- The UK rejoins Erasmus: What has been announced
The UK is coming back to Erasmus+. The short answer: the UK rejoins Erasmus+ as an associated country on 1 January 2027, the first funding call opens in November 2026, and the first study and work exchanges funded under the scheme will begin in the second half of 2027 at the earliest.
That last point is the one most headlines skip. If you are a student, apprentice or teacher hoping to move abroad with Erasmus+, the realistic starting point is the 2027/28 academic year, not January.
This guide explains what has been agreed, who can take part, how the timeline really works and how to sort out housing once your place is confirmed. Every key fact links to an official source.
The UK rejoins Erasmus: What has been announced
Erasmus+ UK 2027 is the result of an agreement between the UK government and the European Union, concluded in stages over the past eighteen months.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 19 May 2025 | At the first UK-EU Summit, both sides agree to work towards UK association |
| 17 December 2025 | Negotiations concluded |
| 15 April 2026 | The legal text is signed in Brussels |
| 27 October 2026 | The UK government confirms association from 1 January 2027 in Parliament |
| November 2026 | First funding call opens |
| 1 January 2027 | UK association begins |
| Second half of 2027 | First exchanges funded under the 2027 call can start |
According to the UK government, more than 100,000 people are expected to benefit in the first year alone, and the UK secured a 30% discount on the default contribution rate.
The European Commission confirms that the agreement puts the UK on the same footing as the 27 EU countries and the other countries associated with the programme.
Who can take part
Erasmus+ is much broader than university exchanges. Under the UK’s association, participants will include:
- University students, for study periods and traineeships abroad
- Further education and vocational learners
- Apprentices, including placements in leading European companies
- School pupils, through school exchanges and partnerships
- Teachers and education staff
- Adult learners
- Youth workers and young people in youth exchanges
- Grassroots sport staff and organisations
One important detail: individuals do not apply directly for Erasmus+ funding. The European Commission states that organisations apply for funding, and individuals then apply for opportunities through their education, training, youth or sport organisations.
So the first step for anyone interested is to ask your institution whether it is applying in the 2027 call.
When mobility actually starts
This is where precision matters.
The UK’s association begins on 1 January 2027, but that is when UK organisations become eligible for funding, not when students start travelling. The European Commission explains that the individual opportunities created by projects selected in 2027 will only become available once those projects start operating, in the second half of 2027 at the earliest.
The UK National Agency gives the same picture from the application side:
- Applications are expected to open in November 2026
- They will close between February and April 2027, depending on the type of action
- Funded projects are expected to start from autumn 2027 onwards
Universities also need an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). According to the UK National Agency, institutions without one will not be eligible for the 2027 call.
There is one more caveat worth knowing. The agreement covers the current programme. The next Erasmus+ programme is being negotiated as part of the EU budget for 2028 to 2034, and UK participation from 2028 will need to be agreed separately.
Who runs Erasmus+ in the UK
The British Council has been appointed as the UK National Agency for Erasmus+. It managed the programme in the UK before, between 2014 and 2020, when it oversaw more than 8,000 projects and more than 580,000 participants, according to the UK government.
The National Agency handles funding calls, assesses applications and supports organisations throughout their projects. Students, young people, educators and organisations can register for updates on the British Council’s Erasmus+ pages.
It works both ways: EU students are coming back to the UK
The return of Erasmus+ is not only about British students going abroad. The UK government confirms that UK institutions and communities will once again welcome participants from the EU.
For European students and staff, this reopens funded exchanges with UK universities and organisations. For cities like London, it means a return of Erasmus students looking for short and mid-term accommodation from the 2027/28 academic year.
Visa and immigration requirements are separate from Erasmus+ funding. Before you travel, check the official GOV.UK guidance if you are coming to the UK, or the rules of your host country if you are going to the EU.
Finding Erasmus accommodation: start before you need it
Once your place is confirmed, Erasmus accommodation becomes the most urgent problem. Exchange stays usually last a semester or an academic year, which is too long for a hotel and often too short for a standard long-term lease.
A few practical rules make the search easier:
- Start as soon as your placement is confirmed. Demand peaks before the start of the academic year
- Look for furnished homes, so you arrive with everything you need
- Check that the contract length matches your exchange, whether that is one semester or a full year
- Confirm what is included, such as utilities, internet and service charges
- Never pay a stranger by bank transfer. Book through a platform that verifies listings and protects your payment
If you are booking from another country, read our guide to the safest way to rent an apartment abroad without visiting.
The UK rejoins Erasmus: How Spacest can help
Spacest lists furnished rooms and apartments for mid-term stays across Europe, the kind of housing Erasmus students typically need. Listings are verified by our team and your payment is held securely until after you move in, so you can check the home matches what you booked.
If you are a UK student heading to Europe, you can browse homes in popular Erasmus destinations such as
If you are a European student coming to the UK, start with furnished rentals in London.
Heading to Italy? Our complete guide to Erasmus student rentals in Italy covers the main university cities.
FAQ Frequently asked questions
When does the UK rejoin Erasmus+?
On 1 January 2027, as an associated country. The UK government confirmed the date in Parliament on 27 October 2026.
Can I go on an Erasmus exchange in January 2027?
Not with funding from the 2027 call. According to the European Commission, opportunities from projects selected in 2027 will become available in the second half of 2027 at the earliest.
Can I apply for Erasmus+ directly?
No. Organisations such as universities, colleges, schools and youth organisations apply for funding, and individuals then apply through them.
Who can take part?
University and further education students, apprentices, vocational learners, school pupils, teachers, adult learners, youth workers and grassroots sport staff.
Who manages Erasmus+ in the UK?
The British Council, appointed as the UK National Agency.
Will EU students be able to study in the UK again?
Yes. The UK government has confirmed that UK institutions will once again welcome EU participants under Erasmus+.
Is UK participation guaranteed after 2027?
Not yet. The next programme is part of the EU’s 2028 to 2034 budget, and UK participation will need to be agreed separately.
Sources
- UK government, Department for Education: UK and EU finalise agreement to bring UK into Erasmus+ in 2027, 15 April 2026
- European Commission: The UK and Erasmus+
- UK National Agency for Erasmus+, British Council: Frequently asked questions
