Students from the European Union applying to prestigious courses at Scottish universities have fallen to their lowest level for a decade.
New figures show 1,050 EU students have applied to study medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine next year compared to a high of 1,310 in 2014.
Earlier this month, leading academics raised fears of a post-Brexit “meltdown” for universities.
Some courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels may no longer be viable if numbers of EU students dry up.
There are also fears that some of the brightest students in Europe will be lost to Scotland if they are made to feel unwelcome.
Mary Senior, Scotland official for the UCU lecturers’ union, said the figures would add to the “sense of unease” over the impact of Brexit on Higher education.
She said: “We must be ready to redouble our efforts to ensure EU students know our universities are open and ready to welcome them.
“We must mitigate the impact of Brexit on the staff and students that make our universities the world leading institutions they are.”
A spokesman for Universities Scotland called for the fall in EU applicants to be monitored closely.
He added: “The ongoing lack of clarity about the UK’s future relationship with the EU can’t help but influence applicants’ thinking and it’s why we have been continually calling for more details from the UK Government.”
Liam McCabe, president of student body NUS Scotland, added: “It’s concerning that the number of EU students applying to in Scotland is dropping.
“As the UK draws closer to exiting the EU we would implore the UK Government to work closely with the Scottish Government, our universities, colleges and the wider sector to mitigate and protect all students from the impact of Brexit.”
A study in 2011/12 showed EU students generated £414 million for the Scottish economy and in doing so created 3,743 jobs.
At the start of October senior figures from the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and St Andrews penned an open letter warning of a range of concerns post Brexit - including a decline in student numbers.
The letter stated: “With less than six months before we are due to leave the EU, it is becoming clearer day that all possible outcomes will be damaging.”
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