Erasmus+ 2028–34: Universities UK International position paper

With negotiations on the 2028–34 successor programme now underway between the European Commission, European Parliament and Council, we want to contribute to shaping a programme that maximises its huge potential, drawing on the UK's experience of delivering mobility programmes and widening participation to inform recommendations that benefit all participating countries.

In our position paper, we set out five recommendations for the 2028–34 Erasmus+ programme, focused on deepening its international reach, strengthening inclusion for learners of all backgrounds, and maintaining the flexibility that allows diverse higher education systems across Europe and beyond to participate equitably.

Our recommendations for Erasmus+ 2028–34

1. The successor programme should introduce greater flexibility on short-term and non-credit-bearing mobility, reducing structural barriers to participation and better realising the programme's inclusion ambitions across diverse higher education systems.
2. The successor programme should increase ambition for international mobility beyond Europe and programme countries, including a higher indicative cap under KA131, to strengthen the programme's global reach and reflect the stronger international framing of the proposed Regulation.
3. The successor programme should provide greater clarity on the funding and governance of the Scholarships for Excellence proposal, ensuring it complements rather than creates pressure on core Erasmus+ mobility and cooperation funding.
4. Ringfenced funding should be made available for UK institutions participating in European Universities alliances that were unable to benefit from the most recent funding calls due to the timing of UK association, alongside continued strong funding commitments for alliances within the 2028-34 programme.
5. The successor programme should retain flexible partial association provisions for all third countries, with conditions applied as proportionate case-by-case safeguards rather than categorical exclusions based on prior association history.

Read the position paper

Read Erasmus+ 2028–34: Universities UK International position paper