After nearly five years on the sidelines, the United Kingdom is poised to rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus student exchange scheme, according to multiple reports from BBC, Sky News, and The Independent. The news, expected to be officially announced on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, marks a significant shift in UK-EU relations and promises to open new doors for British students and educators beginning in January 2027.
The Erasmus scheme, named after the Dutch Renaissance scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam, has long been a cornerstone of European educational cooperation. It allows students, trainees, and even volunteers to spend up to a year studying, training, or working in another European country—without paying extra fees. For many, it’s more than a chance to study abroad; it’s a life-changing experience that fosters cultural exchange, language skills, and international friendships.
When the UK left the EU in January 2021, its participation in Erasmus ended as well. The government, then led by Boris Johnson, cited high costs—reportedly a net £2 billion over seven years—as a key reason for the withdrawal. Instead, the UK launched its own alternative: the Turing scheme, named after the mathematician Alan Turing. The Turing scheme aimed to offer similar global opportunities, with a particular emphasis on supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and providing more generous travel support. In the 2024/25 academic year, Turing funded 43,200 placements, with most participants coming from England and the remainder from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, according to BBC.
But for many students and educators, the loss of Erasmus was a bitter pill. The National Union of Students (NUS) and university leaders have consistently lobbied for the UK’s return. As Alex Stanley from the NUS put it, “It’s fantastic that another generation of students will be able to be part of the Erasmus programme. Students have been campaigning to rejoin Erasmus from the day we left.”
The push to rejoin gained momentum when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised a post-Brexit “reset” with Brussels earlier this year. In May, he indicated that restoring youth mobility, including Erasmus participation, would be part of new negotiations with the EU. According to The Guardian and The Times, those talks included discussions of “mutually agreed financial terms,” with the UK seeking a discount on membership fees—which are typically calculated based on a country’s GDP. The EU reportedly offered a 30% reduction in fees for the first year, a gesture that helped seal the deal.
The anticipated announcement is expected to confirm that UK students will once again be eligible for Erasmus exchanges starting in January 2027. And it’s not just university students who stand to benefit: vocational trainees, apprentices, and even school pupils could participate in placements across Europe. The Guardian reported that vocational training placements will be included, broadening the scheme’s reach beyond traditional academic routes.
Universities across the UK have warmly welcomed the news. Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group of leading universities, expressed his delight: “We’re delighted at the UK’s association to Erasmus+. With an even greater scope than previous programmes, Erasmus+ opens up fantastic opportunities for students, adult learners and young people to all benefit from new experiences and learning. It will also renew the huge contributions that EU students and staff make to life on our university campuses.” Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, echoed this sentiment, telling The Times, “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.”
Political reactions have been predictably mixed, with opposition parties seizing on the development as evidence of Brexit’s shortcomings. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey described the move as “a moment of real opportunity and a clear step towards repairing the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal.” The party’s universities spokesman, Ian Sollom, called it “a huge win for the student movement.” Labour MP Darren Frith told Sky News he would “welcome” the move, while government ministers have maintained a cautious silence, with a Cabinet Office spokesperson stating, “We are not commenting on ongoing talks.”
Behind the scenes, negotiations have been led by Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who recently met with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s trade chief, in Brussels. The talks were reportedly focused on ensuring the UK could rejoin in time for the 2027 academic year, and on hammering out the financial details. The EU’s offer of a 30% fee reduction in the first year appears to have been a key factor in reaching an agreement.
The numbers from Erasmus’s final year with UK participation highlight the scheme’s impact. In 2020, the UK received €144 million (£126 million) in EU funding, enabling 55,700 people to take part in Erasmus projects. Of those, 9,900 British students and trainees went abroad, while 16,100 arrived in the UK from other countries. The most popular destinations for UK students included Spain, France, and Germany, with universities in Glasgow, Bristol, and Edinburgh sending the most participants.
The fate of the Turing scheme, however, remains uncertain. It’s not yet clear whether it will continue alongside Erasmus, be phased out, or be restructured. The Turing scheme has been praised for its global reach—funding placements not just in Europe but around the world—and for its focus on disadvantaged students. Ministers who introduced it argued that it provided “greater support for travel costs than the Erasmus scheme did.”
For now, the prospect of rejoining Erasmus has sparked optimism among students, educators, and policymakers who see it as a bridge to rebuild international partnerships and restore opportunities lost after Brexit. As Vivienne Stern put it, the programme “plays a pivotal role in rebuilding our international partnerships and delivers the best possible outcomes for the UK.”
With the formal announcement expected imminently, and the first exchanges set for 2027, British students and educators are preparing for a new chapter—one that promises renewed connections, broader horizons, and, perhaps, a little healing after years of division.
