Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026, to Question 31617, on Erasmus+ programme, for what reason the UK is required to pay the EU to participate in the scheme if more EU students will attend UK institutions than UK students will attend EU institutions.

The UK’s financial contribution to Erasmus+ is calculated under the formula in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, with GDP as the primary determinant. Through negotiations, the government secured a 30% discount on the UK’s contribution for 2027. EU students undertaking mobilities to the UK are funded through their own National Agency and contribution to the Erasmus+ budget.

Erasmus+ is much broader than student exchanges. It also provides mobility opportunities across schools, vocational education and training, adult education, youth and sport, as well as funding a range of partnership and policy development projects. The government considers the agreed financial terms to represent a fair balance between the UK’s contribution and the benefits of participation.