Erasmus+ and Brexit

Subject: Erasmus+ and Brexit

The Erasmus+ exchange programme has delivered and continues to deliver significant benefits for students across Europe. Now that the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement has expired, the UK will no longer participate in Erasmus+.

This means that EU nationals have lost their opportunity to study abroad in the UK with the benefits offered previously under the Erasmus+ programme. More than 35 000 EU nationals went on an exchange to the UK in 2019. UK students have in turn lost access to the programme, in which more than 18 000 participated in 2019.

1. Considering that the majority of these students did not vote in favour of Brexit, what efforts is the Commission making to continue the UK’s participation in the Erasmus+ programme and, if necessary, unilaterally extend it to UK students?

2. Is the Commission planning to arrange an alternative scheme which could facilitate the exchange of EU students to study, train and gain experience in the UK?

3. What efforts is the Commission planning to make to remove barriers such as high tuition fees, visa requirements and health and travel insurance for EU nationals wishing to study in the UK?

Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

(8 March 2021)

1. The EU offered the United Kingdom (UK) association to the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 in exchange for the standard financial contribution from third countries participating in Union programmes. The Commission deeply regrets that the UK declined this offer. However, all projects selected until the end of 2020 can continue. The UK will benefit from the same conditions that were in place at the time when the projects were selected.

In 2021-2027, some higher and vocational education mobility actions for learners, from Erasmus+ programme countries (EU-27 + associates), will offer limited mobility opportunities to third countries, including the UK. Student mobility to UK institutions taking part, as third-country organisations, in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (1) consortia will also be possible.

The Commission remains open and ready to negotiate any future request from the UK to associate with Erasmus+ or other EU programmes.

2. The Commission is not considering setting up an alternative EU-funded scheme for outgoing mobility to the UK.

3. It is the UK’s sovereign competence to decide upon the tuition fees it applies to non-UK students and on its visa requirements for EU citizens. The EU has no competence to provide health and travel insurance for students travelling to third countries outside the Erasmus+ programme.

⋅1∙ https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/opportunities/individuals/students/erasmus-mundus-joint-master-degrees_en | | ( | | )