On 17 December 2025, the UK has successfully agreed terms with the EU to rejoin the Erasmus+ program in 2027, widening opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, learners, education, youth, and sport staff to study and train abroad. The agreement fulfils a key commitment made at the UK-EU Summit in May, as well as a Labour election manifesto pledge.

From January 2027, UK citizens will again be able to spend time in EU countries for study exchanges, vocational and work placements, and other learning opportunities under Erasmus+. The UK government has emphasised that the programme will benefit not only university students but also apprentices, further education students, and adult learners, alongside staff who can take part in international training and cooperation projects.

Erasmus+ will allow UK students to study or undertake work placements abroad as part of their existing courses, while apprentices and further education students will gain access to placements in leading European companies. Education staff will also benefit through job shadowing, training courses, and teaching exchanges, strengthening institutional cooperation and skills development.

The UK contribution for the 2027 academic year is expected to be approximately £570 million. A UK National Agency will be appointed to administer the programme, with detailed guidance to be published well ahead of the first funding calls. The UK government estimates that more than 100,000 people could benefit in the first year alone.

For Slovenian students, the UK’s return to Erasmus+ is particularly significant. It restores a well-established and accessible pathway to study, train, or undertake placements in the UK under a familiar European framework, with clearer rules and more predictable costs.

The agreement on Erasmus+ sits alongside wider progress in UK-EU relations, including the launch of talks on electricity market integration and commitments to conclude agreements on food and drink trade and carbon market linkage ahead of the next UK-EU Summit in 2026.

More information: gov.uk