The government announcement that the UK is to rejoin Erasmus+ the EU’s study programme from 2027 has been welcomed by the youth sector, but how does the scheme operate and what impact will the decision have?
What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is a European Union programme that offers opportunities for participants to study, work, volunteer, teach and train in Europe. The programme is also the main EU fund for youth groups and services.
It is aimed at schools, further and higher education institutions, vocational and adult education providers, adult education, youth and sport organisations actively involved in delivering formal and non-formal education, training, youth work and sporting activities.
The original Erasmus scheme began in 1987, as a university exchange programme, before an expansion to include work and training opportunities for young people.
Prior to Brexit, the UK was a net contributor to the scheme, with more than twice as many EU students coming to the country as British students going overseas.
In December 2020, the then Conservative government withdrew from the scheme, following its post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, saying its high cost meant it was no longer viable.
After Brexit, the number of EU students enrolling in British universities fell by 57%, following a sharp rise in international tuition fees.
Today’s announcement forms part of a wider effort by the Starmer government to repair relations with the 27-member bloc, after the government agreed to reopen discussions on participation at the UK-EU summit last May.
What now for Turing?
One of the outstanding questions from today’s announcement is what it will mean for the Turing Scheme, the former government’s replacement student exchange programme introduced in 2021 following the Brexit withdrawal.
The scheme was designed to provide a global alternative to its European predecessor, allowing UK organisations from the higher education, further education, vocational education and schools sectors to offer international education and training opportunities to the young people they work with.
The £110 million of funding in the scheme’s first year was intended to enable up to 35,000 students, learners and pupils, registered in a UK or British Overseas Territories education organisation, to undertake international study or work placements.
More than 40,000 placements were funded by the scheme in the 2024/25 academic year, costing more than £105mn.
One of the key objectives of the scheme was increasing opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, with the Conservative government arguing this was a weakness in the previous Erasmus+ system.
A January 2024 report from the first year of the scheme found that 39% of Turing participants were from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A British Academy report also found that significantly more students participated in the scheme in 2021/22 than had taken up Erasmus placements in previous years.
The scheme has faced criticism, however, for its restrictive eligibility criteria and application timelines, as well as reduced funding for participants compared to Erasmus.
Nor does it cover tuition fees in the way the previous model did, while the first official analysis after the scheme’s roll out found that 80% of universities struggled with the application process.
The report also highlighted delivery issues – such as the timing of when application outcomes were confirmed – meaning that many young people were asked to commit to their placement before funding was approved. This meant students who could not afford upfront costs or risk funding not being approved were forced to drop out.
A government spokesperson said there would be an announcement about the future of the Turing Scheme in due course.