Key steps to study abroad with Erasmus+

Last updated on Wednesday, 21/10/2020

Aside from the educational and personal benefits, spending up to one year abroad is a life-changing experience and a great opportunity to discover other cultures and your own self! It can also give your future career a definite boost.

With the EU's Erasmus+ scheme, you can study for up to 12 months (per university degree) in one of over 5,000 participating universities in over 34 participating countries. Discover how to get started.

Who can apply?

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

To apply, you must:

• Be a registered student at a higher education institution that holds an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education;
• Be enrolled in studies leading to a recognised degree or tertiary-level qualification. For students in the first cycle, you need to be at least in the second year of your studies.

What financial support?

Eligible students receive an Erasmus+ grant to help you cover travel and living costs through a monthly allowance (varies based on the host country). It’s provided by the European Commission and paid through your higher education institution. You won’t have to pay any admission fees at your host university. 

Students with physical, mental or health-related conditions may apply for additional funding after they have been selected for a mobility period. Be sure to ask the Erasmus+ coordinator at your university for more information.

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

Where can you go?

You can participate in over 34 Erasmus+ Programme countries (check country profiles here), you can also go to and be from Partner countries.

Note that both sending and hosting higher education institutions must hold the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education if they are in Programme countries or sign an inter-institutional agreement if they are in Partner countries. 

Make sure to contact the international office of your institution to check your options! 

How to get started?

• Contact your university’s international and/or Erasmus+ office to get information on specific opportunities, the selection procedure and financial support.
• Check the Erasmus+ Student Charter, which sets out your rights and obligations during your period abroad.

What’s next?

Once selected, you and your home and host higher education institutions must sign a Learning Agreement 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. 

At the end of your period abroad, your host institution must give you and your home institution a transcript of records confirming that you fulfilled the learning agreement and stating your results. Your home institution must give you full academic recognition, using ECTS credits or an equivalent system, and count them towards your degree. 

Read more on the Guidelines on how to use the Learning Agreement for Studies.

What’re the benefits? 

Going to classes and getting to know a different university system is a great part of your time abroad, but meeting other Erasmus students and dipping into another culture is also part of the deal. Check these videos and other testimonies, there’s so much to gain from this experience! 

You can also have a look at our tips on how to make the most of your Erasmus experience.

Interesting links

• Study in Europe
• U-Multirank
• Erasmus+ Student Mobility Portal
• National Agencies or National Erasmus+ Office in your country