The UK has agreed to pay £570m in 2027 to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange programme, almost double the annual amount it contributed before Brexit, as London and Brussels seek to deepen cooperation under a wider reset in relations.
The announcement was accompanied by commitments from both sides to push ahead with further agreements on food trade and energy markets next year. Erasmus allows students to spend up to a year studying at a university in a partner country while paying the same tuition fees as domestic students, and is among the first tangible outcomes of renewed UK-EU engagement.
Britain withdrew from the scheme in December 2020 under then prime minister Boris Johnson, who argued it offered poor value for money because the UK paid in significantly more than it received, citing low participation by British students. In the final five years of membership, the UK’s annual contribution ranged between £200m and £300m, including £296m in 2019.
Under the new deal, the UK has secured a 30 per cent reduction on the initial contribution demanded by the EU, though only for the first year. Discussions on future payments will continue. Ministers said the revamped Erasmus would be extended to further-education students and apprentices, countering claims that the scheme mainly benefits more affluent young people.
The UK will initially rejoin for the 2027–28 academic year. From 2028, a new EU multiannual budget is expected to increase the UK’s contribution. Overall Erasmus funding between 2028 and 2034 is set to rise by around 50 per cent compared with the previous seven-year cycle, from about €26bn to €41bn.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the cabinet minister responsible for EU relations, said: “Joining Erasmus+ is a huge win for our young people, breaking down barriers and widening horizons to ensure everyone has the opportunity to study and train abroad.”
University leaders welcomed the move. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, called it “fantastic news” that would offer “life-changing opportunities for thousands of students”, while Tim Bradshaw of the Russell Group said the expanded programme would benefit students, adult learners and universities alike.
The announcement came as the UK and EU agreed to advance talks on closer cooperation in energy, including possible UK participation in the EU’s internal electricity market, which ministers said could lower costs and strengthen energy security. Both sides also committed to concluding negotiations on a new food and drink trade deal by 2026, aimed at removing regulatory barriers.
