UK and EU plan three-year mobility scheme for young people as student fee talks continue

The United Kingdom and the European Union are expected to agree on a youth mobility scheme allowing people aged 18 to 34 to live in each other's territories for up to three years, according to a draft joint statement.

The proposed scheme would allow eligible young people to work, study, volunteer or travel in the UK or an EU member state. The draft statement does not specify a limit on the number of participants. However, its provisions are not final and remain subject to negotiations ahead of the UK-EU summit scheduled for Nov 20 in Brussels.

The proposed arrangement is part of efforts to strengthen relations between the UK and the EU following Britain's departure from the bloc in 2020. It would provide a route for young people to spend an extended period in the other territory without restoring the general freedom of movement that existed before Brexit.

Erasmus+ participation confirmed for 2027

The UK is also set to participate in the European Union's Erasmus+ programme from 2027, allowing students, learners and education staff to take part in academic exchanges and other opportunities across participating countries.

However, this is not a new agreement expected at the November summit. The UK and EU had already agreed on British participation in Erasmus+ in December 2025, with the EU Council approving the relevant arrangements in March 2026.

The programme supports international study, training and cooperation in education, youth and sport. The UK's return is expected to reopen exchange opportunities that were affected by its withdrawal from the programme after Brexit.

Tuition fee negotiations remain unresolved

Despite progress on mobility and academic exchanges, the UK and EU have yet to reach an agreement on university tuition fees for students from the two sides.

Under the draft statement, both sides would commit to providing equal treatment to British and EU students in tuition fees and aim to conclude negotiations within six months.

EU students currently studying in the UK generally pay international student fees rather than the lower domestic rates available to eligible British students. An EU diplomat told that the proposed equal-treatment arrangement could significantly reduce fees for EU students, although it would not necessarily bring them down to the home-fee level.

The issue has remained a point of disagreement in the wider negotiations on post-Brexit cooperation. The outcome could affect the cost of pursuing higher education in the UK for students from EU countries, as well as the fees paid by British students at universities in the bloc.

The Nov 20 summit is expected to address the proposed youth mobility arrangement alongside other areas of cooperation. The final terms of the scheme and the outcome of the tuition-fee negotiations remain to be settled.