The UK is to rejoin Erasmus, the European Union’s education and training scheme, five years after the country pulled out following Brexit. The move will allow UK institutions to tap into Erasmus’s wide network of training, educational and cultural opportunities, with the UK government describing it as “a huge win for our young people”. But how will it work?
Who is eligible to take part in Erasmus?
Although the first Erasmus scheme from 1987 centred on higher education students, it has widened over the years to become Erasmus+ and includes work placements for apprentices, sports coaching, teacher training and school language and cultural projects. UK ministers are keen to highlight the vocational and work experience elements of Erasmus+ membership for students and apprentices. In 2018-19, more than 8,000 UK trainees and just under 10,000 university students used Erasmus.
How can I take part?
Individuals can’t apply directly to Erasmus; they apply through participating organisations such as schools, youth groups, colleges or workplaces. The individual programmes can last from two days to a year, and encompass all EU member states as well as associated countries – Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Turkey and North Macedonia. The scheme includes grants for travel, accommodation and living costs as well as course fees and some overheads. Students continue to pay tuition fees to their home institution.
How will UK membership work?
The UK government will set up a new national agency to administer the Erasmus+ programme, with applications expected to begin from mid-2026 before the UK fully rejoining in 2027-28. During that time, the government will evaluate how well the scheme has promoted opportunities for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Why did the UK leave Erasmus?
After Brexit, successive governments insisted that the UK could remain part of Erasmus, with the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, telling parliament in early 2020: “There is no threat to the Erasmus scheme; we will continue to participate.” But by December 2020 the UK had dropped Erasmus membership from its post-Brexit deal with the EU, with Johnson claiming the UK “loses out” financially because of the larger number of EU nationals coming for university study. Students at Northern Ireland’s universities have continued to participate with support by the Irish government.
How much will rejoining cost?
The UK said it had negotiated a fee of £570m for the first year, a 30% discount based on what the government says it would have paid otherwise. Ministers say the discount recognises that the UK historically received a disproportionate share of visits from EU participants. Research by Universities UK in 2020 estimated that the UK gained a net £243m boost to its economy from Erasmus after deducting costs.
What’s the political reaction?
The Liberal Democrats have been warmly enthusiastic, calling it “a moment of real opportunity and a clear step towards repairing the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal”. The Conservatives have been openly hostile, with Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, calling the £570m cost “nuts”, while Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said Labour was “dragging Britain back under the control of Brussels”.
What happens next?
The current Erasmus+ framework ends in 2028, and the UK will have to renegotiate its membership under the new framework. The UK government has said it will retain the 30% discount and will use the time to gauge the success of its membership before the new framework is adopted.
