The ERASMUS Programme – studying in Europe and more

A European success story

Erasmus became part of the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme in 2007, covering new areas such as student placements in enterprises (transferred from the Leonardo da Vinci Programme), university staff training and teaching for business staff.

Erasmus is the perfect example of a European success story: close to 3 million students have participated since it started in 1987, as well as over 300 000 higher education teachers and other staff since 1997 (this type of exchange was also expanded further in 2007). The annual budget is in excess of 450 million euro; more than 4 000 higher education institutions in 33 countries participate, and more are willing to join.

Erasmus – changing lives, opening minds for 25 years

In 2012 we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme. From each of the 33 participating countries, one student and one staff Erasmus Ambassador have been selected to share their views on the impact Erasmus has had on their private and professional lives as well as on their institutions.

Watch the videos and be inspired by their stories!

Piroska Bakos (Hungarian TV news presenter) - student ambassador of Hungary, Erasmus in Germany in 1998-1999

Tomás Sánchez López (lead systems engineer at EADS) – student ambassador of Spain, Erasmus in Finland in 2002.

Maurizio Oliviero (Professor at the University of Perugia, member of the group drafting the Palestinian constitution; assisting in the reform of the judicial system in Afghanistan) - student ambassador of Italy, Erasmus in Spain in 1988.

Elena Luptak (contemporary dance teacher and Erasmus coordinator, Konservatorium Wien University) - staff ambassador of Austria, Erasmus in Turkey in 2004.

The added value of an Erasmus experience

Many studies show that a period spent abroad not only enriches students' lives in the academic and professional fields, but can also improve language learning, intercultural skills, self-reliance and self-awareness. Their experiences give students a better sense of what it means to be a European citizen. In addition, many employers highly value such a period abroad, which increases the students' employability and job prospects. Staff exchanges have similar beneficial effects, both for the people participating and for the home and host institutions.

How can you join?

	Opportunities for students: studying abroad doing a traineeship abroad linguistic preparation		Opportunities for professors and staff at a University or Higher Education Institution: teaching abroad receiving training abroad
	Opportunities for Universities or Higher Education Institutions: intensive programmes academic networks multilateral projects		Opportunities for Businesses: hosting students placements teaching abroad participating in university cooperation projects

How ERASMUS is administered

Higher education institutions which want to participate in ERASMUS activities must have an ERASMUS University Charter. The Charter aims to guarantee the quality of the programme by setting certain fundamental principles.

The European Commission is responsible for the overall programme implementation; its Directorate-General for Education and Culture coordinates the different activities.

So called "decentralised actions" that promote individual mobility are run by national agencies in the 33 participating countries.

"Centralised" actions, such as networks, multilateral projects and the award of the ERASMUS University Charter, are managed by the EU's Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency.

Thanks to all these actions, Erasmus has become a driver in the modernisation of higher education in Europe and, in particular, has inspired the establishment of th Bologna Process.

Did you know that …?

• Ms. Désirée Majoor, faculty dean of communication and journalism at the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, was one of the first students to participate in the Erasmus programme in 1987 as well as the first president of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). (Learn more about the Erasmus Ambassadors)

• Students and staff with special needs can receive additional funding to participate in Erasmus. (Learn more about opportunities for people with special needs in Erasmus mobility)

• In 2010-2011, 231 410 students participated in the Erasmus programme. The most popular destinations were Spain, France and Germany. (Learn more about Erasmus statistics)

• Erasmus students are exempted from paying fees for tuition, registration, examinations and access to laboratory and library facilities at the host institution. (Learn more about your rights as an Erasmus student)

• In 1987, the year Erasmus was launched, 3 244 students spent time studying abroad in one of the 11 countries that initially participated in the programme. (Learn more about the History of the Erasmus programme)