Guidance

Erasmus+ programme guidance for higher education (HE)

Published 16 April 2026

Overview

This page provides information on the Erasmus+ activities that higher education (HE) providers can apply for.

Overview of the Erasmus+ programme includes more information on how the Erasmus+ programme works.

Introduction

Erasmus+ is a programme that provides grant funding to study, train or work abroad for:

• students at a higher education provider
• teaching staff
• administrative staff

It also provides funding for higher education providers to build partnerships with providers in other countries and collaborate on a range of projects.

In this context, a project is a set of activities that organisations plan and deliver together to achieve agreed objectives, such as developing staff skills or creating new ways to support students.

These activities contribute to a richer teaching and learning environment.

Students gain experience that supports their academic development and employability, while staff benefit from working in different contexts and bringing new insight back to their providers.

Partnerships allow universities to collaborate on research, develop joint programmes and build long term links that support the quality and innovation of higher education.

Types of funding available

There are 4 types of Erasmus+ funding available for HE providers:

• Key Action 1: which funds visits abroad, known as ‘mobilities’

• Key Action 2: which provides funding for organisations to work together on collaborative projects, known as ‘partnerships for cooperation’

• Key Action 3: which provides funding for work that helps develop or improve education and training policy and strengthens cooperation between organisations

• Jean Monnet Actions: which fund initiatives to develop knowledge and understanding of the European Union

Erasmus+ projects

When an organisation applies for Erasmus+ funding, it applies for a ‘project’.

A project is the programme of work the organisation plans to deliver with the funding, whether this is a mobility project or a partnership project.

It describes what the organisation plans to do with the funding, including the activities it will run and the objectives it aims to achieve, such as:

• developing staff skills
• improving language skills and cultural awareness for students

How to apply for project funding

Individual students or staff members cannot apply for Erasmus+ funding.

Applications for Erasmus+ funding must be submitted through a higher education provider.

Apply through the National Agency

To apply for projects via the National Agency, you must:

• create an EU Login account to access Erasmus+ online portals

• register your organisation in the Erasmus+ Organisation Registration System to obtain an Organisation ID (OID). You only need to register once for an EU login account or an OID

Apply through the EACEA

To apply for projects via the EACEA, you must:

• create an EU login account to access Erasmus+ online portals

• then register your organisation through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC). This is a 9-digit unique identifier given to organisations that participate in EU funding programmes, including Erasmus+

You only need to register once for an EU login account or a PIC.

Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) accreditation

To be eligible to apply for Erasmus+ higher education funding opportunities, higher education providers will need to have secured Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) accreditation.

Signing the charter means committing to providing participants with all the necessary support for their placements, including linguistic preparation. 

The ECHE is a mandatory prerequisite for participating in Erasmus+ activities related to higher education.

For applicants wanting to participate in the Erasmus+ programme in 2027, the deadline for ECHE applications was 24 March 2026. If you are a higher education provider and have missed this deadline or not successful in your ECHE application, then you will not be able to apply for Erasmus+ higher education funding opportunities for 2027.

Eligible organisations are higher education providers that:

• hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE)
• offer recognised degrees or tertiary‑level qualifications (for example, universities or further education colleges)

Group accreditation

For group (consortium) accreditation:

• consortium members may include higher education providers that hold an ECHE
• members may also include any public or private organisation working in education, training or youth

To find out more about eligible organisations, please refer to the EU’s Erasmus+ website or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) website, depending on the type of action you are intending to apply for.

The UK’s National Agency manages most Erasmus+ activities, including Key Action 1 (mobilities) and most Key Action 2 (partnerships) opportunities.

The EACEA is an EU body that manages some project types, under Key Action 2, Key Action 3 and Jean Monnet Actions.

The next funding round is expected to open in November 2026.

Key Action 1: International mobilities

Erasmus+ provides funding for HE students and teaching and administrative staff to take part in learning mobilities in another country. 

For students, this could involve travelling to a different country to study or for a work placement, known as a ‘traineeship’. Study periods can also take the form of a doctoral or blended mobility.

With blended mobility options staff can undertake:

• job shadowing
• observation periods
• training courses
• teaching placements

All learning mobility activities must be:

• Educational: designed to help participants learn or develop new knowledge, skills, attitudes and competences
• Transnational: brings people from different countries together so they can exchange ideas and learn from one another
• Structured: follows a clear plan, with an agreed programme, method and expected learning outcomes

Higher education providers participating in learning mobilities must sign an inter-institutional agreement with one or more partner institutions or organisations before the mobility takes place.

They will agree to cooperate on student and staff exchanges within the Erasmus+ framework.

