British students are set to regain access to the European Union’s flagship Erasmus+ exchange programme from January 2027, marking a significant recalibration of the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the bloc. The move, announced by ministers, reverses a decision made at the end of 2020 and signals a renewed commitment to educational and cultural exchange across Europe.
The UK formally withdrew from the Erasmus+ programme at the beginning of 2021, despite it being a scheme it had participated in since 1987. The then-Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, justified the departure by deeming the programme “extremely expensive” and asserting it did not offer “value for money.”
In its place, the UK launched the Turing Scheme in 2021, an initiative designed to provide global study and work placement opportunities for British students. While the Turing Scheme has supported approximately 40,000 participants annually with a budget of £78 million for 2025-26, it has focused on worldwide destinations and offered grants primarily for living costs, not tuition fees for host institutions. Questions remain regarding the future direction of the Turing Scheme, with suggestions it may be refocused on non-European destinations.
Under the terms of the new agreement, British students will be able to undertake year-long study placements at European universities as part of their UK degree courses without incurring additional tuition fees.
Reciprocally, students from EU member states will be able to study in the UK, benefiting from an international fee waiver that will see them pay domestic tuition rates, currently capped at £9,535 per year. Participants will also be eligible for grants to help cover the additional costs of living abroad.
Beyond traditional university exchanges, the expanded Erasmus+ participation will extend to further education colleges, vocational training placements, sports exchanges, and certain work experience opportunities. The programme will also facilitate job shadowing and training abroad for education staff. A dedicated UK national agency will be established to manage the programme.
Financially, the UK was a net contributor to Erasmus+ prior to Brexit, with more European students choosing to study in Britain than UK students opting for European institutions. Estimates placed the annual cost to the UK taxpayer at over £200 million.
However, the current government has successfully negotiated a 30 per cent reduction in membership fees for the initial year of re-entry. The UK’s contribution for the 2027/28 academic year is anticipated to be around £570 million, with subsequent years’ costs to be mutually agreed.
This decision is seen as a key outcome of Sir Keir Starmer’s push to “reset” relations with the European Union, following a summit in May where a new Strategic Partnership was agreed. Negotiations were led by Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, and Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission’s Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight and Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security. The government has adopted a strategy of “ruthless pragmatism” in its engagement with the EU, prioritising areas of mutual benefit. Sources in Brussels have expressed delight at the agreement.
In Case You Missed It:
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, hailed the announcement as “fantastic news for the UK, and for students and universities here and across Europe.” She added: “The agreement marks a huge step forward in our relationship with the EU and will offer life-changing opportunities for thousands of students. The UK government and the EU deserve credit for moving these complex negotiations forward at pace and reaching a mutually agreeable deal.”
The Liberal Democrats also welcomed the news, describing it as “a crucial first step” towards a closer relationship with the EU.
The return to Erasmus+ is expected to provide significant benefits for students, fostering cultural understanding, enhancing language skills, and boosting career prospects, while also strengthening academic collaboration and soft power between the UK and its European neighbours.
