Students from the EU who apply to English universities for the year 2017-18 will still be able to receive funding, the government has announced.

It follows a pledge by the University of Cambridge that EU students beginning courses next year will not have to pay the increased Overseas fees, and instead will be charged the same rate as Home students if the law permits it.

The decision represents an extension of a pledge made by Universities Minister Jo Johnson, who guaranteed that students starting this year would be able to access the funding.

Universities UK president Dame Julia Goodfellow welcomed the news, as did the University and College Union (UCU).

“Every effort must now be made to ensure that this announcement is communicated effectively to prospective students across Europe,” Goodfellow said.

"European and international students are a valuable part of cultural and academic life on British university campuses and play an important role in UK towns and cities, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.

"Looking ahead, as the government develops plans [for] post-Brexit Britain, a commitment is needed to ensure that students, from Europe and beyond, are able to continue to come to the UK to study without unnecessary bureaucratic burdens.”

In a statement following the referendum vote, Vice-Chancellor Leszek Borysiewicz said: “The University will work closely with the Government to ensure it takes steps to guarantee that staff and students from the EU can continue to work and study in this country, and that the higher education sector has a strong voice in ongoing negotiations. 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.”