The UK has agreed to re-enter the Erasmus student exchange programme from 2027, marking a return to the EU scheme six years after withdrawing during Brexit negotiations. The move will once again give British students the chance to spend up to a year studying at partner institutions across Europe without additional tuition fees, with European students gaining the same access to UK universities. Erasmus had been replaced in 2021 by the UK’s global Turing scheme, which offered similar placements beyond Europe.

Under the new arrangement, the UK will contribute £570m to join an expanded Erasmus+ scheme, which ministers say comes at a 30% discount. EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds welcomed the agreement, arguing it demonstrated that the government’s renewed working relationship with the EU was beginning to deliver tangible benefits. He emphasised that the scheme was not just about cultural experience, but also about future skills and academic development.

Erasmus was originally dropped in 2020, with the government arguing that the scheme did not offer good value for money because far more EU students came to the UK than British students travelled abroad. In its final year of participation, the UK received €144m of EU funding, sending nearly 10,000 students overseas while more than 16,000 arrived from Europe. By comparison, the Turing scheme funded over 43,000 placements worldwide last year.

Student groups have strongly backed the decision to rejoin. The National Union of Students called the move a “major win”, noting long-standing campaigning efforts. Opposition parties also welcomed the news, describing it as a positive step towards restoring international opportunities for young people following the disruption of Brexit.