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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

We did not end freedom of movement. The only people we ended fom for is ourselves and our children.

753 replies

Kendodd · 20/02/2021 11:34

I don't know why we would celebrate this.
The children of our EU friends living here still have their fom, when they leave school they'll be free to live and work in any one of 31 countries (I'm pleased for them) our children won't be. I've heard 'EU passport holder' is starting to appear on CVs now as it makes people a more attractive employee in certain sectors.

Oh and I grew up in one of the most deprived areas in the country on state benefits attending a failing school. I made use of fom in my youth and it gave me opportunities young people in my situation won't have anymore. It's not just for rich people.

OP posts:
QuentinInQuarantino · 23/02/2021 20:18

@LostToucan that's true, but for language students it is an obligatory year abroad.

So basically, language degrees only for the very rich.

QuentinInQuarantino · 23/02/2021 20:23

Ok @justab0utsurviving fair enough, can you find any other pricing? As it was your question..

This is the first American uni google threw up and the price of a semester in Rome.

As I said, it was not only free for me, I was given €3000 as a grant from the EU.

We did not end freedom of movement. The only people we ended fom for is ourselves and our children.
LostToucan · 23/02/2021 20:24

Quentin

The Guardian was reporting on the loss of FoM for UK language students today - visa costs, healthcare costs, evidence of financial support required, lack of information.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/23/thousands-uk-language-students-limbo-brexit-hits-travel-plans

What a mess.

justab0utsurviving · 23/02/2021 20:29

@QuentinInQuarantino US universities cost that much anyway so there probably isn't much in it. A quick google search tells me that Erasmus is still operating through the 2022 academic year by which point tbe replacement programs will be up and running.

I am just more of a glass half full sort of person.

Also I wasn't comparing the cost of US university with the uK - simply saying that there are plenty of exchange agreements with universities across the world.
And while it is a bit crap, low income families have always had less options. I wanted to study law but couldn't afford it so didn't. That is life. I intend to make sure my kids can do that if they want to but it was a fact of my family life that my parents couldn't afford it. I only afforded my year abroad because the government paid the flights due to low income and you get an increased loan amount when you go abroad.

There other opportunities out there. The JEt program in Japan for example - flight paid for and subsidised accommodation plus excellent salary. For those who are motivated, it will happen for them.

justab0utsurviving · 23/02/2021 20:30

I wouldn't believe anything I read in the Guardian or any paper.

QuentinInQuarantino · 23/02/2021 20:36

@justab0utsurviving but a big difference is that you don't pay uk tuition feeds (or accommodation) during your year abroad.

So a Brit last year was gaining €3000 (thereabouts) on their year abroad whereas an American was paying their full costs.

I can't see the glass half full there at all? I really hope there will be a replacement programme but there's no chance it will be anything like as amazing as the chance to study abroad basically for free.

Sometimesonly · 23/02/2021 20:37

And while it is a bit crap, low income families have always had less options.
So let's take even the options they have away from them? Hmm

I studied abroad and then went to work abroad with very little money in my pocket thanks to FOM. It annoys me when instead of thinking of ways to help low income families access opportunities, people just say "oh well, that's the way it is". Why??

justab0utsurviving · 23/02/2021 20:38

A few weeks ago the BBC did a whole article on Losing free roaming on phones because of brexit. Very last lines at the bottom that no eu phone provider has any intention to change their free roaming and went as far to remind everyone that they offer it outside tbe EU as well. It was a piece of writing to get people in a tizzy - most probably only read the headlines.

LostToucan · 23/02/2021 20:38

@justab0utsurviving

I wouldn't believe anything I read in the Guardian or any paper.
Good for you. Bloody journalists reporting on stuff eh?

Turing grants start operating in Sept 2021 and should be open for application now ... except there’s no info available.

RickJames · 23/02/2021 20:39

For me, moving to Europe wasn't so much a money issue - my successful working class family could offer money but they couldn't understand why I would want to leave the country (leave voters). I was the first to go to Uni so they were like, okay, here's £500 see you in a year, sort of thing. Me staying abroad has ruined our relationships, they believe firmly that there's no place like home.

If there had also been visas and extra hoops to jump, big deposits, I wouldn't have been able to do it. I loved the OPs story of branching out, I branched out, I don't like to think that working and studying abroad should just be the preserve of the middle and upper classes.

