200 University of Cambridge academics have expressed their “grave concern” for the “future of our universities and country” if Britain leaves the European Union.

In an open letter published in today’s Daily Telegraph, the academics describe British universities as “among the most successful centres of learning and research in the world”, and argue that they are “significantly helped” in this by EU funding. 

It also states that the “exchange of ideas” and “stimulation of collaboration” that are the result of the free movement of academics within Europe are “critical” to research quality

“Increasingly, research depends on collaborative access to larger networks and populations than Britain can provide,” it argues. 

The letter emphasises that what it terms “the major issues of our time” all “take no account of national borders,” citing the examples of security, energy, environmental sustainability, health and the globalised economy. 

It goes on to argue that, due to the rise of academic centres in America and Asia, British universities “will only maintain our foremost position in research and innovation if we combine our research resources within a reformed EU.”

The letter’s signatories include numerous heads of Cambridge colleges, including: Lord Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalene; Jackie Ashley, President of Lucy Cavendish; Dame Barbara Stocking, President of Murray Edwards; Professor Susan Smith, Mistress of Girton; Sir Richard Evans, President of Wolfson; and Matthew Bullock, Master of St Edmund’s. 

Other notable signatories include the physicist Professor Athene Donald.

This open letter comes the day after over 300 Cambridge academics signed another open letter arguing against Brexit on the ‘Cambridge for Europe’ website. Today’s letter strongly echoes the previous one, using identical phrasing at some points. 

Stephen Hawking also re-emphasised his support for remaining in the EU yesterday, on Good Morning Britain.

With the referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU taking place in under a month, polls suggest that neither side has a clear lead. The latest YouGov ‘EU Referendum Tracker’ puts the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ campaigns on 41 per cent each, with 13 per cent of voters undecided, and four per cent not intending to vote.