RSE President welcomes UK Government’s Erasmus announcement

The President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, has welcomed the UK Government’s decisions to re-enter the Erasmus university exchange scheme from 2027.

Sir Anton said: “It is with a great sense of relief and gratitude that I welcome this decision by the UK Government.

“The freedom for our Scottish students to study abroad at European universities and other institutions is truly invaluable. The lifelong benefits Erasmus is proven to deliver cannot be underestimated and I am delighted that this opportunity will, once again, be available to our young people. Anyone who has ever studied abroad will attest that the connections and collaborations fostered through international study reap benefits for many years.

“This will provide a real opportunity for so many who are considering further study after they leave school, and for so many already in university. The benefits of time spent abroad, learning in a different environment and culture, and the language learning that it provides as a consequence, simply cannot be overstated.

“Erasmus also opens up Scotland to students for all over Europe to come to here and experience the world class higher education and excellence in research that our nation has to offer.”

Sir Anton added: “I would like to thank the Prime Minister for this decision to return to Erasmus and look forward to seeing the benefits for Scottish students, our economy, and our place in the world.”