As the mist begins to clear from Brexit there have been some truisms about Britain that have inevitably re-emerged. Things usually work out in the end is one that appears to be bearing true as politicians, bankers and leaders begin to come to an agreement about the best economic strategy moving forward. Positive news emerges with increasing frequency from the financial centres as the FTSE climbs and Sterling recovers slowly and tentatively. The large issues seem to be getting addressed in reasonable time and strategies are making themselves clear. Not everything has been dealt with quite so smoothly though.

One of the big issues looming on the horizon is international students and their right to live, work and study here in the UK. With one of the biggest international student communities in the world Britain needs to formulate a plan to accommodate these students and ensure a seamless transition for them.

A ‘Leave’ vote, many argued, could upend British higher education by treating students from EU nations the same as other international students instead of as near-equals to Brits themselves. That change could hike tuition fees for EU students and cut them off from the UK’s generous loan terms, effectively serving as a deterrent for such pupils considering pursuing a British education as they access loans based on the UK’s membership in the bloc, which is now in post-Brexit limbo.

In the lead-up to the UK’s European Union referendum, UK university leaders were among the most ardent about remaining in the EU. Under the EU’s “free movement” principal, students from member countries have the same access to universities in the UK as Brits themselves. They apply the same way, pay the same tuition fees (now some £9,000 per year), and rely on the same UK loan facilities, whose terms—that borrowers only have to pay back loans once they reach annual earnings of £21,000—are generous, at least compared to U.S. standards. There was a fear that if the UK exited the EU, students from other EU nations would lose those privileges and be thrust into the same pool as other international students who face higher tuition fees and don’t enjoy the same right of access to the U.K.’s loan program.

Luckily there doesn’t seem to be any suggestions that there will be a decrease in university applications for the coming academic year and no real suggestions that there will be a significant drop in subsequent years either. 

One issue for students recently has been the noticeable lack of quality accommodation and this has been largely addressed thanks to private investment in the sector. Large projects are now appearing at the majority of large campuses around the country. Typically requiring lower immediate capital than normal off-plan properties the student accommodation projects have proved popular with investors as they see high yields and good tenancy rates with high demand. As the schemes are becoming more popular the news that students aren’t set to be too badly effected will reassure investors that the student property market is still sound with good returns.

In a recent report from Knight Frank about specialist property investment it was revealed that most investors now see student property and accommodation as the safest asset class and where they plan to invest most heavily in the near future. Respondents to the survey were asked “If you are planning to increase your exposure to specialist property, which sector(s) will you be targeting?” and 70% responded that they would be investing further in student property. They were also asked “Which (if any) of the following specialist property sectors are you currently exposed to?” with a massive 80% responding that they were already invested in student property.

The expectation among many is that in the medium term the economy will take some time to readjust itself and find a new natural level, whether that be through stocks or currency rates. As these fluctuations occur it’s normal for risk-averse investors to seek safe positions for their long term goals and property often offers this environment. Figures show that as property becomes more diverse so does investment strategy and with the student property market currently facing a large supply and demand deficit capital growth and yields are increasing impressively.

Regardless of the result things have been mainly ‘business as usual’ and this seems to indicate much of the same. As with other sectors affected things aren’t simple but, broadly speaking, we can expect things to continue in much the same vein and in many cases, actually improve.