Erasmus+ (EU-Programm)

What Erasmus+ gives you

Erasmus+ pays you a monthly grant to spend part of your studies or do a work placement in another country. You pay no tuition, registration, exam, lab or library fees at the host university. It is the European Union's education programme, running from 2021 to 2027 with a budget of about 26 billion EUR. There is no single fixed amount. Your grant depends on the cost of living in the country you go to, how far away it is, and how many students apply. A study period abroad lasts 2 to 12 months per stage of your degree. For one-cycle programmes like medicine or architecture, you can go for up to 24 months. Short blended stays of 5 to 30 days are also possible. The credits you earn abroad (ECTS points) count towards your degree at home. If you have fewer financial means, come from an outermost region, or have a disability or health condition, you can get extra top-up support.

Who can apply

• Level: You study on a short-cycle, Bachelor's, Master's or doctoral programme. For work placements, recent graduates can also take part.
• Where you study: You are enrolled at a university that holds the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). Most European universities hold it.
• Your degree: Your programme leads to a recognised qualification.
• Where you can go: A study exchange goes to a partner university abroad. A work placement can be at almost any company, university or organisation abroad, just not an EU institution or agency.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply, as long as you are enrolled at an eligible university.

How to apply

There is no central form. You apply through the international office or Erasmus+ office of your own university, which selects students in a fair and open process. Deadlines are set locally, so ask your office. For a full Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (a degree taught jointly by several universities in different countries), you apply directly to the programme, usually between October and January for the next academic year. The best students can get a full scholarship covering fees, travel and living costs.

How realistic are your chances?

Erasmus+ is the EU's largest and best-known exchange programme. For a standard study exchange the places are relatively plentiful, so a student in good standing who applies through their university has solid prospects. Your own university runs the selection, so meeting its deadline and course requirements matters more than competing against the rest of Europe. The full Erasmus Mundus scholarships are far more contested, since only the top applicants worldwide get funded.