SCOTTISH universities fear Brexit will spark a brain drain of the best young talent in Europe.
Currently EU students studying in Scotland are entitled to scholarships and other funding for postgraduate research from key bodies such as the UK Research Councils and organisations like the Wellcome Trust.
However, if the UK left the EU there is no certainty these opportunities would continue leading to an almost certain reduction in numbers.
EU nationals count for 13 per cent of all students in Scotland, but nearly a quarter of postgraduate research students - some 7,000 individuals.
In research intensive universities such as Edinburgh EU students represent 25 per cent of postgraduates.
Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, principal of Edinburgh University, issued a stark warning over the future of international postgraduate researchers.
He said: "There is inevitably a limited supply of the very best people and if you are building up a critical mass in an area like regenerative medicine you don't want middle ranking academics.
"You want the very best people from around the world to come to you and you want your younger researchers to go to the very best laboratories in parallel.
"So far there has been nothing to protect the postgraduates. They are young, early career talent, but they are vital because they are our research future and, at the moment, the situation facing them is real uncertainty."
Professor Anton Muscatelli, principal of Glasgow University, echoed the concerns.
He said: "Much attention has focussed on the impact Brexit will have on EU undergraduate students, but the impact on postgraduates should not be overlooked or underestimated.
"These are highly talented, highly motivated individuals who add a tremendous amount to the research base of Scotland’s universities.
"In the same way that Brexit imperils collaborative research with partners in other EU member states, so withdrawal from the European Union will seriously jeopardise the attractiveness of the UK for talented postgraduates who are the next generation of leading scientists and academics."
There was also concern from teaching unions who called for a deal on visas to protect postgraduate students who want to work in Scotland once they complete their studies.
Nearly 15 per cent of academic staff are EU nationals and they are currently allowed to remain in the UK once they graduate benefiting Scotland with their skills.
There is currently no clarity on whether EU nationals will need visas to work in the UK and, if so, what such a visa scheme would look like.
Mary Senior, UCU Scotland Official, said the so-called Fresh Talent scheme introduced in 2004 to enable overseas students to continue to work and live in Scotland after graduation should be resurrected.
She said: "There has been considerable consensus of the value of that scheme and the need to reintroduce a means for international graduates to continue to contribute to Scotland’s economy, society and its public services.
"We need to be looking to a second Fresh Talent programme post Brexit, to demonstrate to early careers staff from across the globe that Scotland is open for business and wants to welcome the talents of all people."
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS, added: "Many EU nationals moved with their families to work in Scotland’s universities and they now feel the rug has been pulled from under them.
"Many of them fear their status will not be settled until Brexit is completed and that they and their families may be used as bargaining chips in the negotiations."
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