LONDON, April 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The UK and European Union said Wednesday they had signed the legal texts allowing Britain to rejoin the bloc's Erasmus student exchange scheme, five years after Brexit forced its departure.

London and Brussels announced in December they had agreed the terms for the UK to rejoin the popular programme next year, amid Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer's much-touted EU "reset".

More than 100,000 people are expected to benefit in the scheme's first year alone, according to the British government, which negotiated to contribute œ570 million ($774 million) towards the scheme's costs in 2027.

It has claimed that reflects a 30 percent discount on the "default contribution rate" and delivers "a fair deal for taxpayers while guaranteeing full participation in the programme".

Students, apprentices and young people will be eligible to participate, including on placements in leading European companies, cultural exchanges and other cross-border initiatives, London noted.

"From learning a language to building confidence and work experience, Erasmus+ offers transformative opportunities to enhance young people's life chances," UK skills minister Jacqui Smith said in a statement.

London said the British Council was set to return as the UK's "national agency" -- helping organisations and individual participants to navigate the programme -- as the organisation did between 2014 and 2020.

The European Commission will formally confirm the British Council's return to the role later this year, the British government noted.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe and the UK "have enjoyed mutually beneficial educational ties for centuries".

"Strengthening those ties further makes perfect sense on both sides -- for our students, teachers, educational systems, economies and societies as a whole," she added in a statement.

"I look forward to seeing the immense potential of this development being realised as soon as possible."