Erasmus+ will create new opportunities for UK learners to study in EU

New opportunities for young people to study in mainland Europe are set to open up in 2027 following news that Britain is to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus student exchange scheme.  

This programme, will, says the government, benefit UK apprentices, further education students, those in higher education and adult learners from all backgrounds. 

Making the announcement EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “Joining Erasmus+ is a huge win for our young people, breaking down barriers and widening horizons to ensure everyone, from every background, has the opportunity to study and train abroad. 

“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.”  

More than 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the scheme in the first year alone, adds the government, with Erasmus+ set to create new openings in education, training, culture and sport. These opportunities include work placements in leading European countries for Britain’s FE students and apprentices.  

Also eligible for the programme will be: 

• Higher education students undertaking study periods or work placements, and staff involved in job shadowing or on training courses. 
• Those in the adult education sector taking part in individual and group learner mobility.  
• School and youth groups engaging in visits, exchanges, and projects focusing on cultural exchange, leadership, and teamwork. 
• Beyond learners, education staff benefiting from training, job shadowing, and teaching exchanges abroad to gain new skills and international perspectives. 
• For the sport sector, coaches and other sports staff taking part in professional development activities abroad and who are looking to develop partnerships with relevant organisations in other countries. 

The UK is to contribute around £570million to Erasmus+, covering its participation in the scheme for the 2027-20028 academic year.  

Government research has shown that studying overseas can improve young people’s life chances. A 2025 UUKI report found that students from less advantaged backgrounds who had studied abroad had a higher five-year average professional-level employment rate (70.2%) than those who hadn’t. (68.3%). 

Breaking down barriers with Onefile 

As the leading learner management platform, we welcome new opportunities for young people to learn new skills – whether they’re training and studying in the UK or taking advantage of placements abroad. 

Additionally, our Onefile Eportfolio app can be accessed anywhere, letting users work offline then sync later. Learners can create plans, capture evidence such as photos, videos, and audio offline, and sync everything when they reconnect to the internet, ensuring that their learning remains on track.  

For more information on what Eportfolio can do for you, click here.