This agreement involves committing to ECHE principles around:

• fair and transparent participation selection
• recognition of learning outcomes
• any necessary support for students

For further information on inter-institutional agreements, visit the European Commission website.

Mobility opportunities for students

Student mobilities can be carried out in any field or cycle of study, although the activities should be compatible with a student’s degree learning and personal development needs.

Study period 

A student from a UK higher education provider can complete a study period at a higher education provider abroad as part of their degree programme, at a university or other higher education provider, to enrich their degree-related learning and progression.

Study periods abroad may include a traineeship as well, to combine academic and professional experience abroad, although the total mobility period should not exceed the maximum duration. 

Duration: Study periods should last between 2 and 12 months, excluding travel time.

Traineeship 

A student from a UK higher education provider can undertake a work placement, known as a traineeship, abroad in a relevant workplace.

They can work in any public or private organisation in the fields of education, training, youth, research and innovation, such as a:

• small business
• school
• NGO (non-governmental organisation)

Where possible, the traineeship should be an integrated part of the student’s study programme.

Duration: Traineeships should last between 2 and 12 months, excluding travel time. 

Doctoral mobility 

PhD students at UK higher education providers can undertake physical study periods abroad.

Doctoral mobilities can include a complementary traineeship, provided the total maximum duration is not exceeded. 

These mobilities help to meet doctoral candidates’ diverse learning and training needs and to ensure equal opportunities when compared with higher education staff and post-doctoral candidates.

Duration: Between 5 and 30 days or 2 and 12 months.

Blended mobility 

Any of the physical mobilities available to higher education students can be carried out as a blended mobility. This means combining physical mobilities with virtual components such as collaborative online learning exchange or teamwork.

Students can also participate in blended intensive programmes, which are short programmes involving innovative learning and teaching methods.

Duration: The physical component of a blended intensive programme must be between 5 and 30 days for learners, but there is no minimum duration for the virtual element. 

Mobility opportunities for staff

The total duration of staff mobilities, in most cases, must be between 2 and 60 consecutive days excluding travel time, and the minimum number of days must be consecutive.

The Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets out certain minor exceptions, for example for invited staff from enterprises, the minimum duration is 1 day.

Teaching period 

Teaching staff at a UK higher education provider or enterprise can teach at a partner higher education provider abroad. Teaching activities can be combined with training activities as part of the same staff mobility period.

Training period 

Any staff at a UK higher education provider can undertake a training activity abroad at a partner higher education provider, enterprise, or any other relevant workplace, provided it is relevant to their day-to-day work.

This could include training events, job shadowing and observation periods, but excludes conferences. Training activities can be combined with teaching activities as part of the same staff mobility period.

Blended mobility 

Any staff teaching or training period abroad may be conducted as a blended mobility, a type of activity that combines a physical mobility with a virtual component to facilitate collaborative exchange online.

Duration: The physical component of a blended intensive programme must be between 5 and 30 days for most staff, and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets out certain minor exceptions. 

How to apply for a mobility project

Individual pupils or staff members cannot apply for Erasmus+ funding.  Applications for Erasmus+ funding must be made through an HE provider.

Applications for mobility projects are made through the UK’s National Agency.

Please see the Erasmus+ Programme Guide for more information about what to include in your application, including the award criteria for funding.

For further details on what is covered by the funding, please see Overview of the Erasmus+ programme

How to set up a mobility project

Step 1: Check your higher education provider is eligible 

Read the guidance in the sections on ‘how to apply for project funding’ and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide to confirm your HEI meets the eligibility requirements.  

Step 2: Apply for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education

HEIs must secure ECHE accreditation in order to apply for funding.

Step 3: Connect or re-connect with European partners   

Use Erasmus+ online platforms such as the European Commission’s Organisation Registration system to find partners or continue working with HEIs you already know in Europe.  

Step 4: Register the higher education provider 

Create an EU login account and access the organisation registration system for Erasmus+ and obtain an Organisation ID (OID). 

Step 5: Plan your mobility project 

Work with your Erasmus+ partner HE provider or organisation to plan the activities you want to do and what you want to achieve on the mobility.  

Step 6: Check the deadlines   

Deadlines for Erasmus+ funding will be published on the National Agency website.  

Step 7: Prepare your application 

When completing the application form, you will provide key information about your provider, outline the goals you want to achieve through your project, and describe the activities you plan to carry out. 

Step 8: Submit your application

Apply through the National Agency.

Key Action 2: Partnerships

Erasmus+ provides funding for UK higher education providers to build partnerships with higher education providers abroad to improve the quality of education provision.

