The UK will rejoin the Erasmus+ programme, with applications opening in November ahead of a formal return on January 1, 2027.

Educational institutions of all kinds will be eligible to participate, not just universities, according to Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer.

The government expects more than 100,000 people to benefit from the scheme, with a focus on helping disadvantaged students.

This move follows the UK’s 2020 departure from Erasmus+ and its replacement by the Turing Scheme, part of a broader post-Brexit reset deal with Brussels announced in 2025 by the Starmer administration.

Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan raised concerns about lost opportunities since Brexit, prompting Falconer to confirm reassociation with Erasmus+ from 2027.

The scheme will include participants beyond university students, such as further education students, apprentices, adult learners, school groups, and sports coaches, as well as educational staff for job shadowing and training abroad.