UK to contribute £570 million to Erasmus+ in 2027 for its first year back as an associated partner
The United Kingdom will contribute approximately £570 million (€648.97m) to the EU
European Union
mobility scheme Erasmus+ in 2027 for its first year as an associated partner, after leaving the scheme in 2020 following Brexit.
"The UK
United Kingdom
has negotiated financial terms that strike a fair balance between our contribution and the benefits offered by the programme, including a 30% discount on the default terms set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This ensures value for UK taxpayers while guaranteeing full participation benefits," the UK Mission to the EU announced on 17/12/2025.
It added that the UK 2027 contribution will cover the academic year 2027-2028, while future participation in Erasmus+ in the next medium-term budget for 2028-2034, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), will need to be agreed "based on a fair and balanced contribution".
"A UK national agency will be appointed to manage the Erasmus+ programme, with a dedicated website and guidelines well ahead of the 2027 funding call. We will work closely with institutions and our young people to maximise uptake, particularly among disadvantaged groups, and ensure certainty on complementary UK schemes so that providers can plan with confidence," the UK Mission said.
The UK and the European Commission have reached an agreement on the UK's rejoining Erasmus+ on 17/12/2025, "thereby expanding opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, learners, educational staff, youth workers and sports coaches to train and study abroad," the Mission said.
Reactions from the UK and beyond
UK government
"[Erasmus+] is about breaking down barriers to opportunity, giving learners the chance to develop skills, confidence and international experience that employers value," stated Jacqui Smith, UK Minister of State for Skills.
"It's about much more than travel: it's about future skills, academic success and giving the next generation access to the best opportunities possible," according to Nick Thomas-Symonds, UK Minister for Constitution and EU Relations.
Who can benefit from Erasmus+?
For the UK Mission to the EU, the new association will "create educational and training opportunities for British pupils, higher education or continuing education students, apprentices, adult learners, and staff working in the education sector, young people, youth workers, and professionals in the sports sector".
This includes:
• Continuing education students and apprentices undertaking internships in leading European companies.
• Higher education students undertaking study periods or internships, and staff participating in job shadowing or training placements.
• Those in the adult education sector participating in individual and group learner mobility - open to a wide range of adult education organisations.
• School and youth groups participating in visits, exchanges, and projects focused on cultural exchange, leadership and teamwork.
• Beyond learners, educational staff benefit from training, professional observation and teaching exchanges abroad to acquire new skills and international perspectives.
• For the sports sector, coaches and other sports staff participating in professional development activities abroad and developing partnerships with relevant organisations in other countries.
Maximising UK participation
According to the UK Mission to the EU, more than 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the programme in the first year. "Data shows that studying abroad can improve students' career prospects, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds," it added.
The government will reportedly work closely with institutions and young people to maximise participation, particularly among disadvantaged groups.
British Council says rejoining Erasmus + will give young people "global outlook"
Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: "We believe that giving young people a broad range of opportunities for school exchanges, work placements, language courses and semesters abroad will give them a global outlook and equip them with a whole range of skills of value both to them and to the UK. We also welcome the fact that more young people from the EU will have the chance to come to the UK and forge lifelong connections here."
The British Council was a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014-2020, but it has not been announced yet if they will be again following the association.
MEPs Members of Parliament from the European Parliament
The conclusion of the negotiations on Erasmus+ "significantly strengthens the mutually beneficial partnership and political allyship across the continent that is so desperately needed in these polarising times," according to Nela Riehl, a German MEP who is chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education.
"This sends a very important and positive signal at an extremely difficult time, demonstrating that countries across the continent recognise cooperation in the field of young people’s education as being of special value," added Bogdan Zdrojewski, a Polish MEP who is rapporteur for the 2028-2034 Erasmus+ programme.
The European University Association and Universities UK
The European University Association (EUA) and Universities UK International (UUKi) congratulated the UK and the European Commission for the "mutually beneficial agreement" on the programme: "Erasmus has long been a cornerstone of international collaboration in higher education, and the UK rejoining will help rebuild and deepen partnerships that are vital for research, mobility and cultural exchange."
"We look forward to working with our universities and our partners in Europe, to ensure that the programme plays a pivotal role in rebuilding our international partnerships and delivers the best possible outcomes for the UK," added Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK.
Josep M. Garrell, President of EUA, declared: "By restoring bridges between our universities, this will support student and staff mobility, cooperation between universities (including through the European Universities alliances) and joint policy development."
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