UK to rejoin Erasmus plus scheme from January
Harry Taylor, Press Association Political Staff
The UK Government has confirmed that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus plus student exchange scheme from the start of January.
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said applications would open next month for young people who will be able to study, train or get work experience in the European Union.
Mr Falconer emphasised to MPs that the opportunities would be open to “educational institutions of all kinds”.
Work on the UK joining the Erasmus programme was announced as part of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s post-Brexit reset deal with Brussels in 2025.
The UK left the scheme under Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal in 2020, with the then-prime minister arguing it did not offer value for money.
It was replaced by the Turing Scheme, which was ended when the Government announced the new deal over Erasmus plus.
The Government has previously said it expects more than 100,000 people to be able to benefit, and that disadvantaged students tend to benefit highly from taking part in the scheme.
As well as university-based study exchanges, Erasmus plus allows further education students and apprentices to take up work placements in European firms.
There will be exchange opportunities for adult learners, school groups and sports coaches – and job shadowing and training abroad will be available to education staff.
In the Commons, Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) said young people had been “deprived of opportunity” since Brexit, as she asked: “What work is being done with EU counterparts to improve ties with the EU so it benefits our economy and our young people?”
Mr Falconer replied: “I would like to inform the House that the UK will reassociate with Erasmus plus from January 1 2027.
“Applications open this November.
“They are not simply for undergraduate university students.
“They are for educational institutions of all kinds.”
He urged “members right across the House to work with the British Council, get their institutions engaged”.
“That is one of the concrete ways we will be helping young people through closer relationship.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Get more trusted Welsh news
Choose Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News to see more of our journalism.