Higher education providers can use Erasmus+ partnerships to collaborate on research projects, develop joint degrees, and build long-term academic networks that enhance knowledge exchange and innovation.  

Cooperation partnerships

Cooperation partnerships support network building and the exchange of new ideas, practices and methods, to increase the quality of educational activity and grow organisational capacity.

These partnerships allow for the implementation of joint initiatives, to foster:

• cooperation
• peer learning
• exchanges of experience

They also address common needs and priorities and enable transformation and change.

Cooperation Partnership results should be:

• re-usable
• transferable
• scalable
• transdisciplinary

Applicants can apply for grants worth:

• €120,000
• €250,000
• €400,000

A cooperation partnership:

• lasts between 1 and 3 years
• must involve at least 3 organisations from 3 different EU Member States or third countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme
• applicant or coordinator organisations must have been legally established at least 2 years before the application deadline

How to apply

Applicants should apply via the National Agency for cooperation partnerships, unless the partnerships are submitted by European NGOs, in which case the application must be made via EACEA.

Alliances for innovation

Alliances for innovation support stronger cooperation and knowledge sharing between the higher education sector, businesses and the broader socio-economic environment, including research.

They encourage skills and curriculum development and foster a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship.

Alliances for innovation are split into 3 groups:

• alliances for education and enterprises
• alliances for sectoral cooperation on skills
• STEM skills foundries

Alliances for education and enterprises

Duration: 2 to 3 years.

At least 8 full partners from 4 programme countries.

Must include:

• at least 3 enterprises
• at least 3 education and training providers, at least 1 of which should be a higher education institution and one a provider of vocational education and training (VET)

Grants: €1 million (2 years) or €1.5 million (3 years).

Alliances for sectoral cooperation on skills

Duration: 4 years

At least 12 full partners from 8 programme countries.

Must include:

• 5 labour‑market actors
• 5 education and training providers, at least 1 of which should be a higher education provider and 1 a VET provider

Grant: €4 million

STEM skills foundries

Duration: 2 years

At least 8 applicants from 4 programme countries.

Must include 3 labour market actors and at least 3 education and training providers, at least 1 of which should be a higher education provider and 1 a VET provider.

Grant: €1.5 million

How to apply

Organisations must apply to the EACEA for all alliances for innovation.

Partnerships for Excellence

Partnerships for Excellence are projects with a long-term sustainable perspective, meaning that they support an innovative, inclusive and sustainable economy.

Examples include supporting teachers’ professional development to grow the attractiveness of the profession and setting up international degree programmes to increase student employability and contributions to society.

There are 3 types of Partnership for Excellence projects that higher education providers can apply for:

• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)
• Erasmus Mundus Design Measures
• European Universities Initiative alliances

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters provide funding for higher education providers to:

• design and deliver high level, integrated master’s programmes
• run these programmes jointly
• award competitive scholarships to high performing students worldwide

One applicant applies on behalf of a partnership that includes other higher education providers.

Other educational and non-educational partners can be involved as members of a funded consortium, provided they have relevant expertise and interest in the area of study.

Duration: 6 years

Credits: Programmes must include 4 iterations of a master’s course worth:

• 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits each

(The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) supports the recognition of academic qualifications and study periods across different countries.)

The curriculum must include:

• at least 2 study periods in 2 different countries (different from the student’s country of residence)
• at least 1 study period in an EU Member State or third country associated with Erasmus+

Students receive a joint or multiple degree on successful completion.

Applicants may apply for a grant of up to €5 million. (This includes funding for student scholarships worth €1,400 per month, for up to 2 years.)

Applications must be made to the EACEA.

Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM)

Erasmus Mundus Design Measures provide funding for higher education providers to partner on the design and delivery of innovative master’s programmes with a fully integrated curriculum. Other partners can also be involved as members of a funded consortium, provided they have relevant expertise.

Duration: EMDMs last 15 months and are mono-beneficiary grant agreements, meaning that the funding is awarded to a single beneficiary.

This applicant should list other providers participating in the consortium when they apply.

The consortium should involve at least 3 higher education providers from 3 different countries, with at least 2 of these from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme.

Applicants can apply for a grant worth €60,000.

Applications must be made to the EACEA.

European Universities Initiative alliances

The European Universities Initiative is an ambitious EU initiative aimed at establishing long-term and strategic alliances between higher education providers across Europe, for the benefit of their students, staff and society.

It is implemented primarily through Erasmus+ funding, although participating countries can provide additional funding at national or regional level.

Higher education providers participating in European Universities Initiative alliances work together with partners outside the educational field to solve concrete societal problems, which could include partners from:

• the private sector
• local authorities
• civic society

For the 2021 to 2027 budgetary period, Erasmus+ will assign around €1.2 billion to the European Universities initiative and is currently funding 73 alliances in 36 countries.

