Is the UK re-joining Erasmus+ programme in Brexit deal?
As part of Sir Keir Starmer's deal to reset relations wit the EU, a commitment commitment to 'work towards' re-joining the Erasmus+ exchange programme was made.
Details of this are extremely limited with future talks expected to iron out a chance of reviving the scheme.
Was the Erasmus+ scheme successful before the UK left in in 2020 - and could a revival be on the cards following the Brexit deal?
What is the Erasmus+ programme?
The Erasmus+ scheme offered paid placements for students across the UK to study in Europe, while in exchange, a student from across the continent would study in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
A major criticism of the Erasmus scheme was that tens of thousands more EU students came to study in the UK compared to British students studying in EU countries.
Boris Johnson, the prime minister who opted to leave the scheme under Brexit negotiations, warned the UK spent millions more on the programme each year than it received.
In 2017, a total of 16,561 students from the UK participated in Erasmus, while 31,727 EU nations came to the UK.
But critics of Brexit warn the UK has become less attractive to overseas students, with around 10,000 fewer international students coming to the UK to study last year.
Read more: UK 'working towards' re-joining Erasmus+ despite ruling out programme months ago
Erasmus+ would not directly resolve this but it has been claimed it would showcase the quality of UK institutions, driving overseas students back to the UK for postgraduate degrees and supporting financially challenged universities reliant on overseas tuition fees, such as Edinburgh University.
The UK replacement scheme
In 2021, the UK Government began accepting applications for the Turning scheme, a replacement for Erasmus+, but one which widened out to include opportunities across the globe.
It is named after mathematician Alan Turing, with the then Tory administration stating it could enable up to 35,000 students to work and study.
While the Erasmus scheme paid tuition fees for UK students on their placements the Turing scheme did not offer the same, instead expecting fees to be waived by universities taking part in an exchange.
It also does not offer funding or financial support for international student in the same way that Erasmus did.
The scheme was hailed for its efforts to provide opportunity to disadvantaged pupils however the living allowance rate offered was halved in 2025-26.
Is the UK now re-joining Erasmus?
Not exactly. The UK Government has committed to further talks on how Scotland, England and Wales participates in the Erasmus+ programme.
Neither side has delivered more information on what further talks are necessary or when they will take place.
The finer details will now be worked out between the European Commission and UK government officials.
It is unlikely a deal will be struck on this any time soon.
It was only in August 2024 that the UK Government confirmed it had no immediate plans to re-join Erasmus.
For those in favour of the student exchange scheme, the commitment for further talks will be a step in the right direction, while pro-Brexiteers will warn the UK Government is rowing back on its commitments.
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