Universities should stop complaining about Brexit because it is the ‘catalyst we all need’, the chair of the Russell Group has said.

Sir David Greenaway, who represents some of Britain’s most elite universities, has argued a world where the UK is no longer part of the EU will give universities the freedom they need to exceed expectations.

In the run up to the referendum vote in June universities had warned EU students would be put off studying at British institutions.

They have also warned academic cooperation could become more difficult in the case of tighter border controls. But these fears are yet to materialise.

'Slight unease'

Writing for The Telegraph, Sir David said: “Did you know an astonishing 90 per cent of the Higher Education community voted for remain? Compared with the Leave campaign’s winning margin of only 4 per cent, it’s a position of relative unity that would make many people blush. Yet it fills me with a slight unease.

“Why? Because it suggests either the academic world knows something the electorate doesn’t or we’re hopelessly out of touch.

“While we deal with this sense of loss and disconnect there's a risk that the opportunities presented by Brexit are overshadowed.