UK to rejoin Erasmus study exchange scheme

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that UK higher education institutions will rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus programme from January 2027.

UK universities to rejoin Erasmus scheme

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that UK higher education institutions will rejoin the EU’s Erasmus programme. The programme allows people studying, training or completing an apprenticeship at a European higher education institution to do a study or training exchange in another European country. 

While the Erasmus programme is funded by the EU and all 27 member states take part, six non-member states also participate, including North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. The UK withdrew from the study exchange programme in December 2020, shortly before leaving the EU in January 2021.

Starmer initially hinted at the coming change in May, ahead of a summit between the UK and EU, in which the country and the bloc reset relations on various schemes, including fishing, e-gates and security.

Starmer’s Labour government announced it will contribute around 570 million pounds (around 650 million euros) per year to fund the Erasmus scheme for the academic year 2027/2028.

What does the news mean for students in Germany?

With the change, it will become much easier and more affordable for students at German higher education institutions to study abroad in the UK. While they are on exchange, students pay the fees of their “home institution” while they study at the exchange institution. Any extra costs are covered by the EU’s Erasmus fund.

All students - German and international - at German higher education institutions pay fees of around 400 euros per semester. International students at UK universities pay between 15.000 and 25.000 pounds (between 17.000 and 28.000 euros) annually.

The news means German and international students at German higher education institutions will again have the opportunity to study in the UK without having to pay these exorbitant fees.

Erasmus exchanges typically last six months or one year. In advance of a student’s year abroad, their home institution will help them arrange their study programme, accommodation and other necessities for their exchange.