UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange scheme in 2027

The United Kingdom will rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus student exchange program from 2027, marking a significant step in resetting educational ties with Brussels after Brexit, a joint

UK-EU statement confirmed on Wednesday.

British students will once again be able to study and train across Europe through the popular scheme, which allows participants to spend a semester or academic year abroad at partner institutions. The move follows a pledge by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to restore participation in Erasmus as part of a broader effort to improve relations with the EU after the UK’s withdrawal from the bloc in 2021. 

Launched in 1987, the Erasmus program has involved around 9 million people and is widely credited with fostering academic mobility and cultural exchange across Europe, including among generations of British students. Under the agreement, the UK will join the expanded Erasmus+ program, which also covers further education, apprenticeships, youth programs, and sports training. The UK government said up to 100,000 people could benefit in the scheme’s first year alone. 

The cost of participation is expected to be around £570 million (€650 million, $760 million), according to the government. The UK left Erasmus following Brexit after the government of then–Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to remain in the program, citing concerns over costs. The decision was controversial within the education sector, with universities warning of reduced opportunities for students and staff. UK-EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds described the return as a “huge win for our young people.” “This is about more than just travel,” he said. “It’s about future skills, academic success, and giving the next generation access to the best possible opportunities.” 

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič welcomed the agreement as a “big step forward” in UK-EU relations, adding that Brussels would like to deepen cooperation further, including proposals that would allow 18- to 30-year-olds to study and work more easily across borders. UK universities also reacted positively to the announcement. Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, which represents leading British universities, said Erasmus+ would offer even broader opportunities than previous schemes.

 “It opens up fantastic opportunities for students, adult learners and young people to benefit from new experiences and learning,” he said, adding that it would also revive the contribution of EU students and staff to UK university life.