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Britain's shock Brexit vote has left the country's universities worried about its impact, whether on exchange programmes or research funding.
In Cambridge, southeast England, students at the world-famous university's 31 colleges have left for the summer, but among the teaching staff still here the word Brexit is on everyone's lips.
"It's the only topic of conversation, even a week later," Athene Donald, master of Churchill College, told AFP, adding that it was still "far too early to know what the consequences are going to be".
The stakes, for Cambridge and the country, are high: over 125,000 European students were enrolled this year in British universities, or 5% of the total, while 15% of academic staff come from other EU countries, according to Universities UK (UUK).
British universities received 836 million British pounds (995 million euros, $1.1 million) in subsidies and research contracts in the 2014-15 academic year alone.
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In the wake of the June 23 referendum, numerous universities have sought to reassure their students from other EU countries, notably on the question of tuition fees.
EU students have until now not paid the same as their counterparts from elsewhere in the world, who have to stump up for International Status fees, which can be much higher.
"In 2016/17, the fees will be the same, and you will still have access to the government loan" as do British students on Home Fee status, said Michael Arthur, president of University College London in a video posted on YouTube aimed at European students.
"If you're thinking of coming to study with us after that time... We believe that nothing will have changed then either," he said, while adding: "We're seeking clarifications on that from the government at the moment."
British universities minister Jo Johnson is also seeking to reassure them.
"UK welcomes EU students. Current students and this autumn's applicants will continue to receive student finance for duration of their course," he tweeted after the shock Brexit vote.
On Friday, the Scottish government issued a statement saying it hoped Scotland would remain a "destination of choice" for EU students.
Outside the EU, Britain would also have to renegotiate its participation in the Erasmus programme, to which over 200,000 British students have signed up.
