Five years after leaving, the United Kingdom is rejoining the European student exchange programme Erasmus from 2027, marking a significant milestone in relations between London and Brussels.
The agreement announced on Wednesday, December 17, opens the door to more than 100,000 British students in the first year alone. The UK’s contribution for the 2027-2028 academic year will amount to 570 million pounds sterling, approximately 648 million euros, with a 30 percent reduction compared to default terms under the current trade agreement with the European Union.
A victory for European youth
Britain’s Minister for EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, describes this agreement as a major victory for young people. It removes barriers and broadens horizons so that everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to study and train abroad.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared on social media that this return paves the way for new shared experiences and lasting friendships for all students. Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic hailed it as a major step forward for relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
A controversial departure in 2020
The decision by Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to leave Erasmus in December 2020 had caused consternation in the European Union, among students and British higher education stakeholders. Johnson had emphasized the cost of the programme, arguing that London hosted more European students than it sent young Britons to the continent.
He had created his own Alan Turing programme, named after a famous British mathematician. This agreement is part of the revival of relations with the European Union undertaken by Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer since coming to power last July, after years of tensions between the 27 member states and previous Conservative governments.
A programme open to all
London specifies that the programme will be open to students and apprentices, emphasizing the importance of broad participation, including disadvantaged groups. Opportunities include internships at leading European companies for higher education students and apprentices. Since its creation in 1987, nine million people have benefited from Erasmus, which has helped shape a generation of pro-European Britons.