UK Rejoins Erasmus+ Programme: Major New Opportunities for Students and Young People from 2027

 

The United Kingdom has formally secured its association to the European Union’s flagship Erasmus+ programme starting in 2027, opening doors for thousands of British students, apprentices, educators, and young people to study, train, and gain international experience across Europe.

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This landmark development, finalised earlier this year, marks the UK’s return to one of the world’s most successful mobility and education programmes after a post-Brexit hiatus.

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It delivers on commitments made during the UK-EU reset and is expected to benefit over 100,000 participants in its first year alone.

Programme Highlights

Participants in the Erasmus+ programme will gain access to:

• Funded study, training, and work placements across Europe.
• Youth exchanges, volunteering opportunities, and professional development for educators and youth workers.
• Collaborative projects between UK and European organisations in education, training, youth, and sport.
• Structured learning, cultural immersion, and skill-building experiences.

The programme strongly emphasises inclusion and diversity, climate action, digital transformation, and civic engagement, aligning with broader UK government priorities to expand opportunities for all backgrounds.

Who Can Benefit

Erasmus+ is open to learners and staff in:

• Higher Education (HE)
• Further Education (FE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET)
• Schools and adult education
• Youth organisations and grassroots sports

School pupils, university students, apprentices, teachers, youth workers, and sports coaches will all be eligible to participate through their institutions and organisations.

Key Details of UK Participation

• The UK will contribute approximately £570 million for 2027, with a negotiated 30% discount on the standard rate.
• Funding will support travel, living costs, language learning, and additional support for disadvantaged participants.
• The British Council is expected to serve as the UK National Agency to manage and promote the programme.
• First funding calls are anticipated to open in late 2026 for activities starting in 2027.

Strategic Importance

Rejoining Erasmus+ is seen as a significant boost for UK education, employability, and international relations. Research consistently shows that students who participate in international mobility programmes gain better career outcomes, improved language skills, and greater cultural awareness — advantages that are particularly valuable for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Education leaders have welcomed the move as a positive step that strengthens the UK’s global reputation in education while creating tangible opportunities for the next generation.

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Timescales and preparation

The next funding round is expected to open in November 2026 and close in February 2027.

Exact dates will be confirmed in the 2027 Erasmus+ Programme Guide, which is likely to be published in autumn 2026.

Application deadlines will depend on the type of Erasmus+ project you apply for.

The National Agency website provides more information about how to apply for Erasmus+.  

To prepare for the Erasmus+ funding round, interested organisations are encouraged to start:

• thinking about which types of projects they would like to get involved in
• building or expanding partnerships with EU partners in the relevant sector

The steps below outline the typical steps involved in developing and submitting an Erasmus+ project application, to help you start thinking about what you’ll need to prepare.

Step 1: Decide on your project idea

Decide the type of project you want to run, for example it could be a mobility project or a partnership project

There is an online database of previous Erasmus+ projects which could be useful for exploring previous project and gathering ideas.

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Step 2: Check it aligns with the Erasmus+ priorities

Make sure your idea supports at least one of the programme priorities

Step 3: Register your organisation

Register your organisation so you can apply for funding:

• For directly managed projects (managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, EACEA): register in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a PIC (Participant Identification Code).
• For indirectly managed projects (managed by the National Agency): register through the Organisation Registration System to receive an OID (Organisation Identification Number)

If your organisation has taken part in another EU programme, you can reuse its existing PIC or OID.

Step 4: Find a partner(s) in an eligible participating country

Identify an organisation in a participating country that shares your goals and is interested in developing the project with you.

To browse partner requests and post your own project ideas see:

• For Schools: European School Education Platform
• For Adult Education: EPALE Partner Search
• For Youth: SALTO‑YOUTH

Step 5: Develop the project proposal in more detail

Work with your partners to agree the project’s timeline, activities, intended outcomes and how the project will achieve these.

Step 6: Complete and submit the application

Complete your application in line with the published guidance and submit it by the deadline in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.