The Erasmus programme, or European Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, is the European Union (EU) student exchange programme for higher education.
Erasmus allows EU students to study in another EU Member State for part of an academic year. It is a major component of the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013 and of the operational framework for the European Commission's higher education initiatives. Some 90% of European universities participate in the programme and several million students have participated since it was launched in 1987.
Erasmus, together with several other independent programmes, was incorporated into the Socrates programme established by the European Commission in 1994.
Further information
- Commission Decision 1720/2006 of 15 November 2006 establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning (legal text)
- European Commission - Eductation & Training - The ERASMUS Programme – studying in Europe and more
- European Commission - Eductation & Training - The Lifelong Learning Programme: education and training opportunities for all