By CREAS Board
The United Kingdom is set to rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme from 2027, following its withdrawal from the scheme after Brexit in 2021. Erasmus+ is one of the EU’s flagship education and mobility programmes, enabling university students to study or train abroad for a semester or a full academic year at partner institutions across Europe.
The programme has played a central role in facilitating academic exchange, strengthening cooperation between universities, and expanding access to international study opportunities for students. Since its launch in 1987, more than 9 million participants have taken part in Erasmus exchanges across Europe.
CREAS welcomes the decision to restore this academic exchange possibility, as it will benefit students from the UK and the EU alike and will strengthen universities across Europe. The return of the UK to Erasmus+ represents a constructive step towards closer collaboration in higher education.
Students from the EU will once again be able to study at UK universities through Erasmus+ exchange agreements, pay tuition fees only to their home university rather than UK international fees, and study at UK universities at their home tuition rate. At the same time, students from the UK will be able to do the same within the EU. These arrangements significantly reduce financial and regulatory barriers and expand access to high-quality education and academic exchange.
This is something that CREAS has been in favour of and has advocated for in recent years, therefore, we view it positively that this is now being implemented. Following the opening of exploratory EU–UK talks in May 2025, CREAS highlighted the importance of rebuilding educational and research ties after Brexit, including a possible UK return to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
At the same time, CREAS has consistently stressed that academic cooperation must be grounded in a strong and shared commitment to academic freedom. Pressures on academic freedom exist on both sides of the Channel, whether through regulatory uncertainty in the UK or political interference and inconsistent protections within parts of the EU. Genuine cooperation must therefore be accompanied by safeguards for lawful expression, institutional autonomy, and equal treatment of students and academics.
Future-proof Erasmus+
However, the Erasmus+ programme must still be made future-proof. This requires securing sufficient funding for universities in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, as well as clarifying the eligibility criteria for Erasmus+ internships. These priorities were discussed and adopted at our latest meeting in November, and we will continue our work to improve the scheme as it moves forward.
The United Kingdom’s return to Erasmus+ marks an important step in rebuilding cooperation between the UK and the European Union in the field of education, after much of it came to a halt in light of Brexit. By rejoining a flagship EU programme, the UK signals a renewed commitment to collaboration that benefits students and universities on both sides. CREAS views this development as a positive foundation for closer engagement in higher education and academic mobility, and we are committed to further rebuilding cooperation between the EU and the UK.