Impact of Brexit on Erasmus+

Subject: Impact of Brexit on Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is one of the most important EU education, training, youth and sport programmes. For the period 2021-2027, the programme is placing particular emphasis on social inclusion, green and digital transition and promoting youth participation in democratic life.

The UK’s withdrawal agreement from the EU entered into force on 1 February 2020 and has become effective in all areas, including education, in particular the Erasmus+ programme.

In view of this, what measures are being envisaged by the Commission to give UK students future access to Erasmus+ mobility and exchange schemes and, conversely, to facilitate participation by Erasmus+ students in exchange schemes with the UK?

Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

(30 June 2021)

Following the entry into force of the Withdrawal Agreement, all ongoing Erasmus+ projects funded under the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework can continue as planned until their completion. This means that, as most Erasmus+ mobility projects are funded for at least a two-year period, those selected in 2020 or before will continue operations in 2021 and 2022 and beyond, as if the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) remained an EU Member State, operating in line with the rules under which they were selected.

During the negotiations of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK chose not to be associated in Erasmus+ as a Programme Country under the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. This choice will inevitably reduce the number of opportunities for Erasmus+ cooperation projects and exchanges between the UK and the EU. The UK will be considered as a third country not associated to the programme, and opportunities open to this type of third country continue to exist.

For example, EU students in Erasmus Mundus joint masters (one action of the Erasmus+ programme) will be able to study at UK universities that jointly deliver these Master programmes (the same applies to UK students in EU universities implementing these Joint Masters). There will be also a possibility for EU (and Erasmus+ associated countries) universities to use a limited part of their Erasmus+ budget to send their students for short term mobility in third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ programme, including the UK.