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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+

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.

By studying abroad with Erasmus+, you can improve your communication, language and inter-cultural skills and gain soft skills highly valued by future employers.

You can also combine your period spent studying abroad with a traineeship to gain work experience - ever important when starting out on the job market.

Opportunities to study abroad are available to students at short cycle Bachelor and Master levels and Doctoral candidates.

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

Students with physical, mental or health-related conditions may apply for additional funding after they have been selected to study abroad.

Duration

Your long-term study period abroad can last a minimum of 2 months (or 1 academic term or trimester) and a maximum of 12 months. Students can also do a blended mobility, combining a virtual period with a physical short or long-term mobility. The short-term physical presence abroad as part of blended mobility lasts a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 30 days.

You can benefit of an exchange abroad with Erasmus+ multiple times, either as a student or as a trainee, but your total time abroad (study abroad periods included) may not exceed 12 months within one cycle of study.

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

  • First cycle (Bachelor or equivalent) EQF – 5/6
  • Second cycle (Master or equivalent) EQF 7
  • Third cycle (Doctoral or equivalent) EQF 8

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

Conditions

To study abroad with Erasmus+, you must be registered in a higher education institution and enrolled in studies leading to a recognised degree or tertiary-level qualification.

Your period of study abroad must be relevant for your degree-related learning and personal development needs, and be part of the study programme that you are following.

Your sending institution and the receiving institution must have an inter-institutional agreement between them for you to study there with Erasmus+.

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.

Academic recognition

Before the study abroad period:

  1. You, your sending and receiving higher education institutions must sign a Learning Agreement for Studies to ensure a transparent and efficient preparation of the exchange abroad, as well as to agree on how activities successfully completed abroad will be recognised. This document sets out rights and responsibilities of the various parties
  2. You will receive the Erasmus+ Student Charter, explaining your rights and obligations with respect to your period of study abroad

After the study abroad period:

  1. The receiving higher education institution must provide you and your sending institution with a transcript of records confirming that the agreed programme has been completed and acknowledge the results

  2. Your higher education institution must recognise the credits (using ECTS credits or an equivalent system) as agreed in the Learning Agreement before the mobility and count them towards your degree, without any further requirements

  3. If your higher education institution is in a EU Member State or third country associated to the Erasmus+ programme, your mobility period should also be recorded in the Diploma Supplement

Follow the link to read more on the Guidelines on how to use the Learning Agreement for Studies.

Financial support

You may receive an Erasmus+ grant as a contribution to your travel and subsistence costs. This may vary according to differences in living costs between your country and the destination country, the number of students applying for a grant, the distance between countries and the availability of other grants.

If you are moving between EU Member State or third country associated to the Erasmus+ programme, check with your National Agency and your sending higher education institution for applicable rates. There is also extra support for students going on a traineeship, students with fewer opportunities or from outermost regions.

Grant levels and fixed rates for exchanges between EU Member States or third countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme and third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ programme are published in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.

Students in receipt of an Erasmus+ grant or an Erasmus+-zero-grant will sign a grant agreement specifying the duration of the mobility, the amount of the grant and other rights and obligations.  

If you are mobile within EU Member States or third countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme, your sending institution will sign your grant agreement and it will be responsible for making all payments.

If you are moving between EU Member States or third countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme and third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ programme, the institution located in the EU Member State or third country associated to the Erasmus+ programme will sign the grant agreement. Your sending and receiving institutions will decide which one will make your payments.

As an Erasmus+ student, you are exempted 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.

You may be eligible for additional grants from your institution, government or other sources. Check the European Funding Guide or the Study Portals.

How to apply

You can apply through the international or Erasmus+ office of your higher education institution.

You should be selected by your sending higher education institution in a fair and transparent way.

Arrangements for students with physical, mental or health-related conditions

Students with physical, mental or health-related conditions may apply for additional funding after they have been selected for a mobility period.

Find out more