Embrace Erasmus
Let’s get the UK back into Erasmus
The Young European Movement, in partnership with European Movement UK and the British Youth Council, is calling on the UK Government to restore Britain’s membership of the Erasmus+ Programme, which was ended abruptly in 2020 despite promises of its continuation.
Restoring Britain’s place in the Erasmus+ Programme would unlock millions in additional funding for our schools and universities, giving students the opportunity to once more study and travel across Europe. We believe this is a vital step in retaining Britain’s standing in the world and upholding the world renown of our universities.
Further, restoring Britain’s membership of Erasmus+ would allow youth organisations in towns and villages across the country to regain access to much-needed funding to support their activities, promoting diversity and giving young people fresh opportunities.
Why is Erasmus+ Important?
1. Economic Impact: The Erasmus+ Programme has historically contributed significantly to the UK economy. According to statistics from the UK Higher Education International Unit, between 2007 and 2013, the UK received over £500 million more in funding from the European Union for education and training than it contributed. This funding supported student exchanges, research collaborations, and academic partnerships. Exiting Erasmus+ has resulted in a loss of financial support that could have further stimulated the UK's education sector and economy.
2. Enhanced Educational Opportunities: Participation in Erasmus+ opens doors for students, allowing them to study, train, or volunteer abroad. Before the UK's withdrawal, around 17,000 UK students annually benefited from Erasmus+ exchanges. These opportunities not only enrich students' academic experiences but also provide them with invaluable cultural exposure and language skills that are increasingly crucial in a globalised job market.
3. International Collaboration and Research: Erasmus+ facilitates collaboration between universities, research institutions, and businesses across Europe. Studies have shown that academic mobility positively impacts research output. For instance, a European University Association (EUA) report indicates that the Erasmus+ Programme led to a 2-4% increase in joint research publications between participating countries. Rejoining Erasmus+ would enable the UK to once again actively engage in collaborative research projects, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing.
4. Cultural Exchange and Soft Power: The Programme promotes cultural understanding and solidarity among European nations. By participating, the UK can strengthen its soft power by fostering positive relationships and networks with European countries. This cultural exchange is vital in fostering mutual understanding, tolerance, and cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.
5. Student Mobility and Future Prospects: Erasmus+ participation positively impacts employability. Studies indicate that students who engage in international experiences through Erasmus+ are more likely to secure employment within six months after graduation compared to those who did not participate. Employers highly value the skills gained through international experiences, including adaptability, language proficiency, and intercultural competence.
Rejoining the Erasmus+ Programme offers a range of advantages for the UK, including economic growth, enhanced educational opportunities, increased research collaborations, strengthened cultural ties, and improved prospects for its students and workforce. The statistics and previous positive outcomes demonstrate the tangible benefits that the UK could regain by rejoining this influential European education and exchange initiative.
"A year abroad with Erasmus was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!"
"I was lucky enough to live and work in Berlin as part of my German course at the University of Manchester. While I was in Germany, I met people from all over the world, I grew my language skills, I explored a different country, its people and its culture. I grew personally, too, learning independence, confidence, and responsibility. These skills are invaluable, and I’ve used them every day since I left Berlin."
Read more testimonies
Maddie
The History of Erasmus
Before Brexit, the UK actively participated in Erasmus, becoming one of the leading beneficiaries of the programme. It facilitated thousands of students, researchers, and educators to travel, study, and collaborate across European borders.
Read more about the history
Find out more about the Young European Movement
Embrace Erasmus is led by the Young European Movement, a group that brings together young voices from across the UK and Europe. Find out more about their Embrace Erasmus campaign.
Find out more about Embrace Erasmus
Erasmus Stories From Across the UK
Hear from people across the UK to learn how Erasmus impacted their lives
Find out moreWho is supporting our campaign
Sir Vince Cable, former leader of the Liberal Democrats
"During the vote in 2016, everyone I spoke to wanted to save Erasmus+, because not even the most ardent-Eurosceptic can argue that the UK being excluded from the Erasmus programme is a good thing. Our students lose out, our universities lose out and we as a nation are all the poorer for it.
This is because Erasmus+ did not just mean that students, up and down the UK, benefitted from the ability to study abroad, but it also meant that for places like Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds European students studied and visited these regions instead of just heading to London. Hundreds of universities across the UK relied heavily on EU collaboration and funding and since the removal of Erasmus+ there has been a serious deterioration in their ability to offer a world-class education.
No one wins from us losing Erasmus+ and that's why I'm supporting the European Movement UK's campaign to rejoin Erasmus+."
Caroline Lucas MP, former leader of the Green Party
"It’s especially cruel that the young people who will pay the highest price for Brexit have had this brilliant opportunity stolen from them.
Erasmus is no political threat. Not even the most ardent Brexiter could keep a straight face and depict it as an attack on parliamentary sovereignty or blame it for the failures that were routinely laid at the door of the EU.
The opportunity to fall in love with another country’s culture, explore new languages, live and study abroad, build new and lifelong friendships – and that opportunity is open to anyone, from any background.
So, I welcome your commitment to continue the struggle to be properly part of Erasmus again – it’s one that I think is winnable and symbolises the spirit of sharing and cooperation that as Europeans we hold dear."
Alyn Smith MP, SNP Spokesperson on Europe
“Scotland has some of the finest universities in the world and I am especially proud to have one of the best in Stirling University in my constituency. I benefited myself from Erasmus+ as well as studying at the College of Europe. These experiences helped shape the person I am today and opened up opportunities for me and so many others that would not have been possible without the EU.
Brexit has been a disaster for our universities and students. It was welcome news that the UK finally decided to re-join Horizon Europe but it must surely do the same for Erasmus+. Scots benefitted greatly from being able to study in the EU, but we also benefitted tremendously from the contribution of EU students who came to study at our universities and live in our communities.
The SNP believes that Scotland’s best future lies as an independent state in Europe but we also want to see our friends across the UK thrive as well. Scotland wants to be a positive contributor to education collaboration across Europe through Erasmus+ and Horizon. Getting back into these projects is a win-win-win for all of us”.
Liz Saville-Roberts MP, Group leader of Plaid Cymru in Westminster
“Brexit has slammed the door on young people's hopes and dreams in Wales.
In 2016, roughly £7.3m in Erasmus+ of funding was given to Wales, a boost from previous years. This was because more schools than ever wanted to be involved with Erasmus+. Since then, these schools have been stripped of funding and children who once were once given the chance to collaborate in Europe have been denied this opportunity.
This is a disgrace; it is so disheartening to see the most vulnerable children within our society suffering because of this. Erasmus+ should not be made political, it should be embraced for the sake of our children”.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
“We have seen the damage done by the Government’s hard Brexit right across our city, including to our world-class educational institutions with students from across Europe no longer able choose London to study abroad and vice versa. That’s why I’m supporting the campaign to re-join the Erasmus+ programme.
“The UK may no longer be part of the EU, but London is, and always will be a European City and by re-joining the programme we can reopen the door for young people from across Europe to once again choose our city as we work to build a better London for everyone.”
