The European Commission has said student exchange programmes between Ireland and Britain will continue for at least another two years, until the UK formally leaves the EU.

The Erasmus programme allows students in one EU state to study in another with the assistance of financial grants.

Almost 2,500 Irish students have studied and undertaken internships in the UK since 2007, as part of the package.

Ruth Deasy from the EU office in Dublin said: “Legally nothing has changed, and nothing will change until the UK formally leaves the Union, which will take at least two years, if it goes ahead.”