# UK rejoins Erasmus+ in January after six-year Brexit break

> Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirms Britain will return to the EU student exchange scheme, with up to 400 million pounds available and a 30 percent reduction in participation fees.
- Title: UK rejoins Erasmus+ in January after six-year Brexit break
- Summary: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirms Britain will return to the EU student exchange scheme, with up to 400 million pounds available and a 30 percent…
- Keywords: erasmus+, european union, lisa nandy, student exchange, brexit, keir starmer, The Independent
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/erasmus-scheme-uk-return-nandy-european-union-b3081055.html
- Published: 2026-11-07T23:30:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: erasmus+, uk, european union, lisa nandy, student exchange, brexit, keir starmer, politics, news
## UK officially rejoins Erasmus+ in January
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has confirmed Britain will return to the EU student exchange scheme in January, enabling students and young people to study, train or gain work experience across the European Union.
## Britain left the scheme in 2020 under Boris Johnson
The UK departed Erasmus+ in 2020 after Boris Johnson's Brexit agreement, with the then-prime minister claiming it failed to deliver value for money. The scheme was replaced by the Turing Scheme, which has now ended.
## Four hundred million pounds funding announced
Up to four hundred million pounds will be made available via the British Council to support schools, youth groups and sports teams. The Government secured a thirty percent reduction on participation fees for twenty twenty-seven.
## Targeted support for disadvantaged young people
More than thirty million pounds has been designated for youth initiatives targeting areas with historically lower participation, such as the North East, East Midlands and Yorkshire.
## Conservatives attack timing of announcement
Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake said using Remembrance Sunday to announce the scheme is tone deaf and shameful, claiming the announcement amounts to a five hundred seventy million pound cheque to Brussels.

> Using their sacrifice to clear a £570 million cheque to Brussels is tone deaf and frankly shameful.
## Key takeaway

The UK will rejoin the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme in January after leaving in 2020, with 400 million pounds in funding and a 30 percent fee reduction for 2027.