UK to rejoin Erasmus+ in 2027

The UK will rejoin the Erasmus+ mobility programme in 2027 for an initial one-year term. This will end the country’s six-year absence in the programme that was prompted by Brexit in 2021.

Erasmus+ is the EU’s main programme for encouraging training across Europe in the areas of education, training, youth, and sport. The initiative is thriving, with its 2021–27 budget (€26.2 billion) nearly double what it was in the 2014–20 period. The number of learners taking advantage of Erasmus+ has also nearly doubled from 2014. Erasmus+ says that the 2021-27 budget “will fund learning mobility experiences for roughly 1,275,000 participants and support more than 100,000 organisations across all sectors.”

In a 15 April press release, the UK government reassured the public that it “secured a 30% discount on the default contribution rate, delivering a fair deal for taxpayers while guaranteeing full participation in the programme.”

The expectation is that “100,000 people [will] benefit in the first year alone, including apprentices on placements in leading European companies, school groups taking part in cultural exchanges, and organisations collaborating on new cross-border initiatives.”

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the news:

“Europe and the UK have enjoyed mutually beneficial educational ties for centuries. Strengthening those ties further makes perfect sense on both sides – for our students, teachers, educational systems, economies and societies as a whole. I look forward to seeing the immense potential of this development being realised as soon as possible.”

British Council will lead the UK’s participation

The government has chosen the British Council to be the National Agency for Erasmus+ in the UK, and this will be finalised later this year by the European Commission.

Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, offered a quote for the announcement:

“As the National Agency for Erasmus+, the British Council will work closely with the Department for Education, the Devolved Governments and the European Commission to make the most of the opportunities of the programme for the UK.”

Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International, spoke on behalf of his organisation:

“Universities UK International (UUKi) is delighted that the UK and EU governments have finalised the agreement which enables the UK to participate in Erasmus+ in 2027, and we welcome the appointment of the British Council as the UK’s National Agency for Erasmus+.”

Rapprochement with Europe

Joining Erasmus+ is one of many signals that the UK government is prioritising closer ties with Europe amid pronounced geopolitical shifts and as the damaging effects of Brexit on the economy become more and more apparent.

The press release states that as a result of rejoining the mobility programme, “UK institutions and communities will also once again welcome EU participants and the skills, diversity and culture they bring.”

A study for the National Bureau of Economic Research has found that over the course of a decade, ending in 2025:

• UK GDP per capita was 6–8% lower than it would have been without Brexit
• Investment was 12–18% lower
• Employment was 3–4% lower
• Productivity was 3–4% lower

The Brexit government led by Boris Johnson had predicted there would be short-term losses from the departure from Europe. However, the research found that it considerably underestimated the long-term, ongoing losses.

The first UK-EU Summit happened in May of 2025, and it resulted in UK/EU agreements on food and drink, energy, emissions trading, security, and defence.

The press release’s working on the summit’s results reflect the current Starmer government’s belief in UK/European cooperation: “[The agreements] are helping to make people across the UK safer, more secure, and more prosperous.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live in April, Prime Minister Starmer said: “We're in a world where there's massive conflict, great uncertainty, and I strongly believe the UK's best interests are in a stronger, closer relationship with Europe.”

For additional background, please see:

• “British Council says student recruitment to UK higher education will get a boost this year from South Asia and the ‘Trump effect’"