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Erasmus+

EU programme for education, training, youth and sport

Studying abroad

Erasmus+ helps organise student and doctoral candidate exchanges.

These take place

  • within countries fully part of the Erasmus+ programme
  • to and from countries associated to Erasmus+

Why choose to study abroad

  • improve your communication, language and inter-cultural skills
  • gain soft skills highly valued by employers
  • combine with a traineeship abroad to gain work experience

Quick explainer

Individuals from Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia or Türkiye can participate in most opportunities as these non-EU countries are associated to the Erasmus+ programme.

For individuals from other non-EU countries there are some opportunities, for example Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees or the international dimension of student and staff exchange (if your university takes part) and youth exchange schemes.

You will need to check the opportunity pages for more information, as eligibility varies between opportunities.

There are 2 types of countries where Erasmus+ is active.

EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme

These can fully take part in all the actions of the Erasmus+ Programme. They include all EU countries, members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), candidate EU countries and others. They were previously called Programme countries.

Third countries not associated to the Programme

These can take part in certain Erasmus+ actions. There are many of these, spanning the globe. They were previously called Partner countries.

See the full list of eligible countries

These descriptions determine the countries in which Erasmus+ activities may take place, and which type of activities are possible.

EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme

These can fully take part in all the actions of the Erasmus+ Programme. They include all EU countries, members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), candidate EU countries and others.

Third countries not associated to the Programme

These can take part in certain Erasmus+ actions. There are many of these, spanning the globe.

How to apply

There's no central application form to study abroad with Erasmus+.

You can reach out to the international or Erasmus+ office of your university or higher education institution to start the process.

Your sending higher education institution is obliged to select applicants in a fair and transparent way.

Who can apply

  • students at short-cycle, Bachelor and Master levels
  • Doctoral candidates

who are

  • registered in a higher education institution that participates in the Erasmus+ programme (download a list of these institutions)
  • enrolled in studies leading to a recognised degree or tertiary-level qualification

Your study period abroad must be

  • relevant for your degree-related learning and personal development needs
  • part of the study programme that you are following

Duration

  • long-term mobility: minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 12 months abroad (including blended mobilities with a virtual component)
  • short-term mobility: between 5 and 30 days abroad (these must be blended mobilities)
  • maximum total duration: 12 months within one study cycle. It is possible to do more than one exchange within that limit.

Please note that only doctoral candidates can do a short-term mobility without a virtual component.

For "one-cycle" courses such as medicine or architecture, you can go abroad with Erasmus+ for as long as 24 months.

"Cycle" refers to the level of study as defined by the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

Costs and financial support

Grant agreements are signed by your sending or receiving institution. They apply for funding on behalf of their students.

If you are accepted for a grant, you will sign a participant grant agreement with them.

The amount is a contribution to your travel and daily living costs.

The details of this grant depend on many different conditions, including the

  • differences in living costs between your country and the destination country
  • number of students applying for a grant
  • distance between countries and the availability of other grants

As an Erasmus+ student, you are exempt from fees for tuition, registration, examinations, and charges for access to laboratories or libraries at the receiving institution. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may still apply.

Other support

There is also extra support for students going on a traineeship, students with fewer opportunities or those from outermost regions.

You may also be eligible for additional grants from your institution, government or other sources. 

Visit the European Funding guide or the Study Portals.

Students with physical, mental or health-related conditions

Check with the Erasmus+ coordinator at your sending institution to see if you can apply for additional funding.

Read about inclusion support

Language learning

Access to Erasmus+ Online Language Support can help you learn the language used for your studies.

Recognising your studies

Before your study period abroad, you will sign a “learning agreement for studies” with your sending and receiving institutions. 

This

  • defines how your activities abroad will be recognised
  • ensures the preparations are clear for all parties
  • sets the rights and responsibilities of the various parties

You will also receive the Erasmus+ Student Charter explaining your rights and obligations.

After your study period abroad

  • your receiving institution must give you and your sending institution a transcript of records which confirms completion and results achieved
  • your sending institution must recognise the credits (using ECTS credits or an equivalent system) and count them towards your degree, without any other requirements
  • your mobility period should be recorded in the Diploma Supplement, depending on where your institution is based

Requirements for participating higher education institutions

The sending institution and the receiving institution must have an inter-institutional agreement.

Both institutions must also hold the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (if they are in EU Member States or third countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme). Institutions from third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ programme commit to the principles of the Charter when signing the inter-institutional agreements.

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