Not that there's anything wrong with staying in your village/country but if that's not your dream then it's pretty awful that it's just been swiped away for average kids. I'm average, I couldn't have competed for prestigious placements or internships.

justab0utsurviving · 23/02/2021 20:42

Well I did pay my Uk tuition fee and my accommodation when I was on my year abroad. I didn't realise Erasmus was completely free? If they have a replacement program that means still paying tuition fees I don't think that would be too bad. You get an enhanced loan for going abroad .

I do think people like to be dramatic. And I think there are a lot more injustice in the world that studying abroad being more expensive. And from what I could see of the incoming Erasmus students - they weren't from low income families.

Sometimesonly · 23/02/2021 20:46

And from what I could see of the incoming Erasmus students - they weren't from low income families.
How do you know and what does it matter anyway? The point is that getting rid of Erasmus has more of an effect on low income students - rich ones will always find a way. I work with university students and a lot of them are so motivated and so keen to get experience in Europe. It really helps that there is already a scheme set up to help them as many would find it too difficult (or their families would) and too risky to do otherwise. It really helps them though - when they return from Erasmus they are so much more mature and have a wealth of experience.

justab0utsurviving · 23/02/2021 20:47

@LostToucan no problem with unbiased reporting. Big problem with sensationalising everything and doing it all one sided.

Sometimesonly · 23/02/2021 20:47

I am also very glad that my children will be able to study in the EU. They won't have a huge debt to pay off which is definitely a big advantage!

1Morewineplease · 23/02/2021 20:47

My son should have had an Erasmus program in Europe. It was part of his degree. He didn't go as it was cancelled by Brexit.
Thousands of students have been denied this .

fruitbrewhaha · 23/02/2021 20:48

I'm fucking heart broken over this. I worked in a number of countries on the continent and DP did some summer seasons. My children will never be able to do this. Never do some tefl teaching, or working in a bar or a ski season etc.

I've always thought I would live in France again one day, if only for a few years, never going to happen now.

It's shit.

LostToucan · 23/02/2021 20:49

I didn't realise Erasmus was completely free?

Better than that - you got a grant to study in your chosen country of €300 - €400 per month, funded by the EU, and no fees to pay in your host country, plus a potential reduction in your UK fees.

LostToucan · 23/02/2021 20:51

[quote justab0utsurviving]@LostToucan no problem with unbiased reporting. Big problem with sensationalising everything and doing it all one sided. [/quote]
So pointing out that UK students studying for their year abroad in the EU will now need visas, private healthcare and financial backing is “sensationalising”?

Okaaaayyy.

raskolnikova · 23/02/2021 20:52

[quote justab0utsurviving]@LostToucan no problem with unbiased reporting. Big problem with sensationalising everything and doing it all one sided. [/quote]
What's the other side to the story that they're not reporting?

justab0utsurviving · 23/02/2021 20:52

@LostToucan but I bet that they don't yet know what the new program will actually look like. They are probably speculating about most of it.

LostToucan · 23/02/2021 20:55

@raskolnikova

You tell me? It’s not just Covid, if that’s what you’re implying. Students that were in country prior to 1st January are being sent back to the UK to apply for visas.

LostToucan · 23/02/2021 20:56

[quote justab0utsurviving]@LostToucan but I bet that they don't yet know what the new program will actually look like. They are probably speculating about most of it. [/quote]
How can “they” not know what it looks like? It’s due to be up and running in 6 months time.

tanguero · 23/02/2021 20:59

ustab0utsurviving Tue 23-Feb-21 20:30:55
I wouldn't believe anything I read in the Guardian.

As a Mancunian - and reader of many years, pains me to say it, but ,yes, or sometime now, it been a grotesque left-wing 'Daily Mail'. Stories full of exaggeration, hyperbole, and bias.
C.P. Scott must be turning in his grave.

Punching · 23/02/2021 20:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

turquoisewaters · 23/02/2021 20:59

So pointing out that UK students studying for their year abroad in the EU will now need visas, private healthcare and financial backing is “sensationalising

How is this even news? We've known this is how it would be for many years now. Why report it as if the sky was falling and only focus on the negatives?