to carry on and the government decides they are not eligible for bursaries, then that will affect all our universities.

Prof Dean added: “It is not just the financial element of it, it’s also the ability to be able to network with other researchers in other parts of Europe.”

The University of Sussex will also lose out from the loss of EU money.

More than £6 million in grants were awarded to the university in 2016 and more than £23 million since 2012.

Leaving the EU may also affect students who wish to use the Erasmus programme. Erasmus gives students the chance to study, do a work placement or work as a language assistant in another European country during their time at university.

More than two million students have used Erasmus since 1987.

Speaking about how leaving the EU will affect their business, an Erasmus spokesperson said: “The UK government has confirmed that it will underwrite grant agreements for Erasmus signed while the UK is still a member state, even if payments continue beyond the point of the UK’s EU exit date.

“This means that UK organisations can prepare for participation as usual in the 2018 application deadlines which are due to be announced later this year.

“We cannot speculate on any possible future scenarios following the UK’s exit from the EU, but we note the government position is that UK participation in some EU programmes may continue subject to the negotiation.”