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In a landmark shift in post-Brexit relations, the United Kingdom has agreed to rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus+ student exchange programme, restoring opportunities for British students and educators to study, train and work across Europe from January 2027.
The UK government confirmed around the end of December 2025 that negotiators in London and Brussels had finalised terms for the UK to associate with Erasmus+, the EU’s flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport.
Under the deal, the UK will contribute approximately £570 million for the 2027–28 academic year, reflecting a negotiated 30 % discount on the standard participation fee for non-EU countries.
According to government estimates, more than 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the programme in its first year, with opportunities including academic study abroad, vocational training placements and exchanges for teachers and youth leaders.
The agreement restores the two-way nature of Erasmus+, meaning EU students will also be able to come to the UK under the same terms, including domestic fee levels rather than international rates. This is an important detail for universities seeking to reverse the sharp decline in EU enrolments since Brexit.
The move comes as part of the Labour government’s broader efforts to reset relations with the EU after years of post-Brexit tension. UK negotiators had been working toward re-association throughout 2025, fulfilling a key commitment made at the UK-EU summit in May.
EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds described the deal as “a huge win for our young people”, saying it breaks down barriers and widens horizons for learners from all backgrounds. Ministers emphasised that the programme should be accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, not just those traditionally able to fund study abroad.
While the UK’s formal participation begins in 2027, preparatory work (including launching a national agency to administer Erasmus+ and guidance for applicants) is already underway. The government has said it will continue negotiations on long-term terms for participation beyond the current EU budget cycle.
For many young people and educators, the return to Erasmus+ is both a practical boost and a symbolic sign of renewed educational and cultural ties between the UK and the rest of Europe, seven years after the UK’s departure from the EU ended its previous membership of the programme.
