What will happen to Erasmus+ if there’s no Brexit deal?

Last week the government published a series of articles detailing the ins and outs of the "unlikely" possibility that Britain leaves the European Union (EU) without a subsequent deal on 29 March 2019.

Among the issues explained is the future of the UK's involvement with the Erasmus+ scheme.

Erasmus+ is an EU funding programme for study, work, sport and training and provides grants for student exchanges between universities within EU countries. It is included in the EU budget called the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

The UK is an existing contributor to the scheme and a popular destination for many EU students. For example, "in 2015/16, the UK was the third most popular destination for higher education students."

This week the government and the EU agreed that, providing a Brexit deal is reached, "the UK will continue to participate in the Union programmes financed by the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 until their closure."

For students who have successfully entered the Erasmus scheme before 2020 this means, "EU funding for UK participants and projects will be unaffected for the entire lifetime of projects, including those that extend beyond 2020."

EU budgets, calculated by the MFF, run in seven-year cycles (hence 2014-2020) but students wishing to participate in the Erasmus+ scheme must apply through their respective institutions (universities etc,) and be successful before Brexit on 29 March 2019.

The article also lays out what happens if Britain were to leave the EU without a deal.

The government has stated that in a "no-deal" scenario, it will guarantee funding for "awards to UK applicants for all successful Erasmus+ bids submitted before the UK exits the EU" and projects that last longer than 2020.

But the article also states that the government is yet to reach an agreement with the EU regarding Erasmus+ applications made after Brexit. It will undoubtedly become more expensive to travel and study in Europe but will the Erasmus scheme be renewed at all after we leave the EU?

Food for thought.

You can read the article in full here.