This equates to €14.4 million for each alliance, lasting 4 years each, this is almost 3 times more than the amount offered during the 2019 to 2020 pilot phase.

‘Bridge’ funding may also be available for alliances to extend the 4 year period into the next multi-annual financial framework from 2028.

The European Commission expects to publish a call for European Universities under Erasmus+ in 2027. You can stay up to date with future timelines and developments on the Erasmus+ website.

Once the next call is open, applicants must apply via the EACEA.

Capacity building projects

Capacity building projects support higher education providers and related organisations to modernise, become more international, and increase their cooperation with institutions in EU and associated countries.

Activities are typically based around:

• curriculum development
• modernisation of governance and management systems
• strengthening connections between higher education providers and their socio-economic environments

Capacity building is split into 3 strands:

1. fostering access to cooperation in higher education: designed for less experienced higher education providers and smaller scale actors
2. partnerships for transformation in higher education: aimed at introducing new approaches and initiatives in higher education
3. structural reform projects: focused on developing coherent, inclusive and sustainable higher education systems

Duration:

• strand 1 lasts 2 or 3 years
• strand 2 lasts 2 or 3 years
• strand 3 normally lasts 3 or 4 years

All 3 strands are open to:

• higher education providers
• organisations or institutions active in the labour market
• organisations or institutions working in education, training or youth

The rules on the composition of consortia for capacity-building projects are complex and applicants should follow guidance in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.

Applicants to all strands should apply to the EACEA for funding.

Key Action 3: Policy development and cooperation

Key Action 3 provides support for policy development and cooperation, helping to modernise or reform existing policies or to develop new ones.

European Youth Together is a policy development and cooperation action, managed by the EACEA. Though not targeted at higher education specifically, HE providers who wish to submit youth-focused proposals may be eligible to apply.

Many other actions under Key Action 3 are also implemented directly through the European Commission but through specifical calls for proposals from the EACEA.

European Youth Together

European Youth Together projects support the creation of networks to promote regional partnerships, in close cooperation with young people.

Network activities, run in-person and online, should include:

• exchanges
• promotion of training,
• allow young people to set up joint projects

Duration: projects last 2 years.

Applicants must be NGOs working in the field of youth or a public authority. For-profit organisations may also participate, but not as a coordinator.

Proposals must be made by consortiums composed of a minimum of 5 applicants, from at least 5 EU Member States or third countries associated to the programme.

Associated partners are allowed, although affiliated entities and associated partners do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for consortium composition.

How to apply

Applicants can apply for:

• a maximum lump-sum grant of €500,000
• financial support to third parties of up to €60,000 for projects where young people themselves set up joint projects

Applicants should apply to the EACEA for funding.

Jean Monnet Actions

Jean Monnet actions support teaching, learning and research in the field of European Union studies, about its:

• history
• aims
• structure
• functions
• policies

These actions should encourage European citizenship and promote European values.

Jean Monnet higher education projects

Jean Monnet teaching and research actions in higher education should take one of 3 forms:

• a set of modules
• chairs who deliver teaching
• centres of excellence bringing experts together

Duration: These actions last 3 years.

Applicants must be a higher education providers, and applications must be submitted by a single applicant.

How to apply

Applicants can apply for a maximum grant of:

• €35,000 or modules
• €60,000 for chairs
• €100,000 for centres for excellence

Applicants should apply to the EACEA for funding.

Jean Monnet policy debate networks in higher education

The aim of Jean Monnet policy debate networks is for higher education providers to collect, share and discuss:

• research findings
• research products
• course content
• experiences around a set theme, involving peer review exercises

Duration: Projects typically last 3 years.

Please visit the Erasmus+ website for specific conditions of eligibility, which differ according to the network theme.  Currently, proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 12 applicants for all applications.

How to apply

Applicants can apply for up to:

• €1 million for a network focused on internal EU issues
• €1.2 million for networks focused on external policy issues

Applicants should apply to the EACEA for funding.

Jean Monnet networks in other fields of education and training

Jean Monnet networks in other fields of education and training allow higher education providers that provide teacher training or education to share best practice, especially on the internationalisation of teacher training or education and ways to teach EU subjects.

Duration: Projects typically last 3 years.

Projects must include:

• 3 organisations from different EU Member States or third countries associated with the programme
• at least 4 schools or VET providers
• no more than 2 higher education providers that provide training for teachers in schools or VET providers

How to apply

Applicants can apply for a grant worth up to €300,000.

Applicants should apply to the EACEA for funding.