Lords pressure government over Erasmus+ membership

No guarantee of advance notice or consultation for universities on proposed domestic alternative

Members of the House of Lords have ratcheted up the pressure on the government over the UK’s future membership of the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme.

Universities fear the consequences of losing access to Erasmus+ if the UK cannot agree a deal to continue participation before the Brexit transition period ends in January. They calculate it would reduce their attractiveness to students and damage their finances—one estimate suggests the UK makes a £243 million annual profit from participation.