Oxford University Considering French Campus After Brexit
Oxford University is considering opening its first foreign campus in direct response to the UK leaving the
European Union. The former director of the French ministry for education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, confirmed that
French authorities and institutions were working to bring the UK’s most revered universities to France and said
officials had also spoken to representatives from the University of Warwick. According to The Daily Telegraph,
Oxford University has been informed that such a campus would automatically obtain French legal status and
would therefore continue to receive EU funding after Brexit. If the plans come to fruition, then construction of a
new Oxford University campus in the French capital could begin as early as 2018.
A decision has yet to be reached, but a spokesman for Oxford said: "Oxford has been an international
university throughout its history and it is determined to remain open to the world whatever the future political
landscape looks like.” The likelihood that Brexit could lead to European research funding being withdrawn from
UK universities has been described as a “disaster”, by academics. In addition, universities fear that lack of access
to Europe will make them less appealing to potential students and staff members. Last month, Oxford
University’s head of Brexit strategy, Professor Alastair Buchan said being in Europe meant the university could
“recruit quality people that play in the top league.”
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Monsieur Blanquer said: “We want to say to foreign universities: ‘we
want to build bridges’ and ‘academic life is not totally dependent on political problems’. We want to convince the
European governments that it is an advantage to have high quality institutions from the UK working in their
territory, interacting together in terms of research and collaboration. We are at the beginning of the process, but by
2018, we need to be in a position to guarantee these things.”
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “The UK is home to
some of the world’s best universities and research institutions, and we intend to secure the best possible outcome
for the UK’s research base as we exit the EU. We have already taken steps to put science and research at the heart
of our Industrial Strategy with an extra two billion pound investment per year - and we will seek agreement to
continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives.”
20 February 2017, The Independent (Adapted).
Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which
part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Oxford is the only British university the French authorities have talked to about having a
campus in France.
b) The new campus will definitely be built next year.
c) UK academics are unhappy about losing money from the EU as a result of Brexit.
d) Oxford University’s presence in Europe will make it possible to employ the best people.
e) The British government has already designated more money to science and research following
the Brexit vote.
Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.
a) Financial backing (paragraph 1)
b) To stay (paragraph 2)
c) Probability (paragraph 2)
d) To persuade (paragraph 3)
e) To leave (paragraph 4)
Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the correct option, a, b or c for each question and COPY the sentence onto
your answer sheet.
1. Oxford University is considering opening a French campus...
a) despite of the UK’s decision to leave Europe.
b) because of the UK’s decision to leave Europe.
c) as soon as the UK’s decision to leave Europe.
2. The final decision about the new campus...
a) will be taken in the near future.
b) will be taking in the near future.
c) has been taken in the near future.
3. Monsieur Blanquer...
a) said the Daily Telegraph wanted to build bridges with British institutions.
b) told the Daily Telegraph that foreign universities want to build bridges with British
institutions.
c) told the Daily Telegraph that the French wanted to build bridges with British institutions.
4. As a consequence of Brexit, European research funding for UK universities...
a) will definitely be withdrawn.
b) is unlikely to be withdrawn.
c) will probably be withdrawn.
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