The Department for Education in England has extended support for European Union students for another year.

There are about 37,000 EU students currently in the process of university applications for autumn 2019 and universities had been concerned that uncertainty over fees could cause a drop in recruitment and a loss of income as they could not tell the applicants the cost of courses starting in 2020 – according to BBC. The Russell Group of universities – the group of leading universities, where most of the EU students study – says EU students are worth £4bn per year to the UK economy.

However with the Brexit process unresolved, the Department for Education has pushed back any changes in England by another year, meaning that EU students applying to universities in England for next year will still pay the same fees as home students and be eligible for student loans throughout the duration of their courses.

They will continue to pay £9,250 like home students – and will not be treated as “overseas” students, which would mean much higher fees and a loss of eligibility for student finance.

The Scottish government has previously announced such a continuing status for EU students in 2020 – which in Scotland means paying no tuition fees.