Erasmus scheme to return for UK students, BBC understands

British students are poised to regain access to the Erasmus scheme, according to the BBC, marking a reversal from the decision five years ago to withdraw as part of the Brexit agreement.

The Erasmus program provides EU funding for individuals to study, train, or volunteer in other European nations for periods of up to one year. The UK had replaced it with the Turing scheme in 2021, which funds similar international placements.

While the government has declined to comment on ongoing discussions, an official announcement is anticipated on Wednesday. Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, had previously hinted at a potential youth mobility scheme as part of a revised agreement with the EU back in May.

The BBC understands that UK students will once again be able to participate in the Erasmus scheme starting in January 2027.

Alex Stanley, representing the National Union of Students (NUS), hailed the anticipated return as a "fantastic" development, stating that it would allow another generation of students to benefit from the Erasmus program. He emphasized that rejoining Erasmus has been a key campaign for students since the UK's departure.

The UK's participation in the Erasmus scheme concluded in December 2020, coinciding with the government's announcement of its post-Brexit trade arrangement with the EU. At the time, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged the decision was difficult but cited the program's escalating costs.

Johnson stated that the Turing scheme, named in honor of British mathematician Alan Turing, would take its place. Both the Erasmus and Turing schemes are available to university students, those on vocational courses, apprentices, and individuals in training at colleges or schools.

In 2020, the final year of the UK's Erasmus participation, the program received €144 million (£126 million) in EU funding, enabling 55,700 individuals to engage in Erasmus projects. That year, the UK sent 9,900 students and trainees abroad, while hosting 16,100 from other countries. Glasgow, Bristol, and Edinburgh were the top three universities for sending students, with Spain, France, and Germany being the most favored destinations.

During the 2024/25 academic year, the Turing scheme operated with a budget of £105 million, funding 43,200 placements. Of these, 24,000 were in higher education, 12,100 in further education, and 7,000 in schools. The majority of participants (38,000) were from England, with 2,900 from Scotland, 1,000 from Wales, and 1,200 from Northern Ireland.

When the Turing scheme was launched in 2021, ministers stated that it was designed to extend benefits to more individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and offer greater financial support for travel expenses compared to the Erasmus scheme.

The future of the Turing scheme following the reintroduction of Erasmus for UK students remains uncertain.

Ian Sollom, the Liberal Democrat universities spokesman, welcomed the reported return of Erasmus, describing it as "a moment of real opportunity and a clear step towards repairing the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal."