UK re-joins Erasmus+ programme; Durham students react
By Jasmine Davey
The UK Government announced on December 17th that it would be re-joining the Erasmus+ programme for academic year 2027/28. The programme, which the UK left as part of its Brexit deal in 2020, allows students from participating countries to embark on a study abroad without paying additional fees. It is typically associated with the European Union, although 6 non-EU countries currently partake in the programme.
As a replacement to Erasmus+, the Conservative Government introduced the Turing Scheme in 2021. It was aimed at targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who were reportedly 1.7x less likely to study abroad under Erasmus+. The amount which students can receive from the Scheme is dependent on the destination and duration of study, educational sector, and students’ personal circumstances. Students can apply for the Turing Scheme through their academic institutions.
However, many university students have welcomed the re-introduction of Erasmus+, claiming that it makes studying abroad more accessible. Luca Hughes Joshi, a third year Durham University student currently studying in Spain, told Palatinate “I am delighted to see that the UK has re-entered the Erasmus+ scheme.”
Hughes Joshi described the current arrangement with the Turing Scheme as “inherently unfair”, explaining how “students from other UK and European universities who I have met on my year abroad are getting thousands of pounds to do the same course for the same duration in the same place as I am doing.”
“Re-joining Erasmus+ should hopefully remedy this financial inequality for students who are considering a study abroad programme in years to come.”
Palatinate has also spoken to European students who have praised the Erasmus+ programme. “As an Italian student who spent a year in Katowice, Poland during my Master’s in finance, Erasmus was an incredibly enriching experience”, says Niccolò Molteni.
“It allowed me to grow both academically and personally, while gaining international exposure that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
However, not everyone shares this sentiment; the Government’s plan has received backlash from those who believe the plan to be unworthy of the cost. Re-joining Erasmus+ for 2027 will cost the Government £570 million, which is a 30% discount from the initial suggestion of £810 million, which was based off the country’s GDP rate. Despite the discount, this is still a significant increase to what the Government is currently spending on the Turing Scheme, to which it allocated £78 million for academic year 2025-26.
In an exclusive interview with GB News, Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch described the Government’s plan to re-join Erasmus+ as “a terrible waste of money”. Badenoch also cited the number of top global universities in the UK, which are strongly appealing to foreign students. “Erasmus never gave UK students as much as it gave [students from other countries]”, Badenoch argued.
Under the Erasmus+ scheme, students from other participating countries can study in the UK as part of their academic courses. In the last year that the UK participated in Erasmus+, it sent out 9,900 students, whilst receiving 16,100. However, Universities UK International reported that these incoming students provided a £243 million annual boost to the UK economy, once membership costs to the scheme had been subtracted.
Durham University students are overwhelmingly in favour of reintroducing Erasmus+, with 95% agreeing that re-joining the programme will be beneficial to students in the UK. A similar proportion (91%) believe that it is worth the cost. Of those who would be eligible for the programme in 2027, 54% are considering it as an option.
33 countries, including the 27 member states of the EU, are currently enrolled in Erasmus+. The Government has not yet confirmed what will happen to the Turing Scheme come 2027, but concerns have been raised about how it may impact students who wish to study in a non-European country were it to be removed. The Turing Scheme currently covers funding for over 160 countries.
Saira Backhouse, a University of Edinburgh student currently studying in China, emphasised to Palatinate how essential the Turing Scheme was for her study abroad: “In order for many British students to have a fully enriching and meaningful experience on year abroad in a country like China, the Turing fund is essential. Especially with regard to language students, who commonly utilise their grant to fund travel around the country.
“It has really help aid me in this sense, as some of my most productive language learning hasn’t come from inside the classroom but outside, interacting with native speakers.”
A former Palatinate investigation into the cost of taking a year abroad demonstrated that regardless of the government support available, there is a range of financial support provided by Durham University, including programmes such as the ‘Fair Access’ scheme. The University encourages any eligible student to consider a year abroad, as it can enhance their future employment and study prospects.
Image credit: Jasmine Davey
