Brexit spelling the end of Erasmus

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Its budget of €14.7 billion will provide opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, and gain experience abroad.

This programme offers many opportunities for people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organisations in different countries. It is also used by a wide range of organisations, including universities, education and training providers, think-tanks, research organisations, and private businesses.

Erasmus spent €14.7bn on grants for Europeans to study abroad between 2014 and 2020, including around €1bn on British students alone. In 2018, the EU voted to extend the programme until the end of 2027 and doubled its budget to €30bn.

British MPs have just defeated an amendment in parliament that would have forced their government to negotiate to remain in Erasmus after Brexit. This has created a huge amount of uncertainty particularly amongst Brishi Students and universities who have no idea if their government will decide to remain or not within the programme post-Brexit.

Under the Withdrawal Agreement, Britain remains a part of Erasmus until the end of the year and as such UK students are still eligible for grants until the end of 2020. Thousands of British students will loose out if the Uk withdraws from the programme, and the ones who will suffer most will be those who cannot afford to travel and study abroad.