UK–EU Agreement Reopens Erasmus+ Opportunities for Young Learners

The United Kingdom and the European Union have reached an agreement that will see the UK re-join the Erasmus+programme from 2027, offering new opportunities for young people and learners of all backgrounds to study, train and gain international experience across Europe.

Erasmus+ is one of the EU’s flagship education, training, youth, culture and sport mobility schemes. The UK’s re-entry into the programme will allow UK students, apprentices, further education and adult learners, as well as youth and sport professionals, to participate in exchanges, study abroad, and work placements in European partner institutions and organisations. GOV.UK

Negotiated as part of a broader UK–EU cooperation package, the agreement is expected to benefit over 100,000 people in its first year of UK participation. It also includes provisions for apprentices and learners in vocational education, expanding access beyond traditional higher-education study abroad arrangements.

The UK Government highlighted that the terms negotiated for 2027 include a financial contribution that has been discounted compared with default arrangements under existing trade agreements, and that further participation terms will be agreed in future multi-year frameworks.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, UK Minister for EU Relations, said that joining Erasmus+ again “breaks down barriers and widens horizons to ensure everyone, from every background, has the opportunity to study and train abroad.”

This development marks a significant step in reinstating broad educational mobility opportunities between the UK and European partners, and complements ongoing efforts to strengthen international links in research, training and professional exchange.

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