Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Budget 2026 document, HC 726, October 2026, para 6.133, whether EU higher education students participating in Erasmus+ will be eligible for student loans; and what is the total budgeted cost of Erasmus+ in (a) 2026-27, (b) 2027-28 and (c) 2028-29.

Studying in the UK on Erasmus+ does not make EU students eligible for UK student finance support, including maintenance loans.

We have negotiated a 30% discount, securing participation for the 2027 programme year at a cost of approximately £570 million. The department will report the costs arising from our participation to Parliament, including costs related to the implementation of the programme, in its annual accounts.

No decision has been taken on UK participation from 2028 and therefore it would be inappropriate to score those costs at this stage.