Britain's replacement for the Erasmus+ education programme has come under fire amid fears it is no more than a cost-cutting measure and will discourage students from going abroad.

It follows publication of a guide for the Turing scheme, plans for which were announced after ministers said participation in its EU counterpart would cease post-Brexit.

The bloc's project finances education, student exchanges, training, youth and sport across the continent, and has a budget of 14.7 billion euros (£12.8bn).

Boris Johnson's Government said previously that the replacement programme would be backed with more than £100 million in funding.

It is named after Alan Turing, the British scientist who is best known for leading the code-breaking successes at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.  

The newly published guide says Turing will "contribute to the UK Government’s commitment to a Global Britain, by helping organisations enhance their existing international ties and forge new relationships around the world".

READ MORE: EU chief closes door on separate Scottish participation in Erasmus

It adds that the planned scheme will "widen participation and support social mobility", and help deliver "value for UK taxpayers".

But analysis by Dr Max Fras, visiting fellow at the LSE's European Institute, said the guide indicated that living cost support would be significantly lower under Turing (up to £490 versus £630 under Erasmus+).

It also said there would be no tuition support for those participating in the British scheme. Erasmus+ offers free tuition.  

And it adds that, while all students get up to £1,315 in travel cost assistance through the EU's programme, no such help will be available under Turing, unless the individual is deemed to come from a disadvantaged background.   

The analysis has been disputed by Department for Education (DfE) officials, who said grant rates paid through the new scheme would be "in line with" Erasmus. They also expect tuition fees to be waived. 

The Herald: European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen.European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen.

But, in his own response to the findings, Michael Russell, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution and External Affairs, tweeted: "Utterly disgraceful - UK have still not shown anyone its 'value for money' calculations which allegedly influenced the decision (taken without consulting the devolved governments) not to stay in.

"This would suggest it was actually about cutting expenditure."

Terry Reintke, Green MEP, described the lack of tuition fee support or waiver as a "game changer".

"The already existing burden of financing tuition fees/student loans is already a barrier to study for many," she added on Twitter.

"So this is really bad news for a lot of people."

It comes after European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen closed the door on separate Scottish participation in Erasmus+.

In a letter to Ms Reintke, Ms Von Der Leyen said that, as a "constituent nation" of the UK, Scotland could not associate independently with the scheme.

Members of the European Parliament had asked the Commission to explore whether Scotland and Wales could remain included after the British Government decided to pull out.

In her letter, Ms Von Der Leyen said: "The EU offered the United Kingdom full association to the Erasmus+ programme in exchange for the standard financial contribution from third countries participating in Union programmes.

"Following a year of constructive negotiations with the UK Government, the decision was made in London not to pursue UK association to Erasmus+. The Commission regrets this decision."

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The letter also said the Commission was "aware" of the Scottish Government's statement on the UK decision.

It added that Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, had met with Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead, and noted he was "keen" to explore options for Scottish participation.

"However, as one constituent nation of the UK, association to Erasmus+ is not possible for Scotland, separately," the letter went on.

"The only possibility is for the UK to associate as a whole, or not at all."

READ MORE: Scottish universities hit by 40 per cent slump in EU applicants

A DfE spokeswoman said: "These findings are incredibly misleading.

"Unlike Erasmus+, the Turing scheme will include opportunities to study and work in countries across the world and builds in benefits for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas of the UK that have had low uptake.

“For a typical HE student on a study placement, the grant rates paid under the Turing Scheme will be in line with those under Erasmus+, and in fact will be higher for high cost destinations, and the uplift for disadvantaged students will also be higher.

"As is typical for all HE student mobilities, including outside of Erasmus+, we expect tuition fees to be waived.”