A Practical Guide for European Learners.
In December 2025, the UK and the EU announced that the UK had successfully agreed terms to re-join the Erasmus+ from 2027.
This marks the return of structured educational mobility between the UK and Erasmus-participating countries and opens new opportunities for European learners and educators wishing to study or train in the UK.
For many people across Europe, this raises a practical and timely question: How can Erasmus+ be used to study English in the UK, and what routes are available?
This guide explains the main pathways through which European students, adult learners and teachers can study English in the UK — including in cities such as Oxford — as part of an Erasmus+ mobility from 2027 onwards.
How Erasmus+ supports study and training abroad
Erasmus+ is designed to support organised international learning and professional development. It works through partnerships between institutions across Europe, enabling learners and staff to take part in funded mobility periods abroad.
In practice, this means that:
- learners and teachers participate through an organisation in their home country;
- mobility forms part of a recognised study, training or professional development pathway;
**For prospective participants, the key is identifying which route best matches their situation.**
Route 1: Studying English through a university, college or training provider
This is the most common Erasmus+ pathway and applies to learners already engaged in formal education or training.
Who this route suits
You may follow this route if you are enrolled in:
- a university or higher education institution,
- a vocational college,
- an adult education centre,
- a recognised training provider.
How it works
Once enrolled, learners can:
1. Check whether their institution:
- holds Erasmus+ accreditation, or
- participates in Erasmus mobility projects.
2. Apply internally for a mobility opportunity that includes:
- a study period abroad, or
- a blended programme combining study and training.
In this model:
- the home institution manages the Erasmus+ process,
- the destination is selected as part of the mobility plan,
- Erasmus+ funding typically supports travel and living costs during the stay.
For many learners, this route offers a clear and well-established way to combine English study with broader academic or vocational goals.
Route 2: Adult learners and career-changers
(Adult Education and Vocational Training mobility)
Erasmus+ is not limited to traditional students. Across Europe, it also supports adult learners, including those changing careers or returning to education.
Who this route is for
This pathway is particularly relevant if you are:
- over 18,
- retraining or changing careers,
- unemployed or under-employed,
- returning to education after a break.
In this context, English study is typically integrated as:
- a skill supporting employability,
- preparation for international work environments,
- part of a wider reskilling or integration programme.
Organisations that support adult learner mobility across Europe
Adult learner mobility is delivered through a wide range of organisations. While names vary by country, the structure is consistent across Europe.
Adult education centres
Public or semi-public institutions offering lifelong learning opportunities, often supporting:
- career-changers,
- adults returning to education,
- jobseekers,
- migrant and integration learners.
Examples include:
- Volkshochschule (Germany and Austria)
- Adult Learning Centres and Folk High Schools (Nordic countries)
- Centros de Educación de Personas Adultas (Spain)
- Centros Qualifica (Portugal)
- ROC adult education divisions (Netherlands)
- Municipal adult learning institutes (Central and Eastern Europe)
Language learning is frequently included in these programmes as part of employability or reskilling objectives.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers
VET organisations focus on job-related skills and sector-specific training, such as:
- tourism and hospitality,
- business and administration,
- IT and technical fields,
- healthcare and education support roles.
Erasmus+ VET mobility often includes:
- short international training periods,
- English language development linked to professional outcomes.
Studying English in the UK fits particularly well when it supports a defined vocational pathway.
Employment-linked training organisations and NGOs
Some learners participate through:
- employability programmes,
- labour-market reintegration initiatives,
- reskilling or inclusion projects.
These organisations often frame English study as:
- workplace communication,
- international mobility skills,
- employability development.
Although participants may not identify as “students” in the traditional sense, their learning is fully structured and supported within Erasmus+ mobility.
How adult learner mobility works in practice
Across Europe, the process is broadly similar:
- Enrol in an eligible adult education or training programme.
- Explore international mobility opportunities offered by the organisation.
- Apply internally for a mobility place if available.
- The organisation confirms a UK partner and defines learning outcomes.
Funding typically supports:
- travel,
- accommodation and living costs,
- organisational and learning support.
Route 3: Teachers and education staff
(Erasmus+ staff mobility)
For teachers and education professionals, Erasmus+ provides a particularly well-established route to study English in the UK.
Who this route suits
This pathway is relevant for:
- school and language teachers,
- trainers and lecturers,
- adult education staff,
- education administrators.
Participants are usually employed by, or formally contracted to, an eligible education organisation.
What staff mobility offers
Staff mobility focuses on professional development and may include:
- English language development,
- CLIL and bilingual teaching approaches,
- classroom communication skills,
- ELT methodology,
- inclusive teaching practices,
- job-shadowing.
This is one of the most common Erasmus+ pathways involving UK language schools.
How teachers access mobility
Teachers typically:
- Explore Erasmus+ opportunities through their employer.
- Apply internally when staff mobility funding is available.
- Select a structured course aligned with professional needs.
For staff mobility, Erasmus+ funding often supports:
- travel,
- accommodation,
- course fees.
Studying English in the UK with Erasmus+ from 2027: key takeaways
From 2027, Erasmus+ will once again support educational mobility between Europe and the UK, creating renewed opportunities for:
- students,
- adult learners,
- teachers and education professionals.
Successful participation depends on:
- engaging with the right organisation,
- choosing a route aligned with your learning or professional goals,
- understanding how mobility fits within a structured programme.
For those exploring English study in the UK, Erasmus+ offers a valuable framework to combine language learning with meaningful academic, vocational or professional development.