Britain is set to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus plus student exchange scheme from the start of January. Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said applications would open next month for young people who will be able to study, train or get work experience in the bloc.

It comes as Andy Burnham is looking at options for a new relationship with Brussels including potentially returning to the Brussels club. Work on the UK joining the Erasmus programme was announced as part of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s post-Brexit reset deal with Brussels in 2025.

Britain left the scheme under Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal in 2020, with the then-prime minister arguing it did not offer value for money.

It was replaced by the Turing Scheme, which was ended when the Government announced the new deal over Erasmus plus.

In the Commons today, Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said young people had been “deprived of opportunity” since Brexit.

She asked: “What work is being done with EU counterparts to improve ties with the EU so it benefits our economy and our young people?”

Mr Falconer replied: “I would like to inform the House that the UK will reassociate with Erasmus plus from January 1 2027. Applications open this November.

“They are not simply for undergraduate university students. They are for educational institutions of all kinds.”

He urged “members right across the House to work with the British Council, get their institutions engaged”.

“That is one of the concrete ways we will be helping young people through closer relationship.”

Britain Rejoins Major EU Scheme as Andy Burnham Faces Brexit Backlash

Britain’s decision to rejoin a major European Union programme has reignited the debate over Brexit, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham facing criticism from opponents who believe closer ties with Brussels could undermine the result of the 2016 referendum.

The programme at the centre of the controversy is Erasmus+, the EU’s education, training and youth exchange scheme. The UK is scheduled to rejoin from January 1, 2027, opening new opportunities for students, apprentices, educators and young people to study, train and gain work experience across Europe.

For supporters, the move represents a practical way to restore opportunities lost after Brexit. For critics, however, it raises broader questions about the direction of Britain’s relationship with the European Union and whether the country could gradually move towards deeper integration.

The government finalised the agreement for British participation in Erasmus+ in April 2026. Ministers expect more than 100,000 people to benefit during the programme’s first year, while the UK secured a 30 per cent discount on the standard contribution rate. The programme covers more than university exchanges, including apprenticeships, school partnerships, vocational training, youth activities and sports-related projects.

A Return to a Programme Britain Left After Brexit

The UK withdrew from Erasmus+ following Brexit, with the previous Conservative government arguing that the arrangement did not offer sufficient value for money. Britain subsequently introduced the Turing Scheme as an alternative to support international study opportunities.

The return to Erasmus+ marks a change in approach. Instead of relying exclusively on a national scheme, British institutions will again be able to participate in a wider European framework that supports exchanges and collaborative projects between eligible organisations.

Supporters say the programme could help young people from less advantaged backgrounds access international experience, develop language skills and improve their employment prospects.

Apprentices may be able to undertake placements with European employers, while schools and educational organisations could develop partnerships with counterparts abroad. Teachers and training staff may also benefit from professional development opportunities.

The government argues that these opportunities could strengthen Britain’s skills base and improve cooperation with European partners.

However, the political argument is not simply about whether students should be able to study abroad. The dispute concerns the wider meaning of renewed cooperation with the EU, particularly at a time when the government is discussing the long-term future of the UK’s relationship with the bloc.

Why Andy Burnham Is Facing Brexit Criticism

Burnham has brought the question of Britain’s future relationship with Europe back into the political spotlight by arguing that the country needs an evidence-based discussion about the consequences of Brexit and the options available for the future.

He has questioned whether the existing arrangements are delivering the economic and immigration outcomes promised during the referendum campaign. He has also suggested that Britain should examine different possible relationships with the EU, ranging from closer cooperation to more substantial forms of integration.

Those comments have prompted criticism from politicians who believe the government should concentrate on implementing Brexit rather than reopening arguments that divided the country for years.

Nigel Farage and other opponents of closer European integration have portrayed the discussion as a potential betrayal of voters who supported leaving the EU. Their concerns extend beyond Erasmus+ to questions about immigration, national decision-making and the possibility of Britain eventually seeking membership of the single market or the EU itself.

Yet the Erasmus+ agreement was developed as part of the broader UK-EU relationship reset initiated under the previous government. It is therefore important to distinguish the return to this specific programme from a decision to reverse Brexit altogether.

