The value of the initiative
Thanks to the strong commitment and joint efforts of all Erasmus+ Programme stakeholders, the European Student Card Initiative (ESCI) has clearly demonstrated the value of investing in digitalisation. Significant progress has been made towards the 95% target for the digitalisation of Learning Agreements: today, more than 60% of Learning Agreements are exchanged digitally; all eligible ECHE holders are connected to Erasmus Without Paper (EWP); and over 3,600 HEIs now exchange student mobility data digitally through the EWP network.
This collective achievement is also reflected in the issuance of more than 4.5 million European Student Cards, 1.5 million of which are currently active. As a result of these shared efforts, ESCI has become an indispensable pillar of the Erasmus+ Programme in higher education. The European Commission acknowledges the key role the EWP consortium played in this success story and thanks the consortium, its members and the respective colleagues wholeheartedly for their efforts.
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Erasmus Without Paper contract - state of play
The current framework contract for Erasmus without Paper (EWP) expires in April 2026; the new contract started with substantial delay. To ensure continuity and stability for EWP services and the Erasmus+ App in the remaining funding period if the Erasmus+ programme, the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) has invited the European University Foundation (EUF), which leads the EWP+ consortium, to apply for a monopoly grant. This shall guarantee the continuation and maintenance of the existing EWP infrastructure, including the EWP Dashboard and the Erasmus+ App. This grant shall cover initially the period from May 2026 until the end of 2026 with another grant to be offered for the remaining period of current the Erasmus+ programme. The funding shall also support a smooth transition to ESCI in the next Erasmus+ programme period.
ESCI under the next Erasmus+ Programme (2028-2034)
The continuation of the European Student Card Initiative (ESCI) in the next Erasmus+ programme period (2028–2034) will be overseen by the European Commission, with the Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) responsible for operational implementation.
How we are preparing
Preparation for the next phase of ESCI is beginning in early 2026. We will start with a broad consultations with key ESCI stakeholders. The goal is to define the main requirements for ESCI in the future programme.
Overall, the ambition is to make the best possible use of existing investments, while meeting both current and future user needs. In addition, the Commission aims to further simplify administrative processes for higher education institutions and students.
We’ll also be running a stakeholder survey, building on existing studies and consultations, including the recent EUF (European University Foundation) survey. It will identify which features of the current ESCI system should be kept, what its main weaknesses are, and what new needs arise from the next Erasmus+ programme. Once the survey is completed by May 2026, we will analyse the different technical implementation options and consult with the ESCI community in different meeting formats. The preferred approach for the future ESCI system will be presented for discussion at a dedicated stakeholder conference in June 2026.
We expect to publish a roadmap on the next programme period shortly. This will include key milestones and timelines for preparing and implementing ESCI in the next Erasmus+ programme period, along with a detailed FAQ section.
A strategic investment
Further developing ESCI is not merely a technical upgrade, but a strategic investment in a more integrated, resilient, and student-centred European Education Area.
The strong engagement and sustained cooperation demonstrated by Erasmus+ stakeholders across Europe s will help the European Student Card Initiative to deliver also in future tangible results, drive further digitalisation, and strengthen trust and interoperability across systems. ESCI is well positioned to succeed in the next programme period, helping to advance mobility, inclusion, and innovation for future generations of European learners.
What we are doing
Below we'll be detailing the activities we're rolling out as we plan for the next ESCI period.