How will Brexit affect young people?

Most young Britons have grown up not knowing any different than life inside the EU, how would their lives be affected by a Leave vote tomorrow?

For decades, the freedom of Europe has been taken advantage of by those who want to travel and see the best of the continent, or those who want to find a job or study at a foreign university.

These freedoms could change if the UK decides to Leave the EU however.

First of all, some experts believe that leaving the EU would .limit job opportunites for the millions of British expats in Europe. “If you want to work in Germany or France, you are able to work on the same terms as citizens there,” Megan Dunn, the outgoing NUS president, told the Guardian.

“This means you don’t need special visas. If we were to leave, it’s unlikely we would be able to work on the same terms. It’s possible you would need some kind of visa to work abroad and this would impact on your ability to acquire a job.”

"If we were to leave, it’s unlikely we would be able to work on the same terms." NUS President Megan Dunn

Similar obstacles would arise for those who want to experience life in a European university, whether on a permanent basis or through the EU-funded Erasmus programme.

Britons pay the highest tuition fees in the world for public universities according to the OECD, and some students have responded by going to colleges in Germany, France or the Netherlands instead.

Sorana Vieru, vice president of the NUS, said that although students can study outside of the EU “it may be harder to get visas and fees may be more expensive”. She added: “I think we can safely assume that if we’re not part of the EU, we’ll be paying international student rates in Europe if those institutions charge them.”

Young graduates are typically the group that is most vulnerable to job losses and economic difficulties, and research suggests that a possible financial downturn could affect those fresh out of university.
The Remain campaign argues that British young people will be more likely to be recruited if they don't face as much competition from European graduates, but what if the jobs are not there for anyone?

Young graduates are typically the group that is most vulnerable to job losses and economic difficulties

Many of the UK's young adults use the free movement within Europe as the perfect opportunity for a gap year or to travel regularly on the continent, which also could be affected for various reasons.

Brexit poses a threat to visa-free travel within the EU, according to Dunn. “Our membership of the European Union makes it easier for young people to travel in Europe. Visas in EU countries are not required, and travel is cheaper because of the EU. Airfares are lower because of the single market and roaming charges have recently been reduced because of it, and will be axed altogether next year."

Indeed, Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary has said that it is inevitable that prices will become higher for those flying from a non-EU Britain.