Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Answer of 12 January 2026 to WPQ 101070, of the over 100,000 people that the Government estimates could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from Erasmus+ participation in 2027-8, how many he expects to be UK students.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Erasmus+ is open to learners, trainees and staff in higher education, further education, vocational education and training, schools, adult education, youth programmes and sport programmes. The department will have detailed information on the UK’s Erasmus+ beneficiaries after our first year of participation.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with her European Union counterpart on the display of flags by the National Agency that will manage the UK's participation in the Erasmus+ programme.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Under European Commission communication and visibility rules, managing authorities and implementing partners of EU funding are required to use the EU emblem in their communications. This requirement therefore applies to the National Agency responsible for delivering the Erasmus+ programme for the UK.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 101957 on Erasmus+ Programme, what estimate she has made of the potential cost to the public purse of participating in Erasmus+ in (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We have now concluded negotiations with the European Commission on the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. This commitment covers the 2027/28 academic year. Any participation in Erasmus+ into the next Multiannual Financial Framework needs to be agreed in future and be based on a fair and balanced contribution.
We have secured significantly improved financial terms compared to default arrangements, ensuring a fairer balance between the UK’s contribution to the EU and the number of UK participants who receive funding. We negotiated a 30% discount, securing participation for 2027 at a cost of approximately £570 million, saving UK taxpayers around £240 million while securing the benefits of participation for young people in the UK and across the EU.
The UK will receive most of that money back to distribute amongst UK beneficiaries. UK participants can compete for grants from an approximate £1 billion central pot directly managed by the European Commission.
Our experience of associating in 2027 will inform any future participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework from 2028/2034.
We will report to Parliament the costs arising from participation, including costs related to the implementation of the programme, in its annual accounts.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate has she made of the number of places that will be available for a) young British nationals and b) young EU nationals in each of the next five years under the new Erasmus scheme; and what assessment has she made of the expected regional allocation and breakdown of places.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We have now concluded negotiations with the European Commission on the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. This commitment covers the 2027/28 academic year. Any participation in Erasmus+ into the next Multiannual Financial Framework from 2028/34 will need to be agreed in the future and be based on a fair and balanced contribution.
We expect that over 100,000 people could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from participation in 2027.
We will have detailed information on the UK’s Erasmus+ beneficiaries after our first year of participation.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 101957 on Erasmus+ Programme, whether the National Agency will be an arms’ length body.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has commenced discussions with the British Council with a view to appointing them as the National Agency. The British Council is an arm’s-length body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an estimate of the yearly number of (a) EU students who will study in the UK and (b) UK students who will study in the EU when the Erasmus+ is fully operational.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In 2018/19, there were approximately 31,000 inbound higher education student mobilities via the Erasmus+ programme. There were approximately 16,000 outbound higher education student mobilities in the same year. The department expects there will be a greater number of higher education mobilities on reassociation, given the expansion of the programme. We expect that over 100,000 people could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from participation in 2027 across all sectors.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to the Cabinet Office press release, Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether the Turing scheme will be continued, and whether she plans any changes to the Turing scheme’s funding or scope.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government remains committed to international mobility. That’s why we have announced the UK has agreed to join the Erasmus+ programme in 2027. The Turing Scheme continues to deliver these opportunities and is confirmed for the 2026/27 academic year.
Guidance on the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year has been published on GOV.UK, with applications for funding opening at 12:00 on Tuesday 20 January and closing at 16:00 on Monday 16 March.
The aims of the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year are to enhance transferable skills, widen opportunity and drive value for money.
We are continuing to focus the scheme’s funding on students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Further details, including guidance for providers and application information, are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/turing-scheme-international-placements-2026-to-2027.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Spending Review has allocated funds for new payments to the European Union, over and above those commitments in treaties from the last Parliament.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Payments into the EU budget are governed by two treaties signed during the last Parliament, the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) and Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
Payments under the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) are as classified as Annually Managed Expenditure and are therefore beyond the scope of Spending Review 2025 (SR25).
On 17 December 2025 the government announced the UK would join the Erasmus+ programme in 2027. As usual, any changes to Departmental Expenditure Limits will be included in a future OBR fiscal forecast.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when discussions with the European Union about UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme beyond 2028 will commence.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK and European Commission have reached an agreement in principle for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. The Government’s immediate focus is to work to maximise take-up across all sectors so that the benefits of Erasmus+ association in 2027 can be fully realised.
Going forward, any continued UK participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be informed by our experience of association in 2027 and will be based on a fair and balanced contribution. Discussions on any future association would commence closer to the time.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how rejoining the Erasmus scheme will be funded.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has agreed terms with the European Commission that represent a fair balance between the UK’s contribution and the benefits the programme offers, which paved the way for UK participation.
We have agreed a 30% discount compared to the default terms in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement as well as a review of the UK’s participation in the programme ten months after our association, including data concerning demand for funding in the UK. Any continued UK participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be informed by our experience of association in 2027.
Erasmus+ costs will be funded above the department’s Spending Review settlement and scored in the usual way at the next fiscal event.