In the wake of the referendum vote to leave the EU, the Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University has stressed there will be "no immediate change" to the University's teaching and research and reassured existing EU students and prospective applicants for 2017 they will continue to be charged the UK fee rate. Higher education minister Jo Johnson confirmed on Monday that all existing EU students and those beginning courses this autumn would continue to receive student loan support for the duration of their course.

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz acknowledged questions remain over the impact of the vote on UK higher education tuition fees, but confirmed that undergraduate EU students who are already studying at Cambridge, who have an offer to study at the University, or who apply in 2016 to start their studies in 2017, will continue to be charged the UK fee rate applicable at the time.

Professor Borysiewicz, who on behalf of the University campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, added in a letter to staff: "The University will work with the Government to ensure it takes steps to ensure that staff and students from the EU can continue to work and study in this country. Cambridge thrives as part of a wide international community of academic staff and students, and we remain deeply committed to global cooperation and our dedicated staff who come from all over the world."

University UK, the body representing British universities, said leaving the EU would "create significant challenges for universities". It added: "Although this is not an outcome that we wished or campaigned for, we respect the decision of the UK electorate. We should remember that leaving the EU will not happen overnight, there will be a gradual exit process with significant opportunities to seek assurances and influence future policy.

“Throughout the transition period our focus will be on securing support that allows our universities to continue to be global in their outlook, internationally networked and an attractive destination for talented people from across Europe. These features are central to ensuring that British universities continue to be the best in the world.

“Our first priority will be to convince the UK Government to takes steps to ensure that staff and students from EU countries can continue to work and study at British universities and to promote the UK as a welcoming destination for the brightest and best minds. They make a powerful contribution to university research and teaching and have a positive impact on the British economy and society. We will also prioritise securing opportunities for our researchers and students to access vital pan-European programmes and build new global networks.”

Professor Borysiewicz's statement is reproduced below:

"We recognise that there is a great deal of uncertainty around the decision to leave the European Union. We would like to reassure our staff that a University working group has met this afternoon following the referendum result and various work streams are underway looking at staff, students, post docs, partnerships and nationality issues. I would like to stress again that, even though the result is in favour of leaving the European Union, there is no immediate change to the University’s teaching, research and other activities. We will continue to work as normal.

"It is not currently known what the impact of leaving the EU will have on UK policy on higher education tuition fees, loans and bursaries. However, the University can confirm that undergraduate EU students who are already studying at Cambridge, who have an offer to study at Cambridge, or who apply in 2016 to start their studies in 2017, will continue to be charged the UK fee rate applicable at the time, provided this continues to be permitted by UK law. Please note that the UK fee rate may be subject to increases, which may be annual.

"The University will work with the Government to ensure it takes steps to ensure that staff and students from the EU can continue to work and study in this country. Cambridge thrives as part of a wide international community of academic staff and students, and we remain deeply committed to global cooperation and our dedicated staff who come from all over the world."