NICOLA Sturgeon’s government has not ruled out making a request to Westminster to allow Scottish students to continue to take part in the Europe-wide Erasmus exchange programme, The National can reveal.

Universities minister Richard Lochhead told The National yesterday: “The UK Government’s decision to walk away from Erasmus – which is used by more than 2000 Scottish students and young people annually – is a huge blow.

“I will be writing to the UK Government to express my profound disappointment at this decision and their plans for a watered down alternative to the programme – all of which has been pushed through irrespective of views of the devolved administrations. This is simply unacceptable and we are looking at alternative options.”

It is understood Lochhead’s letter will seek further details on the new UK scheme, announced by the Prime Minister last week, to succeed Erasmus. However sources added the option of Scotland making a request to remain in Erasmus had not been ruled out.

READ MORE: Erasmus removal shows the de-Europeanisation of young Scots has begun

The First Minister last week condemned Boris Johnson’s decision to pull out of the Erasmus scheme – which is open to non-EU members.

She tweeted: “Ending UK participation in Erasmus – an initiative that has expanded opportunities and horizons for so many young people – is cultural vandalism by the UK Government.”

The SNP MP Alyn Smith welcomed the move that the Scottish Government may seek to continue in the scheme .

“I did Erasmus 1992/3, the UK Government deciding to close off life changing chances for future generations is unforgivable. I’m proud Scotland will do all we can to, like Northern Ireland, remain part of it.” Smith tweeted yesterday.

Johnson said the UK would instead establish its own scheme with “the best universities in the world”, to be named after the British computing pioneer Alan Turing.

Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, said the UK Government “decided not to participate in the Erasmus exchange programme” after the two sides were unable to agree on the cost of Britain’s continued membership.

The omission of Erasmus from the UK-EU deal ends a scheme that had offered student exchanges as well as school links, work experience and apprenticeships across Europe since 1987.

Under the latest version of the scheme, Erasmus+, around 200,000 people have taken part including around 15,000 British university students who are given financial support to study overseas.

It is open to non-EU members – or third countries – with the Republic of North Macedonia, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Turkey and Serbia all taking part.

Adam Tickell, the vice-chancellor of the University of Sussex, said last week: “Leaving Erasmus is a real sadness, a scheme whose original foundations were laid at Sussex. Over the years the Erasmus programme transformed the lives of thousands of young people.”

In January, Johnson assured MPs there was “no threat to the Erasmus scheme”. But confirming the end of membership, he said on Thursday: “On Erasmus, it was a tough decision.”

READ MORE: How likely is it Westminster will allow Scotland back into the Erasmus scheme?

He claimed the UK “loses out” financially because of the larger number of EU nationals coming to study in the UK.

“So what we are doing is producing a UK scheme for students to go around the world,” the Prime Minister said. “It will be called the Turing scheme, named after Alan Turing, so students will have the opportunity not just to go to European universities but to go to the best universities in the world. Because we want our young people to experience the immense intellectual stimulation of Europe but also of the whole world.”

The new scheme is not expected to fund students coming to the UK, as Erasmus does now, which suggests British universities will miss out on income.

A report earlier this year said ending Erasmus membership would cost the UK more than £200 million a year.

The UK Government said it recognised the devolved administrations have views on participating in Erasmus+ and their views were sought when reaching the decision.