What's happened
On December 17, 2025, the UK government announced it will rejoin the EU's Erasmus+ student exchange program starting in the 2027/28 academic year. The UK will pay approximately £570 million ($760 million) with a 30% discount on fees. Over 100,000 UK students are expected to benefit, marking a significant step in resetting UK-EU relations under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Reset in UK-EU Relations
The UK's decision to rejoin Erasmus+ signals a clear shift in post-Brexit policy under Keir Starmer, emphasizing cooperation over confrontation with the EU. This move reverses Boris Johnson's withdrawal, which was criticized for limiting opportunities for UK students and straining academic ties.
Benefits Beyond Education
Rejoining Erasmus+ will restore reciprocal fee arrangements, allowing UK students to study in Europe without extra tuition costs and vice versa. The program's broader impacts include fostering cultural exchange, language skills, and even personal relationships, as highlighted by the European Commission's study noting a million babies born to participants.
Financial and Political Dimensions
The negotiated 30% discount on the UK's contribution reflects pragmatic diplomacy, balancing cost concerns with the desire to maintain access. The £570 million payment for 2027/28 is a significant investment but is framed as a public priority to expand opportunities, especially for disadvantaged groups.
Wider Implications
This agreement is part of a package including negotiations on electricity market integration, food and drink trade, and carbon market linkage, indicating a comprehensive approach to UK-EU cooperation. It also sets a precedent for future negotiations on youth mobility and customs arrangements.
Forecast
The re-entry into Erasmus+ will likely enhance academic and vocational training opportunities, strengthen UK universities' international appeal, and improve youth mobility. Politically, it may soften EU skepticism about the UK's post-Brexit stance and encourage further collaboration. However, Conservative opposition remains muted, suggesting potential political contention ahead.
Impact on Readers
For UK students and educators, this development restores valuable international opportunities and signals a more open, cooperative UK-EU relationship. It encourages young people to engage with Europe, potentially influencing career prospects and cultural understanding.
What the papers say
The New York Times' Stephen Castle highlights the personal and cultural benefits of Erasmus, noting its role in language development and even family formation, emphasizing the program's deep social impact. France 24 and Reuters focus on the financial terms, reporting the UK's £570 million contribution with a 30% discount, framing it as a pragmatic deal within broader trade and cooperation talks. The Mirror and The Independent emphasize the educational benefits, quoting officials like EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds calling it "a huge win for our young people" and noting the scheme's inclusivity for disadvantaged groups. Sky News and The Guardian provide political context, detailing Keir Starmer's efforts to reset UK-EU relations and contrasting the current Labour government's approach with Boris Johnson's previous withdrawal and replacement with the Turing scheme. The Guardian also notes the muted Conservative response, suggesting political sensitivities. Collectively, these sources paint a picture of a significant policy reversal with broad educational, political, and diplomatic implications, underscoring the UK's intent to rebuild ties with Europe while managing financial and political realities.
How we got here
The UK left the Erasmus program in 2020 under Boris Johnson's government following Brexit, replacing it with the domestic Turing scheme. Since his election, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to improve ties with the EU, culminating in negotiations to rejoin Erasmus as part of a broader post-Brexit reset of relations.
Go deeper
- How will rejoining Erasmus benefit UK students?
- What financial terms did the UK negotiate for Erasmus participation?
- How does this fit into the broader UK-EU relationship reset?
Common question
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Why is the UK rejoining Erasmus in 2027?
The UK’s decision to rejoin the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme in 2027 marks a significant shift in its relationship with Europe post-Brexit. Many are wondering what this means for students, international relations, and the future of UK-EU cooperation. Below, we explore the reasons behind this move, its benefits, and what students should expect as the scheme reopens.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
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The Erasmus Programme is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987. Erasmus+, or Erasmus Plus, is the new programme combining all the EU's current schemes for education, training, youth and sport, which was started in January 2014.
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Nicklaus Thomas-Symonds, FRHistS is a British Labour Party politician, barrister, and academic serving as Shadow Home Secretary since April 2020, and has served as Member of Parliament for Torfaen since 2015.
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (née Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since November 2024. Badenoch previously worked in the Cabinet for prime minister
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Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson Hon FRIBA is a British politician, writer, and former journalist serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2019.