Skip to main content

Erasmus+

EU programme for education, training, youth and sport

The UK and Erasmus+

The UK is no longer an EU Member State. It has also opted not to take part as an associated third country in the new Erasmus+ programme 2021-27.  The UK will therefore not be taking part in the new programme as a Programme Country. The European Commission regrets this decision by the United Kingdom.

What happens now?

Existing Erasmus+ projects

All projects selected under the Erasmus+ programme 2014-2020 will continue operations until their completion on the same basis under which they were selected.

Many Erasmus+ cooperation and exchange projects are multi-annual – they are funded for typically two to four years. This means that a number of these existing projects and partnerships that involve UK partners or are open to UK individuals will continue on the basis of these 2014-2020 rules, when the UK was a Programme Country.

We will therefore see an overlap as the above projects phase out or consume all their funds, while new projects selected from 2021 onwards start operations under the new programme.

Erasmus+ projects selected from 2021 onwards

The UK’s decision not to be involved as an associated third country – i.e. on the same footing as EU Member States – will radically reduce the number of its opportunities for Erasmus+ cooperation projects and exchange in the areas of education, training, youth, and sport.

The UK will be a non-associated third country in the new programme. As such a limited number of opportunities from 2021 onwards will remain open to UK participation because they are open to institutions or individuals from all over the world.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

UK institutions may take part in designing and delivering these Erasmus Mundus joint master programmes as part of an international consortium of higher education institutions from Europe and beyond.

EU-funded scholarships to these Erasmus Mundus programmes are available to students from all over the world to attend these programmes. These scholarship opportunities will therefore remain open to UK nationals. Erasmus Mundus students will also be able to study at UK universities which jointly deliver the programmes.

Jean Monnet activities

These projects are designed to promote studies in European integration in higher education institutions across the globe. Some 40% of these projects take place in universities outside the EU. This international dimension will remain in the new programme, and will therefore be open to UK institutions.

Other initiatives for higher education and vocational education mobility

Some limited opportunities for mobility between the EU and the UK as a third country may be possible in other actions of the new Erasmus+ programme.