The UK government has taken a significant step towards rejoining the European Union’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme, after the Department for Education (DfE) published a tender inviting companies to run the programme domestically.
At the UK-EU Summit held on 19 May 2025, both sides agreed to work towards Britain re-associating with Erasmus+, a scheme that funds academic exchanges, apprenticeships, and cultural opportunities across Europe. The latest development suggests that a formal agreement could soon be finalized.
Department for Education tender announcement
According to the DfE notice, private companies are being invited to bid for a contract that would oversee the UK’s part of Erasmus+. This contract is expected to cover the management of applications, student mobility, and the coordination of UK universities and institutions with their European counterparts.
The move marks the clearest sign yet that Britain is preparing to rejoin the programme, which it left in 2020 following Brexit.
Background on Erasmus+
Launched in 1987, Erasmus+ has become one of the EU’s flagship initiatives, allowing millions of students to study abroad. The scheme funds educational, training, and youth opportunities, fostering cultural exchange and strengthening ties between member states.
When the UK left the EU, it also exited Erasmus+, replacing it with the domestically funded Turing Scheme. Critics, however, argued that the Turing programme lacked the cultural and reciprocal benefits of Erasmus+, particularly as it did not fund EU students to study in the UK.
Impact on students and universities
If rejoined, UK students would once again gain access to placements and study opportunities across 33 participating countries, while European students could return to British campuses. Universities across the UK have consistently voiced support for rejoining Erasmus+, citing its role in enhancing international collaboration, improving employability, and boosting the UK’s global reputation.
Education experts believe the relaunch could also help repair academic and cultural ties with Europe, which were strained after Brexit.
Next steps
The tender process is expected to run over the coming months, with the government likely to confirm details of the UK’s participation in Erasmus+ later this year. Should the agreement be finalized, the UK could be rejoining the scheme in time for the 2026 academic cycle.
