Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is back!… well from 2027 where over 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the scheme to study abroad in the first year alone! The UK contribution for 2027 will be approximately £570 million. This covers the 2027/28 academic year. Any participation in Erasmus+ into the next Multiannual Financial Framework will need to be agreed in the future and be based on a fair and balanced contribution.

Erasmus+ was previously replaced in the UK by the Turing Scheme in 2021

Erasmus was previously replaced by The Turing Scheme (in December 2021). This is the UK government’s programme to provide funding for international education and training opportunities worldwide. It supported Global Britain by providing an opportunity for UK organisations from the higher education, further education, vocational education and training and schools sectors to offer their students, learners and pupils life-changing experiences to study or work abroad.

Here is an article from 5th August 2021 from Department for Education on how Erasmus+ and the Turing scheme are different.

Key differences between Erasmus+ and Turing and is the Turing Scheme better than Erasmus+was pitched as an improvement?

• It’s a global scheme: Unlike the Erasmus Scheme, which was mainly EU focused, the Turing Scheme was a truly global programme with every country in the world eligible to partner with UK education settings. In 2021 over 150 countries were involved.
• It will benefit more people from disadvantaged backgrounds: The Turing Scheme is targeted at all students, particularly the most disadvantaged. 48% of people expected to take part in the Turing scheme this year were from disadvantaged backgrounds. On the 2nd July 2022, Alex Burghart (who was Skills Minister at the time) said around 20,000 disadvantaged students from schools, colleges and universities are set to travel all over the world for work and study due to the Turing Scheme (which was then in it’s second year). 52% of which will be those from disadvantaged backgrounds, up from 48%  from the first year.
• Greater support with travel costs: Erasmus+ only provided travel support to participants who travelled to Partner Countries, which was around only 3% of UK participants. With the Turing Scheme, the Government introduced funding for travel costs for disadvantaged HE students. Additionally, they supplied funding for visas, passports and related travel insurance.
• Continued support with tuition fees: As with Erasmus+, we expect tuition fees to be waived by host universities. UK students going abroad for the whole academic year may also continue to qualify for a large contribution made towards their UK tuition fees for the year they are away.

Is the UK rejoining Erasmus+?

Yes, from 2027 the UK is rejoining Erasmus+

Here is an article explaining the timescales, changes and costs on when the UK is rejoining Erasmus+.

What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.

According to the European Commission, Erasmus+ has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. This is nearly double the funding compared to its predecessor programme (2014-2020).

The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.

It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda