UK Confirms Rejoining EU's Erasmus+ Programme Starting January 2027

The United Kingdom is formally set to rejoin the European Union's Erasmus+ student exchange programme, with participation commencing in January 2027. This policy shift, officially confirmed on December 17, 2025, aligns with the Labour government's stated objective to deepen engagement with the European bloc following the nation's withdrawal from the scheme at the start of 2021 under the preceding administration.

The Erasmus+ framework facilitates broad mobility opportunities encompassing not only university study but also training, culture, and sport, benefiting a diverse cohort including apprentices, adult learners, further education students, and undergraduates. Initial projections suggest that up to 100,000 individuals within the UK could access the programme's benefits in the inaugural year, supported by necessary grants to mitigate the financial costs of overseas study or work placements.

The financial commitment from the UK for the 2027/2028 period has been established at approximately £570 million. This figure incorporates a 30% discount from the standard financial terms applicable to non-EU member states under the existing trade agreement, a negotiated arrangement the government views as balancing contribution with derived advantages. This re-entry is a pivotal element in the broader effort to reset UK-EU relations, a process initiated at the UK-EU Summit in May 2025.

Reciprocal benefits are a key feature of the agreement: EU students studying at UK universities under Erasmus+ will pay the capped domestic fee rate, currently set at £9,535 per year. This contrasts with the domestic Turing scheme, the UK's replacement since 2021, which focused on worldwide exchanges but lacked Erasmus+'s reciprocal inward mobility component. Stakeholders, including the National Union of Students, have welcomed the move, citing it as a significant advantage for students.

To manage the transition ahead of the 2027 funding call, a dedicated UK national agency will be established to oversee the administrative functions of Erasmus+ domestically. The government intends to collaborate with educational institutions to maximize participation, with an emphasis on ensuring access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Concurrently, the UK and EU have agreed to begin negotiations on integrating the internal electricity market and linking carbon markets before the next scheduled summit in the spring.