Big news for UK students: The Erasmus scheme is making a comeback, according to the BBC. But here's where it gets controversial... Five years after the UK bid farewell to this beloved European exchange program as part of its Brexit deal, it's now poised to rejoin—sparking both excitement and debate. Could this mark a shift in the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU? Let’s dive in.
The Erasmus scheme, funded by the EU, offers students, trainees, and volunteers the chance to spend up to a year studying, working, or volunteering in another European country. When the UK left the program in December 2020, it replaced it with the Turing scheme in 2021, which expanded opportunities globally but left many longing for the cultural and academic ties Erasmus provided.
And this is the part most people miss... While the Turing scheme aimed to benefit more students from disadvantaged backgrounds and offered greater travel cost support, it couldn’t replicate the deep-rooted connections Erasmus fostered within Europe. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hinted in May that a youth mobility scheme could be part of a new EU deal, and now it seems that promise is materializing.
Alex Stanley from the National Union of Students (NUS) celebrated the news, calling it a “huge win for the student movement.” He noted that students have been campaigning for the UK’s return to Erasmus since its departure. But not everyone was on board with the original decision to leave. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it a “tough decision,” citing the scheme’s rising costs as a key factor.
In 2020, the UK’s final year in Erasmus, the program received €144 million (£126 million) in EU funding, supporting 55,700 participants. That year, 9,900 UK students and trainees went abroad, while 16,100 European participants came to the UK. Popular destinations for UK students included Spain, France, and Germany, with Glasgow, Bristol, and Edinburgh leading the way in sending students abroad.
Fast forward to the 2024/25 academic year, and the Turing scheme allocated £105 million for 43,200 placements—24,000 in higher education, 12,100 in further education, and 7,000 in schools. The majority of participants (38,000) were from England, with smaller numbers from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. While Turing broadened horizons globally, Erasmus held a special place for its focus on European collaboration.
Here’s the burning question: What happens to the Turing scheme now? Will it run alongside Erasmus, or will it be phased out? The government remains tight-lipped on ongoing talks, leaving many to speculate. One thing’s for sure: the return of Erasmus is a significant moment for UK-EU relations and a win for students eager to reconnect with Europe.
But let’s open the floor to you: Do you think the UK made the right call in rejoining Erasmus? And what should happen to the Turing scheme? Share your thoughts below—this debate is far from over!
