by InTrieste
The United Kingdom will rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus student exchange program in 2027, a decision welcomed by diplomats and educators as a step toward renewing cultural and educational ties disrupted by Brexit.
Ed Llewellyn, Britain’s ambassador to Italy, described the announcement as “excellent” on Thursday, saying it would reopen opportunities for Italian students to study in Britain and for British students to spend part of their degrees in Italy. Writing in Italian in a post on X, Mr. Llewellyn said the program would “strengthen the ties between our young people, our citizens, and the friendship between our countries,” calling the news a “Christmas present.”
Erasmus allows university students to study at a partner institution in another European country for up to a year as part of their degree program, without paying additional tuition fees. The United Kingdom withdrew from the scheme in 2020, following its departure from the European Union.
The return, scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, has been widely welcomed. On Wednesday, the British government described rejoining Erasmus as a “huge win” for young people in the country, saying it would ensure that “everyone, from every background, has the opportunity to study and train abroad.”
Preparations for Britain’s re-entry were set in motion at a summit in May between British and European Union leaders, where both sides agreed to deepen “people-to-people ties, particularly for the younger generation.”
Established in 1987, Erasmus has become one of the world’s most significant educational exchange programs, enabling millions of students to study abroad across Europe. Its founder, the Italian academic Sofia Corradi — widely known as “Mamma Erasmus” — died in Rome two months ago at the age of 91.
For many observers, Britain’s return to the program represents not only a practical policy shift but also a symbolic effort to rebuild connections with Europe through education and youth exchange.
