UK to rejoin Erasmus+ scheme from 2027

The UK government has announced that the UK will rejoin the European Union's Erasmus+ programme from January 2027, restoring a vital route for education and training exchanges that ended following Brexit.

The agreement, confirmed on 17 December 2025 by EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefcovič, fulfils a commitment made at the UK-EU summit in May. Announcing the news Nick Thomas-Symonds said:

"Joining Erasmus+ is a huge win for our young people, breaking down barriers and widening horizons to ensure everyone, from every background, has the opportunity to study and train abroad. This is about more than just travel: it's about future skills, academic success, and giving the next generation access to the best possible opportunities."

What does this mean for translators and interpreters?

This announcement is particularly significant for budding translators and interpreters. Spending time living abroad has long been considered essential for developing the deep linguistic and cultural competence that enables enthusiastic linguists to become highly skilled professionals.

Most UK modern languages degrees include a compulsory year abroad in the third year of study, with students spending time at partner universities, on work placements, or as English language teaching assistants. This immersive experience allows students to develop not just language fluency, but the cultural understanding that is fundamental to high-quality translation and interpreting work.

Erasmus+ has historically been the primary mechanism through which UK language students undertook these placements. Before the UK left the scheme in 2020 as a result of Brexit, tens of thousands of British students participated each year. The programme also enabled reciprocal exchanges, with EU students coming to the UK – creating networks that have proved valuable to many people during their professional career.

Sara Robertson, ITI’s CEO, welcomed the announcement:

"This is encouraging news for anyone considering a career in translation or interpreting. There is no substitute for the experience of living and working in the country of your working language - it's where textbook knowledge transforms into genuine fluency and cultural insight. The return of Erasmus+ reopens a door that many had feared closed for good."

Wider benefits of international experience

Research consistently demonstrates the career benefits of mobility. A European Commission study found that Erasmus students increased their graduate employment prospects by around 42% and were half as likely to face long-term unemployment compared to those who had not participated. The study also found that 92% of employers surveyed valued 'transversal skills' such as problem-solving, adaptability and cultural awareness – skills that are developed through time spent in another country.

For translators and interpreters, these benefits are magnified. Living and working in the country of your source language builds on classroom learning by providing invaluable and in depth exposure to contemporary usage and regional variations, as well as expanding the students’ vocabulary and broadening their understanding of nuance.

What the agreement covers

The government estimates that over 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the scheme in the first year alone. The programme will support:

• Higher education students undertaking study periods or work placements
• Further education students and apprentices taking work placements in European companies
• Adult learners participating in individual and group mobility
• Education staff benefiting from training, job shadowing and teaching exchanges
• School and youth groups engaging in exchanges and projects

A UK national agency will be appointed to administer the programme, with guidance to be published well ahead of the 2027 funding call. The government has stated that it will work closely with institutions and young people to maximise take-up, particularly among disadvantaged groups.

Looking ahead

While the announcement has been widely welcomed across the higher education sector there are some caveats. The current agreement covers only the 2027-28 academic year, as the next iteration of Erasmus+ is still being negotiated as part of the EU budget for 2028-34. Future UK participation will need to be agreed separately.

Details regarding visa requirements for students travelling between the UK and EU have also not yet been confirmed, and the future of the existing Turing Scheme remains unclear.

Nevertheless, for anyone considering a career in translation and interpreting, the return to Erasmus+ represents an important step in restoring access to a valuable and much-missed opportunity.

Further information: UK government announcement