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The United Kingdom will officially rejoin the European Union's Erasmus student exchange program on Jan. 1, 2027, allowing British students and young people to take part in educational exchanges, training and work experience opportunities across the bloc.
British Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer confirmed the timeline in parliament on Tuesday, announcing that applications will open in November ahead of the U.K.'s return to the program.
The agreement follows earlier reports in 2025 that Britain would rejoin Erasmus in January 2027, marking the country's return to the EU-backed education initiative after withdrawing from it following Brexit.
Falconer emphasized that the program will not be limited to undergraduate university students, explaining that it also covers a wider range of educational institutions and opportunities.
Through the scheme, participants can study, undertake training or gain work experience in EU countries, with different types of educational institutions able to take part.
The minister also encouraged lawmakers "to work with the British Council, get their institutions engaged," referring to the U.K.'s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
Britain's participation in Erasmus ended in December 2020, when the government announced its post-Brexit trade agreement with the European Union.
The withdrawal followed the 2016 referendum, in which a majority of British voters supported leaving the EU.
The U.K. formally departed the bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, after representatives from both sides signed the Brexit withdrawal agreement earlier that month.
The newly confirmed arrangement will bring Britain back into Erasmus from January 2027, with applications opening two months before the program resumes.
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