The UK will rejoin the Erasmus student exchange program starting in 2027, six years after leaving the scheme following Brexit. This decision comes with a significant cost of £570 million for the 2027/28 academic year, though this includes a 30% discount for the first year, which the EU has indicated will not be repeated, potentially raising future costs.
The return to Erasmus means UK students can study in Europe as part of their degree without additional fees, and European students can come to the UK under the same terms. Before Brexit, the UK experienced a net cost of over £200 million annually from the scheme, with more EU students coming to the UK than British students going to Europe.
The Turing scheme, introduced by the UK post-Brexit, now faces an uncertain future, although current placements will not be affected. This move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Labour government to reset UK-EU relations, with potential for a youth mobility scheme also being discussed.
While universities have welcomed the return to Erasmus, critics argue the program is significantly more expensive than the Turing scheme.