British universities are considering plans to open branches inside the European Union in an effort to soften the blow of Britain’s exit, as they struggle to navigate new challenges in regulation and funding.As hundreds of thousands of students across the UK prepare for their first week of lectures and seminars, university leaders, juggling the threat of Brexit, punishing new government appraisals and increased competition both inside and outside the sector, say they are facing a severe period of uncertainty and higher risks over the next 12 months.

A period of huge growth in recent years, fuelled by tuition fees, has provided them with funds to expand significantly – and go on a multibillion-pound spending spree on new facilities and buildings – though there are fears students are paying too much of a price.The Republic of Ireland, Finland and the Baltic states have emerged as preferred options for some, while others have looked to countries where their university has existing ties, such as Germany.

“A piece of advice I’ve had is, if you are looking anywhere don’t look at France because it’s a nightmare,” said another vice-chancellor, who said his staff had been studying the options for opening a research institute that would allow access to EU research funds.

At the same time as the Brexit challenge, universities are anxiously waiting to find out the results of the government’s initial teaching excellence framework (Tef), which rates universities on a range of student data such as employment and will be linked to universities’ ability to raise future tuition fees.Another threat within the latest higher education bill, the lowering of the barriers to new institutions opening and a fast-track to them gaining degree-awarding powers.

The universities considering EU branches do not want to reveal their plans in progress, and some others remain unsure.“There’s an open question whether this would genuinely secure access to grants,” said Husbands. “If you are going to do that – let’s say you are operating in Belgium – you are going to be operating in the regulatory regime for higher education for Belgium as well as the regulatory regime in the UK