The United Kingdom Returns to Erasmus+ from 2027: What Changes for Students and Institutions
On 15 April 2026, the European Union and the United Kingdom formalised a historic agreement: the UK’s return to the Erasmus+ programme from 1 January 2027. The signing of the amendment to Protocol 1 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) brings to an end years of exclusion following Brexit and reopens the doors of European mobility to thousands of British students, teachers and young people.
What changed after Brexit: why the UK left Erasmus+
Following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, completed in 2020, the country automatically lost access to the Erasmus+ programme. The British government attempted to replace it with the alternative Turing Scheme, but this did not provide reciprocity: European students were unable to access equivalent funding to study in the UK.
The result was a sharp decline in academic exchanges between the two sides of the Channel, with a significant impact on universities, vocational education institutions and youth organisations.
The 2026 agreement: how the UK is rejoining Erasmus+
The agreement is the outcome of a diplomatic process launched during the EU–UK summit in London in May 2025, which laid the foundations for renewed cooperation between Brussels and London across several strategic sectors, including education.
The agreement formally adopts an amendment to Protocol 1 of the TCA, defining the technical and institutional conditions for British participation in the programme. The United Kingdom will join Erasmus+ with the status of an associated third country, the same status currently held by Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye — as well as Switzerland, which will also associate itself with the programme in 2027.
Who can participate: students, teachers and organisations
With the UK’s return to the programme, British students, teachers, trainers and young people will once again be able to take part in Erasmus+ mobility actions in the same way as citizens of EU Member States. This includes:
- Study periods abroad for university students (traditional Erasmus grants)
- Mobility opportunities for vocational education and training (VET)
- Youth exchanges within non-formal education projects
- Mobility for teaching and administrative staff
Institutions and organisations — including universities, schools, training providers and youth associations — will also be able to participate in Erasmus+ strategic partnerships, creating cooperation networks with European partners to develop innovative practices in teaching, learning and the use of new technologies.
When it comes into force: the timeline for association
The UK’s association with Erasmus+ will become operational from 1 January 2027. In the months leading up to this date, the European Commission will work closely with the British authorities to define the implementation details.
One of the key steps will be the designation of a National Agency by the British government, responsible for managing and implementing the programme within the country, as already happens in all other Programme Countries — including Italy, where this role is carried out by the National Youth Agency and the Erasmus+ INDIRE Agency.
Statements from European leaders
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement enthusiastically, highlighting how educational ties between Europe and the United Kingdom have deep roots and that strengthening them is beneficial for both sides: students, teachers, economies and societies as a whole.
Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič emphasised that the Erasmus+ agreement is one of the priorities successfully delivered under the bilateral agenda. He also stated that work will continue on other key dossiers, including the Youth Experience Scheme, a common SPS area and the linking of ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme) systems, with the aim of concluding negotiations before the next EU–UK summit.
Why it matters: the significance of the return
The United Kingdom’s return to Erasmus+ is not merely a technical or bureaucratic matter: it represents a strong signal of renewed rapprochement between the EU and London based on shared values — mobility, openness and cooperation between educational systems.
For Italy, as for the other Programme Countries, this creates a concrete opportunity to increase mobility flows with leading British institutions, build new partnerships and access a high-quality academic ecosystem that had remained outside the Erasmus+ framework for years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will the UK rejoin the EU through this agreement?
No. The agreement concerns only participation in the Erasmus+ programme as an associated third country. It does not involve any form of re-entry into the European Union.
Will British students have the same opportunities as EU citizens?
Yes, regarding access to Erasmus+ actions. The programme will place them on the same footing as participants from EU Member States and other associated countries.
What happens to existing programmes such as the Turing Scheme?
The agreement concerns activities starting from 2027 onwards. Ongoing initiatives under other schemes are not automatically affected.
Is Switzerland also rejoining Erasmus+ in 2027?
Yes. As stated in the agreement, both the United Kingdom and Switzerland will become countries associated with Erasmus+ from 1 January 2027.
Sources: European Commission press release, 15 April 2026 – Italian National Youth Agency