Downing Street sources claim the agreement, hammered out after months of negotiations, marks the first tangible success in Starmer’s promised “reset”.
Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer (Image: GETTY)
Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil a major reversal of Brexit policy this week, striking a deal with Brussels to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange programme from January 2027. The move will open Britain’s universities to tens of thousands of young Europeans once again, allowing them to study here while paying only home-level fees.
Downing Street sources claim the agreement, hammered out after months of negotiations, marks the first tangible success in Starmer’s promised “reset” of relations with the European Union. It reverses Boris Johnson‘s 2020 decision to quit Erasmus+, which he branded poor value for money due to its lopsided nature: far more EU students flocked to the UK than Britons headed abroad.
The UK is to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus programme (Image: Getty)
Pre-Brexit figures showed nearly 32,000 Europeans arriving annually compared to just 17,000 UK students going the other way, costing taxpayers an estimated £200 million a year.
Mr Johnson replaced it with the Turing Scheme, a global outward-only programme focused on disadvantaged Britons, which supporters say has funded around 40,000 placements worldwide.
But critics argue Turing lacks reciprocity and stability, with funding cuts and administrative headaches leaving universities frustrated.
Now, under the new deal, EU students will return in force, paying capped domestic fees of around £9,535 rather than higher international rates. In exchange, British students regain funded access to continental universities, vocational training, and youth projects.
The EU has reportedly conceded a discount on UK’s contributions – possibly up to 30 per cent initially – to address the historic imbalance.
Universities are delighted, with the Russell Group hailing it as renewing “huge contributions” from EU students and staff to campus life, while the National Union of Students calls it a “huge win” for the next generation.
However, the announcement risks reigniting Brexit divisions. Hardliners warn it subsidises foreign students at a time when young Britons struggle with jobs and housing.
One former Tory MP has already blasted the plan for “opening our borders to more young people from the EU” instead of prioritising domestic youth.
Sir Keir insists the deal delivers “life-changing opportunities” without reopening freedom of movement debates. It comes amid broader reset efforts, including talks on defence and trade, as public opinion softens on closer EU ties.
For students, the clock is ticking: applications for 2027 exchanges could open soon. After years of post-Brexit isolation, Britain’s lecture halls are poised for an influx of continental accents once more – a symbolic step back towards Europe under Labour’s watch.
