The European Union offers grants for students, teaching professionals and staff to study or work abroad. Click on the link below to find out more!
- Are you a university student interested in studying abroad?
- A teaching professional interested in working in another country?
- Working in the field of higher education and looking to establish joint projects with partner institutions?
The EU's Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus programmes offer funding for students and staff in higher education. Find out what programme is right for you!
Erasmus
What is Erasmus?
Erasmus is a programme for university students and non-academic and teaching staff. It offers grants to study or work abroad in another European country. Offering students exposure to other countries and cultures not only enriches their study experience but also promotes a more European-minded, flexible and mobile workforce that improves Europe’s competitiveness and innovation potential.
Students
Students can study abroad or do a traineeship in a company for a period between 3 and 12 months in another participating European country. They do not have to pay fees at the foreign university and can take home the course credits that they earn abroad. The Erasmus grant helps them cover the travel and subsistence costs (including insurance and visa costs) incurred in connection with their study / placement period abroad.
They may also receive a financial contribution or a contribution in kind by the host enterprise/organisation.
Intensive language courses are available to help Erasmus students prepare for their period abroad in countries with less-widely-used and less-taught languages.
Staff from higher education institutions
Teaching and non teaching staff (such as managers or librarians) can receive a grant to spend up to six weeks at a partner higher education institution abroad, both enhancing their career prospects and promoting cooperation.
People working in the business sector can also qualify for Erasmus as visiting lecturers at a partner institution abroad. They can provide students with fresh insight into the world of business and set up exchanges for student placements and staff training.
Higher education institutions
These are intensive short-term study programmes for students and teachers which last between two and six weeks. They involve at least three higher education institutions from three different countries.
Multilateral projects and networks
Erasmus also supports modernisation and innovation projects in the higher education sector. Staff can get involved in:
- Multilateral projects on curriculum development, higher education modernisation, cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises, and virtual campuses. These projects run for up to three years and involve a minimum of three countries.
- Academic and structural networks of institutions and other partner organisations. These networks are designed to innovate in specific academic disciplines or in management issues and provide forums for the exchange of best practice.
Erasmus University Charter
The charter sets out principles to be followed by higher education institutions. Some 4,000 institutions in 33 countries currently hold the charter, which is a precondition for institutions to participate in Erasmus activities.
Who can take part?
- Students in formal higher education, advanced vocational education and training at post-secondary level, including doctoral studies;
- Teachers, trainers and education staff, including relevant associations, research centres, counselling organisations and others involved in lifelong learning;
- Enterprises, social partners and other stakeholders, as well as public and private bodies providing education and training at local, regional and national levels.
Eligible countries are the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey, Croatia and Switzerland.
How do I apply?
Students should initially approach the international office of their university or college.
Universities and other organisations should approach the national agency in their country.
The addresses for national agencies can be found via the website:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc1208_en.htm
Centralised actions such as networks, multilateral projects and the award of the Erasmus University Charter are managed by the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture, based in Brussels.
Where do I get more information?
Erasmus website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus
Erasmus Mundus
What is Erasmus Mundus?
Erasmus Mundus offers post-graduate scholarships for students, teachers, researchers and university staff in higher education institutions in the EU and the rest of the world. It aims to enhance quality in higher education and promote inter-cultural understanding through worldwide cooperation.
The Erasmus Mundus programme provides support to:
- Higher education institutions that wish to implement joint programmes at postgraduate level or to set-up inter-institutional cooperation partnerships between universities from Europe and targeted Third-Countries;
- Individual students, researchers and university staff who wish to spend a study / research / teaching period in the context of one of the above mentioned joint programmes or cooperation partnerships;
- Any organisation active in the field of higher education that wishes to develop projects aimed at enhancing the attractiveness, profile, visibility and image of European higher education worldwide.
Who can take part?
Higher education institutions, organisations active in the field of higher education and research, students, doctoral candidates, teachers, researchers and university staff.
It is open to all countries worldwide.
How do I apply?
Organisations and individuals should approach the contact point in their country.
Addresses can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-mundus/doc1515_en.htm
Where do I get more information?
Erasmus Mundus website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus
Ilva Valtere, from Latvia, took part in an EVS project in Bavaria, Germany
My project is a "welfare village", a village for needy people, in Bavaria. It provides a home, work and training opportunities for people who, for various reasons, have problems integrating ...