Does Erasmus+ Mean Brexit Is Being Reversed?

Not by itself.

Erasmus+ is an education, training and youth programme. Participation does not automatically restore EU membership, membership of the single market, a customs union or the general freedom of movement that existed when Britain was an EU member.

The agreement is a specific arrangement between the UK and the EU, negotiated within the framework of their post-Brexit relationship.

Nevertheless, opponents argue that individual agreements can form part of a broader political direction. They fear that closer cooperation in education, trade, energy and other areas could gradually increase pressure for Britain to align itself more closely with EU rules.

Supporters take a different view. They argue that cooperation can be negotiated sector by sector, allowing Britain to pursue arrangements that serve its interests without automatically returning to the institutional structures it left.

The distinction matters because the political debate can sometimes blur separate questions. Rejoining an exchange programme is not equivalent to rejoining the EU, and neither does it settle whether closer economic integration would be beneficial for Britain.

The key issue is what further agreements the government chooses to pursue, what conditions they involve and whether voters are given a clear explanation of their consequences.

Freedom of Movement Remains a Major Flashpoint

The argument has become more heated because Burnham has also called for an open discussion about the possibility of future changes to freedom of movement between Britain and the EU.

For Brexit supporters, immigration control was one of the central reasons to leave the bloc. They worry that any return to freedom of movement could reduce the government’s ability to determine who can live and work in the UK.

Burnham, meanwhile, has argued that the current arrangements have not necessarily delivered the outcomes many voters expected, particularly in relation to irregular migration and the ability to return people who have no right to remain.

However, the Prime Minister has ruled out rejoining the EU during the current Parliament and said he is not proposing immediate changes to the government’s existing commitments. Downing Street has also stressed that discussing possible future arrangements should not be interpreted as a settled policy to restore freedom of movement.

That distinction has not ended the controversy. Critics say even raising the subject risks reopening the Brexit debate, while supporters believe the country should be able to examine the evidence and consider future options without treating the 2016 referendum as a ban on all further discussion.

What Could the Return Mean for Young People?

For students and educational institutions, the immediate implications are more practical than constitutional.

The government expects the programme to support a wide range of activities from 2027. Universities may organise exchanges, apprentices could gain experience with European employers, and schools or training organisations may establish international partnerships.

Erasmus+ also includes opportunities for adult learners, educators, youth organisations and sports professionals. Its reach means that participation is not restricted to young people studying for traditional university degrees.

The government says the programme could help make international experience more accessible to people who might otherwise struggle to afford it. The financial terms of the UK’s participation, including the agreed discount, will be important in assessing whether the arrangement represents value for money.

Still, the benefits will depend on implementation. Institutions will need to understand the application process, identify suitable partners and make sure that opportunities reach participants across different backgrounds and regions.

The government has said applications for the 2027 funding round are expected to open in November 2026, with further details to be confirmed through the programme guidance.

The Wider Political Battle Is Far From Over

The return to Erasmus+ arrives as Britain considers several possible areas of closer cooperation with the EU, including food and agricultural standards, energy and emissions trading.

These discussions could have economic consequences, but each agreement will involve its own negotiations, conditions and potential trade-offs. A decision to cooperate in one area does not automatically determine what Britain should do in another.

For Burnham, the challenge is to explain how closer relations could benefit the country while addressing concerns about sovereignty, immigration and democratic accountability.

For critics, the task is to scrutinise the government’s proposals without assuming that every practical agreement represents a complete reversal of Brexit.

The public debate is likely to intensify as the government sets out its longer-term options and prepares for further discussions with European leaders. The scheduled UK-EU summit in November is expected to provide another opportunity to discuss the future relationship.

Ultimately, the return to Erasmus+ is both an education policy decision and a symbol in the wider argument over Brexit. Supporters see renewed opportunities for young people and institutions. Opponents see a reason to question whether Britain is moving towards a closer relationship than voters anticipated when they chose to leave.

What the agreement does not establish, however, is that Britain has rejoined the European Union or that freedom of movement is about to return.

The real test will be whether the programme delivers tangible benefits, whether the financial arrangements prove worthwhile and how the government handles the separate, more contentious decisions that may shape Britain’s relationship with Europe for years to come.