OXFORD University saw the highest number of resignations from EU academics last year in the whole of the UK.

The university had 230 departures in 2016-17 compared to 171 in 2014-15, as concerns rise about a 'brexodus' of top academic talent after the UK exits the European Union in 2019.

A spokesman for the university told the Independent that it has recruited a large number of EU staff during the same period so the overall numbers were largely similar.

He said: “The status of colleagues from other parts of the EU has been a major concern for the university and we have called for clear commitments on this issue to reassure staff and students who are already here or hoping to join us.

“The recent joint report on Brexit negotiations confirmed the rights of academics and other staff currently in the UK but the university will continue to call for a free flow of academic talent to and from the EU in the final Brexit settlement.”

More than 2,300 academics from EU countries resigned from British universities last year, a 19 per cent increase compared to before the EU referendum.

The figures were revealed as part of a freedom of information request submitted by the Liberal Democrats.

Layla Moran, the Oxford West and Abingdon MP, said Britain's universities were being 'put at risk' by the government's 'botched handling' of Brexit and academics were 'voting with their feet.'