University associations push for “swift” UK return to Erasmus

Two bodies representing more than 900 universities across the UK and Europe are calling for a deal on the UK rejoining the Erasmus educational exchange scheme to be reached “swiftly”.

The UK has not been part of the program — which supports students, staff, and trainees to study abroad — since formally leaving the EU in 2020, following the 2016 Brexit vote.

However, the Labour government announced its intention to rejoin the program earlier this year. 

Now, Universities UK and the European University Association are urging negotiators to act quickly so that Erasmus partnerships can be planned and delivered “at the earliest opportunity”. 

“[We] strongly support the association of the United Kingdom to Erasmus+ subject to mutually agreed financial terms,” they said in a joint statement. 

“However, time is of the essence. EUA and UUK urge negotiators to be ambitious in agreeing to long-term association and to do so swiftly.” 

We urge all parties to move swiftly to reach a mutually agreeable deal on the cost of association so that universities, students and staff can plan with confidence and realise these benefits in future

_{Jamie Arrowsmith, Universities UK}

The statement added that there were many benefits to the UK rejoining the scheme, including building “long-term bridges” across Europe and enhancing students’ skills, competences, and outcomes.

“Staff exchanges disseminate knowledge more widely and make higher education both more resilient and more innovative in times of change,” it added. 

The UK’s prospective return to Erasmus was discussed in May this year at the first UK-EU summit held since Britain left the EU.

At the time, ministers agreed that the specific terms of the deal would need to ensure “a fair balance regarding the contributions of and benefits to the UK”. 

The high cost of the scheme, which saw more EU students study in the UK than vice versa, was the main justification given by the former Conservative government for withdrawing from it. 

In August, a UK Department for Education (DfE) tender notice for administering the scheme said negotiations were being taken forward “on the clear mutual understanding that the UK will only associate to Erasmus+ on significantly improved financial terms”. 

The contract, worth up to $24 million, is estimated to run from July 2026 to December 2027 and will be open to small and medium-sized organisations, voluntary, community or social enterprises, and consortia, according to DfE’s notice. 

“We urge all parties to move swiftly to reach a mutually agreeable deal on the cost of association so that universities, students and staff can plan with confidence and realise these benefits in future,” said Universities UK International’s director Jamie Arrowsmith.

“This would be in the best interest of the UK and our partners across Europe,” he added.

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