The EU is seeking a swift agreement for the UK to rejoin the Erasmus+ student exchange programme by January 2027, with negotiations needing to conclude by October 2025. While EU officials believe talks are progressing, the UK considers them to be in the early stages. Britain exited Erasmus+ after Brexit due to cost concerns, citing an imbalance in student flows and expenses. The UK replaced it with the Turing scheme, which now faces funding cuts. Erasmus+ supporters argue the programme offers major benefits to young people and helps rebuild EU-UK relations. The EU is also pushing for progress on a youth mobility visa scheme alongside talks on food and drink trade, aiming to tie these negotiations together. However, disagreements persist over visa fees and financial commitments. Campaigners warn that high costs could make youth mobility schemes elitist. Despite optimism, unresolved issues may delay UK participation beyond the planned 2027 start date.
Source: UK students get chance to study in Europe from January 2027 under new Erasmus deal
