France, April 18 -- Agreements finalised on Wednesday pave the way for the UK to rejoin Erasmus from 2027, with more than 100,000 people expected to benefit in the first year alone.

The popular study-abroad programme was a casualty of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, with students and universities on both sides lamenting its loss. 

While the UK had the option to remain in the scheme, then prime minister Boris Johnson turned it down on cost grounds, calling Erasmus "extremely expensive". 

Under this week's deal, the current government - led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer - has agreed to contribute £570 million (roughly €650 million) as of next year, which ministers say represents a 30 percent discount...