Key Takeaways
- The UK is set to rejoin the Erasmus scheme in 2027, allowing UK students to participate in the program once again.
- The Erasmus scheme was scrapped in the UK in 2020 as part of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU.
- The Turing scheme, which was introduced in 2021, will continue to operate, but its future is uncertain once Erasmus is reintroduced.
- The Erasmus scheme provides opportunities for students, vocational course participants, apprentices, and school and college trainees to study and train abroad.
- The UK’s participation in Erasmus in 2020 received £126m of EU funding, with 55,700 people taking part in Erasmus projects.
Introduction to the Erasmus Scheme
The Erasmus scheme, a European Union program that allows students to study and train abroad, is set to be reintroduced in the UK in 2027. This move comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested in May that a youth mobility scheme could be part of a new deal with the EU. The news has been welcomed by the National Union of Students (NUS), with Alex Stanley, from the NUS, stating that it is "fantastic that another generation of students will be able to be part of the Erasmus programme". The Erasmus scheme was originally scrapped in the UK in December 2020, as part of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, with the government citing the high cost of the program as the reason for its removal.
The History of the Erasmus Scheme in the UK
The Erasmus scheme has a long history in the UK, with the country participating in the program since its inception. In 2020, the last year the UK participated in Erasmus, the scheme received £126m of EU funding, which supported 55,700 people in taking part in Erasmus projects. The UK sent out 9,900 students and trainees to other countries as part of the scheme, while 16,100 came to the UK. The most popular destinations for UK students were Spain, France, and Germany, while Glasgow, Bristol, and Edinburgh were the top three universities to send students abroad. The Erasmus scheme is not just limited to university students, but also provides opportunities for people doing vocational courses, apprentices, and those training at college or school.
The Turing Scheme
Following the UK’s withdrawal from the Erasmus scheme, the government introduced the Turing scheme in 2021. The Turing scheme is designed to provide similar opportunities for students and trainees to study and train abroad, but with a greater focus on supporting disadvantaged backgrounds and providing more support for travel costs. In the 2024/25 academic year, the Turing scheme had £105m of funding, which supported 43,200 placements, with 24,000 of those being in higher education, 12,100 in further education, and 7,000 in schools. The majority of participants were from England, with 2,900 from Scotland, 1,000 from Wales, and 1,200 from Northern Ireland. While the Turing scheme has provided opportunities for many students and trainees, its future is uncertain once the Erasmus scheme is reintroduced.
The Future of the Erasmus Scheme in the UK
The reintroduction of the Erasmus scheme in the UK is a significant development, and it is not yet clear what will happen to the Turing scheme. The government has not announced any plans to scrap the Turing scheme, but it is likely that the two schemes will coexist in some form. The Erasmus scheme provides a unique opportunity for students and trainees to study and train abroad, and its reintroduction is likely to be welcomed by many. However, the details of how the scheme will be implemented and how it will interact with the Turing scheme are still unclear. As the UK prepares to rejoin the Erasmus scheme, it is likely that there will be further announcements and developments in the coming months.
Conclusion
The reintroduction of the Erasmus scheme in the UK is a significant development that is likely to have a major impact on students and trainees. The scheme provides a unique opportunity for people to study and train abroad, and its reintroduction is likely to be welcomed by many. While the details of how the scheme will be implemented are still unclear, it is likely that the Erasmus scheme will coexist with the Turing scheme in some form. As the UK prepares to rejoin the Erasmus scheme, it is likely that there will be further announcements and developments in the coming months. The National Union of Students has welcomed the news, stating that it is a "huge win for the student movement", and it is likely that many students and trainees will be eager to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Erasmus scheme.