UK Moves Closer to Rejoining Erasmus+ Scheme
Sep 10, 2025
Category: EU News UK Youth Mobility
The United Kingdom has taken a significant step toward rejoining the European Union’s (EU) Erasmus+ student mobility program, with the government issuing a contract notice seeking a provider to run the scheme if negotiations with Brussels are finalized.
The move comes amid growing political support, strong backing from the higher education sector, and mounting public demand for expanded youth mobility opportunities.
Government signals readiness
The Department for Education (DfE) recently advertised a potential £20–24 million contract for an 18-month period starting in July 2026 to manage Erasmus+ in the UK.
The tender follows commitments made at the UK–EU summit in May 2025, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government agreed to “work towards association” with the scheme.
Britain left Erasmus+ in 2020, when then–prime minister Boris Johnson’s government ruled participation too costly. A substitute, the Turing Scheme, was launched in 2021 to fund UK students abroad, but it only supported outward mobility and operated with a smaller budget.
Labour has extended Turing funding for 2025–26 at £78 million, down nearly a third from the previous year.
A government spokesperson stressed that any deal with the EU would avoid direct contributions to the bloc’s overall budget and would need to be financially sustainable. The spokesperson also said that the government was considering the implications for Turing if Erasmus+ membership is restored.
European negotiations advance
While no agreement has been finalized, EU officials welcomed progress. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told an audience in London in May 2025, “I am so glad that we have agreed that we will have Erasmus+ for young people.”
Trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič described the UK association as carrying “symbolic value,” underscoring closer ties between Brussels and London after years of post-Brexit strain.
Negotiations remain focused on two contentious issues: financial contributions and visa requirements. Erasmus+ funding is “backloaded,” meaning costs rise sharply in the program’s final years, which run until 2027.
UK officials have said that they will only proceed under “significantly improved financial terms” compared to those calculated in 2021, when the net cost of joining was estimated at £2 billion.
Visa rules are another hurdle. Universities hope that Erasmus+ participants from the EU will face lighter entry requirements than under Britain’s current immigration system.
Role of national agency
Rejoining Erasmus+ would require a UK body to administer the scheme. Before Brexit, the British Council acted as national agency, but in 2021 the Conservative government awarded management of the Turing Scheme to Capita, a private outsourcing firm.
The DfE has now invited interest from a wide range of bidders, including small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary organizations, leaving the British Council’s future role uncertain.
A British Council source confirmed interest in reclaiming responsibility but noted that the government is still in early stages of defining eligibility and scope for the contract.
Universities welcome move
The announcement has been met with broad approval across the education sector. Anne Corbett, a senior associate with LSE Consulting at the London School of Economics, said that it was unlikely the government would seek bids for Erasmus+ administration unless a draft agreement with the EU was already in place.
She noted that it was encouraging that the UK aimed to join before the current program ends in 2027 rather than wait until the next cycle begins in 2028.
Jamie Arrowsmith, director of Universities UK International, called the move “positive,” highlighting Erasmus+ as a platform that offers opportunities across education, training, youth, and sport.
Thomas Jørgensen, policy director at the European University Association, said that even a late entry would deliver benefits through projects running into the next decade.Some caution remains. A senior administrator at a leading UK university told University World News that immigration politics and budgetary pressures could still delay full participation, particularly with Turing serving as an established though limited alternative.
Youth mobility at center of talks
Alongside Erasmus+, discussions on a broader youth mobility agreement with the EU have accelerated. Such a scheme would allow young people to live, work, and study across borders for temporary periods.
The concept gained prominence at the May 2025 UK–EU summit and has since received stronger backing from senior ministers.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Cabinet Office minister and lead EU negotiator, recently expressed enthusiasm. “I’m very excited that the youth experience scheme gives us great opportunities for Brits to be able to go overseas to experience different cultures. It’s going to be fantastic,” he said in August 2025.
He emphasized cross-party parliamentary support and framed the scheme as part of a broader reset in relations with Europe.
Public and industry support
A YouGov survey commissioned by the Travel Association (ABTA) in August 2025 found 76% of Britons support a youth mobility deal with the EU, including 61% of those who voted to leave in 2016.
Support was broad across age groups and political affiliations. ABTA and Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBiT) argued that such a deal would strengthen the outbound travel industry, which contributes over £52 billion annually to the UK economy.
Industry leaders noted that many workers in travel began with temporary overseas placements, opportunities that have declined since Brexit. The number of UK nationals in European tourism support roles has fallen by 69% since 2016, according to ABTA research.
Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s director of public affairs, said that the sector “now needs to see progress on the items within the [May] deal, such as restoring opportunities for young people from the UK to live and work in the EU.”
Charles Owen, managing director of SBiT, urged ministers to secure an agreement, calling the lack of arrangements a barrier to growth.
Economic and diplomatic states
Rejoining Erasmus+ and securing youth mobility arrangements carry implications beyond education. The EU views both as emblematic of social and cultural ties, with leaders stressing their symbolic role in repairing post-Brexit divisions.
For the UK, the association would mark a further step after rejoining Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation program, in 2024.
Financial negotiations remained delicate. The Erasmus+ budget for 2021–27 stands at €26.2 billion, and EU officials have signaled that UK participation must come with contributions, though possibly moderated.
The next program cycle, spanning 2028–34, is expected to expand by about 50%, though member states may adjust figures in upcoming budget talks.
Domestic politics could also influence outcomes. While there is cross-party consensus in favor of Erasmus+, some within the Treasury are cautious about costs.
Immigration policy debates add further complexity, with ministers wary of appearing to reopen questions around freedom of movement.
Travel rules shifting alongside student exchanges
For tourists and short-term visitors, a return to Erasmus+ would coincide with the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) in late 2026.
ETIAS will require citizens of 59 visa-exempt countries, including the UK, to apply for authorization before visiting 30 European states. The authorization, which costs €20, will be valid for three years or until the passport expires.
This change means that young people joining study or work placements under Erasmus+ or a youth mobility scheme will still need ETIAS clearance before travel.
Border officers will continue to check passports and verify entry conditions on arrival. The authorization allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period but does not grant automatic entry.
For migrants planning longer-term residence or employment, national visa systems will remain the main route. Erasmus+ and youth mobility deals are expected to ease short-term opportunities but will not replace existing immigration frameworks.
Erasmus+ decision looms in the UK
The question of whether the UK will rejoin Erasmus+ remains unresolved, but the direction of travel is becoming clearer. Negotiations with the EU continue, and while the financial terms and visa arrangements are still under discussion, the scheme is widely seen as a chance to rebuild opportunities for students and deepen ties with Europe.
For universities, businesses, and young people, Erasmus+ is more than an exchange program—it is a bridge to new skills, careers, and cultural understanding. The outcome of these talks will signal how far the UK is willing to go in restoring practical cooperation with its neighbors.
As the process moves forward, one issue lingers for many students: will the UK’s next step truly reopen the doors to Erasmus+ and the wider opportunities it brings?