Enthusiasm for UK’s Erasmus return leaves question over Turing scheme

The Government and EU representatives announced jointly that the country would reassociate with the scheme in the 2027/28 academic year, seven years after its withdrawal.

In a separate statement, the Government predicted that more than 100,000 people in the country could benefit from opportunities to study, train or participate in a range of activities with the 27 EU member states.

Commenting on the news, Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK said: “Today's announcement that the UK will associate to the Erasmus+ programme from 2027 is fantastic news for the UK, and for students and universities here and across Europe. The agreement marks a huge step forward in our relationship with the EU and will offer life changing opportunities for thousands of students.”

There were similar welcomes from chief executive of the Russell Group of universities Tim Bradshaw, Universities Scotland and from individual universities with a history of participating in the scheme, such as Imperial College London, Sussex and Cambridge.

Cambridge’s LinkedIn page posted: “This programme will re-establish the mutual role that British and EU students and staff play in enriching academic life, culture and community across campuses.

“Educational exchange is often the starting point for deeper collaboration. The relationships formed through study and mobility today can become the research partnerships, innovation projects and global networks of tomorrow.”

The Government emphasised that the UK contribution of £570million to the scheme in 2027 includes a 30% discount compared to the default terms of the UK-EU trade and cooperation agreement.

However, this sum is almost twice what Britain paid in its final year before withdrawing from Erasmus.

At the time, the scheme was criticised by the then Johnson administration for its cost: In 2019 the country was a net contributor, paying in £296 million and receiving £124million. Of 54,000 funded participants between the EU and UK, one third were British-based.

EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who delivered the announcement, emphasised the investment opportunity represented by Erasmus+.

He said: “This is about more than just travel: it’s about future skills, academic success, and giving the next generation access to the best possible opportunities.”

While re-entry into the scheme has been applauded by higher education bodies for the benefits to research collaboration, it has left a question over the future of its domestic counterpart, the Turing Scheme.

Set up in 2021 with £100 million in funding for an estimated 35,000 participants, by 2024/5 it was funding 40,000 people at a cost of £105 million.

Although criticised for less generous provision than Erasmus, it appears to have had success in reaching a greater proportion of disadvantaged students.

An education department report in 2024 noted that nearly 40% of participants were drawn from that cohort and a British Academy study suggested that take-up for the scheme in its first year had outdone that of the Erasmus scheme in the preceding years.

The Government has said it will make an announcement shortly on the Turing scheme. However, it has already made a 30% cut in Turing’s annual budget for 2025/26, reducing it to £73 million.

Pic: Rocco Dipoppa