UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus+ student mobility fund in 2027
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The European Union and the United Kingdom have agreed on a deal that will see British students rejoin the Erasmus+ programme in 2027, seven years after the UK left the EU and its institutions.
London had faced sustained pressure from universities and student groups to return to the scheme, but had previously resisted, citing lower participation rates among British students and the programme’s popularity with EU citizens. Under the agreement, the UK will contribute €650 million in the 2027/28 academic year, around 30% less than the fee paid by non-EU countries, according to the British government.
Erasmus+ supports education, training, youth, culture and sport, with more than 100,000 people from the UK expected to benefit in 2027. EU Relations Minister Nick-Thomas Symonds described the move as “a huge win for our young people”, saying it would help widen access to study and training opportunities abroad.
Alongside the Erasmus deal, the EU and UK also signalled closer cooperation on electricity markets, arguing this would boost investment, strengthen energy security and benefit consumers. The announcements follow a gradual push for closer ties after Brexit, including the first post-Brexit EU-UK summit held in May, which focused on trade, defence and youth mobility.
