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European Student Card Initiative

Part of the Erasmus+ programme

Part of Erasmus+

Looking ahead: a comprehensive consultation on the future of ESCI

In March 2026, the European Commission launched an expanded round of consultations with the higher education community on the future of the European Student Card Initiative (ESCI). These consultations built on the extensive feedback already collected in 2025 and on the work of the EWP+ consortium, ensuring continuity while opening the dialogue to a wider range of voices across Europe. The outcomes of this consultation exercise and the next steps will be presented at a conference on 11 June.

The objective is clear: to make sure that the implementation of the ESCI in the next Erasmus+ Programme (2028-2034) reflects the needs, experiences and expectations of those who use it every day — students, higher education institutions and their partners.

Why we are consulting

As the next Erasmus+ Programme approaches, it is essential to understand how the current ESCI ecosystem — including Erasmus Without Paper, the Erasmus+ App and the European Student Card — should evolve.

The outcomes of the consultation will provide a solid basis for this evolution, grounded in user experience and practical realities. The aim is to preserve what already works well, while improving the way digital tools support mobility, cooperation between institutions and the overall Erasmus+ experience.

In particular, the consultations will help identify where further simplification, efficiency and inclusiveness can be achieved, ensuring that digitalisation continues to bring real added value to the whole higher education community.

A wider dialogue on digitalisation and Erasmus+

The consultation brings together a broad and diverse group of higher education stakeholders from across Europe, including:

  • higher education institutions
  • students and student organisations
  • IT partners and service providers
  • national and institutional experts

The Commission aims to capture perspectives from institutions of all sizes and levels of digital maturity, and to ensure that the ESCI continues to evolve and to serve the full diversity of the Erasmus+ community in the next programming period.

This dialogue will help identify priorities for each part of the ESCI, strengthen cooperation between technical and policy communities, and support the development of practical and sustainable solutions for the future.

What happens next

The consultation started in March 2026, implemented by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and its contractor, NTT DATA. It included a large-scale survey, six in-person and online workshops, and one online town hall, which altogether have brought together nearly 500 participants from across a wide range of stakeholder groups and provided a broad overview of stakeholders’ perceptions, experience and expectations regarding the future of ESCI.

The results will be consolidated into a shared overview of user needs for ESCI+ in the next Erasmus+ Programme and possible solutions to meet them. They will be presented at a conference in Brussels on 11 June 2026.

These findings will guide how the ESCI will continue and evolve beyond 2027, helping to ensure a smooth, connected and efficient digital environment for students and higher education institutions alike.

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