Looks like we're getting Erasmus back!

[HPFA]

The EU and UK have agreed to negotiate a re-entry for the UK into Erasmus+

Been some ambiguity over whether it was actually agreed but Ursula von der Leyden has Tweeted this:

https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1924436076086616127

Hope it's all in place before September 2026 for DD!!

But fantastic news that this opportunity will be available again for all students.

Excellent news! Dc starting MFL this year so will hopefully be in place by the time she goes away.

Great news! Ex Erasmus student here!!

Are you implying there's a scheme better than Boris's world-beating Turing Scheme....????

😀

(Having had a MFL ds go through Turing, I do know the answer to that).

Am I allowed to be just a bit peeved that we've put two kids through university-with-forrin-year in the brief gap without Erasmus? Bloody bad timing on our part, I must say!

Brilliant 👏 It was much missed.

Yes - I officially grant you permission to be a bit peeved.

I'd be distinctly dischuffed myself @JustBitetheKnotsOff. Though I must say ds showed no interest in going to that abroad at all, which must be worse.

I'm worried it won't go through before DDs year abroad.

But she is entitled to an Irish passport so should make things a bit easier.

Is this just for students at university or for anyone

Well, u30s will be allowed to spend two years in the EU/UK, like the schemes that currently work for Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc. There isn't total clarity yet on Erasmus funding for unis, so it could be everyone's still (doomed) stuck with Turing here but there's freedom of travel for Erasmus. Devil will definitely be in the detail on this one, but really pleased the u30s can spend time in the EU again, living and working there.

I second this - Just struggling assisting DD organise year abroad for MFL - it’s a nightmare - I’m pretty sure she’ll have to go on a tourist visa then come back to get the visa.

So return of Erasmus is very welcome for future years …

Yep I’m with you there!
However I’ve got to say we’re lucky that DD (currently on her year abroad) has accessed so many trips and events that Erasmus have organised. She’s been able to join in everything that they have done.

That's brilliant news.

@JustBitetheKnotsOff - Yes. You are allowed.

TBH, I never knew anyone who used it. All my DCs and their friends preferred to go to the US or Oz, but it's good to have it back.

Thank you all. I shall harrumph in a justified fashion.

I do feel a little sorry for the kids themselves. Organising their years abroad in the absence of Erasmus was a tough job, and few employers are likely to realise this.

Much better for their successors, though.

I'm very sorry to read this @Juja . Your thread on this was started ages ago ie you and your DD anticipated everything in plenty of time.

You obviously didn't know anyone doing MFL then! Going to the US or Oz is great but not so useful if your degree is in MFL, and a year abroad in your language country of choice is a degree requirement.

It has been a total nightmare for MFL kids the last few years, and even though my dc won't benefit from it now as far as Erasmus is concerned, he will benefit from the chance to go and live in Europe for a while which is what he has really wanted to do but couldn't as no Irish rellies here.

Turing is very limited, definitely not on par with Erasmus and Universities only got a small proportion of what they applied for. I also hope this is in place for 2026!

@Ceramiq - yes poor DD is living in a bureaucratic version of Dante's levels of purgatory - masses of snakes and not many ladders . Her uni here in the UK is breathtakingly unhelpful - sessions on culture shock and staying safe after dark but nothing on the process of how to get into an overseas uni.

The Italian Uni application process is a combination of being highly regulated but also not clear about what is required at each stage with requirements being drip fed onto the website over the last few months. It appears almost impossible to register for the necessary online L2 language test. The face to face B2 test (equivalent to L2) DD has booked to take in London in June now says it will take 2-4 months to give her the result while the online test gives instant results. So I think DD will apply for a single course module taught in English then register for more modules in Italian once she is there. DD's Italian is well above A Level standard but as she started ab initio she doesn't have an A Level certificate - but even that wouldn't be acceptable as evidence of language competence.

Added risk is because the Italian Uni's 2025/26 Uni course catalogue doesn't come out until July DD has use module codes from 2024/25 because the deadline for non EU standards is 30th June and then she hopes nothing has changed and that course is run this year 2025/26!!

To make it worse every Italian Uni has different internal registration processes and different deadlines. On top of internal uni processes there is a central application portal (UniversiIaly) for non EU students but you can as a non EU applicant only apply to one Uni at a time on UniversItaly.

And literally none of this is required if you are an Erasmus student or you are a citizen of any of the any other 26 EU countries even if you don't speak a word of Italian. You can just apply with no requirements.

Not that I'm bitter or twisted about Keri Starmer not signing up to Youth Mobility or Erasmus yesterday!! But even if he had I doubt it would have come in to effect in time for DD.

Amazing news! DD is an MFL nerd, she’ll be all over this.

That is good news - Erasmus alumnus from a STEM degree (rather than MFL).

Has KS signed up to Youth Mobility or not?

Erasmus will be too late for DD who is off to France in August but anything that pisses Farage off is a win for me!

It would be lovely to think DD could work in Europe for a couple of years post graduation.

@Juja Oh gosh, that does sound exceptionally difficult for your DD. Are there options that are not immersive experiences in an Italian university? The post-Brexit bureaucracy and the fact that her university has seemingly done nothing (which is of itself very shocking) to set up official exchange programmes in place of the relative ease of intra-EU arrangements is making immersive experience almost impossible.

@Ceramiq Thank you for your sympathy - and for your suggestion which we will explore, as you say there are a range of paths.. DD will find a way. She has plans A, B & C.
A She will apply for a single course in English language now to meet the University deadline.

B She is passing through Rome in July and will call at the University to go and sit on someone's desk to register
C If no visa DD will head out in late September on a tourist visa to sort it out.