The Scottish government don't appear to see the bigger picture you describe and believe they will have a net saving of £19 million; the other figure reported was a total funding cost of £97 million.Apologies for the source but it was the only one not behind a pay wall, i do try to use the Guardian when available.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/poli...tion-fees-university-free-tuition-eu-students
Our friends at the Guardian suggest freebies.
On 24 June, universities minister Michelle Donelan
announced that, as a consequence of Brexit, EU and EEA students would be classified as overseas students starting from the 2021/22 academic year. They will be charged full tuition (up to £20,000 in some cases), lose access to the tuition fee loan, and no longer be eligible for many needs-based funds. It signalled the end of a brief period of time when it seemed UK universities could serve international social and academic mobility.
https://www.theguardian.com/educati...pay-higher-fees-is-a-blow-for-social-mobility