Committee publication · Correspondence · 23 June 2026
Letter from Minister for Skills on the future of the Turing Scheme dated 17.06.26
From: Education Committee
Summary
Minister for Skills Baroness Jacqui Smith updates the Education Committee on the Turing Scheme's future. The UK will maintain £78 million funding for Turing through 2026–27, then transition to Erasmus+ participation from 2027–28. The letter outlines how Erasmus+ will expand opportunities beyond students to staff, youth, and adult learners while preserving Turing's focus on disadvantaged and additional-needs participants.
Key findings
- Turing Scheme receives £78 million funding for 2026–27 at current investment levels, maintaining support for disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs.
- UK will associate with EU's Erasmus+ programme from 2027–28 academic year, ending Turing Scheme as Erasmus+ placements begin.
- Erasmus+ covers broader scope than Turing: students, staff, adult education, youth, and sport sectors; extends to 30+ countries including EU members and associated nations.
- Erasmus+ incorporates Turing's inclusion priorities through additional funding for disadvantaged participants, flexible blended mobilities, mentoring support, and simplified application processes.
- Government expects over 100,000 UK participants to benefit from Erasmus+ mobility and partnership opportunities in 2027.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
higher-educationstudent-mobilityinternational-partnershipswidening-accessspecial-educational-needs
Key actors
Baroness Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State, Department for Education, Education Committee, European Union, Erasmus+ programme
Notable line
“We will therefore transition to this broad, expanded Erasmus+ in the 2027/28 academic year, ending the Turing Scheme as Erasmus+ placements begin .”
Key Quotes
“… for 2026 to 2027 academic year, students across the UK will continue to benefit from the Turing Scheme, supported by up to £78 million of funding - maintaining investment at current levels.”
“… the Government has taken the positive step to associate with Erasmus+ in 2027 – the EU's flagship education exchange and partnerships programme.”
“Erasmus+ offers a broader scope of activity than the Turing scheme, providing opportunities not only for students but also for staff, and extends to the adult education, youth and sport sectors.”
“This iteration of Erasmus+ has a strong focus on inclusion, and the UK's association will continue the ambition set by the Turing Scheme to prioritise mobilities involving participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
“We expect that over 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities through Erasmus+ participation in”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