Guidance

Erasmus+ programme guidance for schools

Published 16 April 2026

Overview

This page provides information on the Erasmus+ activities that schools can apply for.

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

Erasmus+ is a programme that provides grant funding for school pupils, teachers and other school staff to spend time abroad on learning, training or work activities. It also provides funding for schools to work with organisations in other countries on shared projects.

Benefits for pupils

For pupils, Erasmus+ can open doors to new cultures, languages, ideas and experiences.

Taking part in an international visit can help pupils:

• build confidence
• develop independence
• understand other cultures and languages

Benefits for staff

For teachers, school leaders and other school staff, Erasmus+ offers opportunities for international professional development.

By spending time in a partner school or organisation, staff can learn new approaches to teaching and bring back new ideas to the classroom. 

Types of funding available

The following organisations can apply for Erasmus+ funding:

• schools
• academy trusts
• local authorities
• further education (FE) providers offering academic qualifications
• other organisations involved with school education

There are 3 main types of funding:

• 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’
• 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

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

Key Action 1: mobility projects

Mobilities are visits abroad for pupils or education staff.

All mobilities 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
• Strategic:  contributing to a wider set of project objectives

Opportunities for pupils

Funding is available for pupils to travel to a partner school or organisation as part of a group or individually.

Group mobility

Groups of up to 30 pupils (plus staff) can visit a partner school abroad for 2 days to 1 month.

There is no minimum age for Erasmus+ placements, pupils from primary schools, secondary schools and FE students doing A levels or other academic qualifications can take part.

For students who are doing vocational qualifications, funding is available through the Vocational Education and Training (VET) stream of Erasmus+.

The mobility can be in any curriculum area, or it could be for a cross-curricular or enrichment project. 

Examples include:

• theatre or music projects
• language exchanges
• cross‑curricular or enrichment activities

Erasmus+ school group mobilities must:

• involve pupils from at least 2 countries
• take place abroad, usually at the partner school or organisation (some activities may take place off-site for educational reasons)
• include accompanying teachers or other staff members
• not be purely tourist or recreational trips - such as ski trips

Individual pupil mobility

Pupils can study at a partner school or complete an internship abroad.

Short term mobilities: last between 10 to 29 days.

Long term mobilities: up to 1 year.

Opportunities for staff

Erasmus+ provides funding for teachers, school or trust leaders, or other educational staff to take part in a range of professional development activities. 

Spending time in a partner school abroad allows staff to learn from their peers in other countries and experience a different education system first-hand. This can support staff to try out new teaching methods and strengthen their skills.

Job shadowing

School staff can visit a school in another Erasmus+ country to observe teaching and learning.

Duration: A job shadowing mobility can last from 2 days to 1 month.

Teaching abroad

Spend time teaching in a partner school or train education staff at your partner school.

Duration: A teaching assignment can be from 2 days to 1 year.

Training courses

Erasmus+ provides funding for education staff to attend training courses in another Erasmus+ country.

Duration: A training course could last from 2 to 10 days. 

Hosting an education expert

Schools, trusts or local authorities can invite teachers, trainers or other education experts to provide training, demonstrate new teaching methods or share best practice.

Duration: You can host an invited expert from 2 days to 1 month.

Hosting a trainee teacher

Schools can host a trainee teacher from a partner school.

Duration: You can host for a period from 10 days to 1 year.

How to apply for mobility project funding

Individual pupils or staff cannot apply directly for Erasmus+ funding. Applications must be made by:

• schools
• academy trusts
• local authorities
• other eligible organisations

Applications are submitted to the United Kingdom (UK) National Agency.

Schools, academy trusts, local authorities and other education‑related organisations can apply for funding for short term mobility projects. This includes:

• early years settings, such as nurseries,
• primary schools
• secondary schools, including further education providers offering A levels
• local authorities
• academy trusts
• other organisations involved in school education

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

Overview of the Erasmus+ programme includes further details on what is covered by the funding.

How to set up a mobility project

Step 1: Check your school is eligible

Read the guidance in ‘how to apply for funding for Key Action 1’ and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide to confirm your school meets the eligibility requirements.

Step 2: Find partners

Use Erasmus+ online platforms such as the European School Education Platform to find partners or continue working with schools you already know in Europe.

Step 3: Register your organisation

• Create an EU login account so that authorised staff can access Erasmus+ online portals

• register your organisation on the organisation registration system for Erasmus+ to obtain an Organisation ID (OID)

Step 4: Plan your mobility project

Work with your Erasmus+ partner school or organisation to agree activities and objectives.

Step 5: Check deadlines 

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

Step 6: Prepare your application

Provide key information about your institution, outline the goals you want to achieve through your short term project, and describe the activities you plan to carry out.

Step 7: Submit your application

Apply through the UK National Agency.

Key Action 2: Partnerships

Erasmus+ funding is available for partnerships that improve teaching, learning or education quality. These partnerships are part of Key Action 2.

It provides funding for organisations to work together on collaborative projects, known as ‘partnerships for cooperation’.

Small scale partnerships

Small scale partnerships support schools to take part in small, meaningful Erasmus+ projects that improve teaching and learning.

Small scale partnerships support simple, practical projects. They are suitable for schools that are new to Erasmus+ and suitable for individual schools, from early years to secondary.

To be considered for funding projects must:

• involve at least 2 organisations from different countries
• last 6 months to 2 years
• meet at least one Erasmus+ horizontal priority

What schools can do as part of a small scale partnership

Schools plan and run a project with a partner school or organisation abroad, taking part in practical activities that help teachers and pupils learn from each other.

Activities may include:

• online or in‑person meetings
• sharing teaching ideas
• working with community groups
• running workshops with pupils
• testing new approaches in the classroom

The Erasmus+ project finder website provides a database of ongoing and completed projects, where schools can explore examples of how others have used Erasmus+ funding.

How to apply

Choose a grant of €30,000 or €60,000, depending on your project needs.

When planning your project, you and your project partners will need to choose the appropriate grant option to cover the cost of the project. This will be based on the needs and objectives of the project, and the activities you intend to do.

Applications for small scale partnerships are made through the UK’s National Agency.

To apply, you must:

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

• then 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.

Cooperation partnerships

These are larger projects involving:

• at least 3 organisations
• a minimum of 3 Erasmus+ programme countries
• a duration of 1 to 3 years

This type of project is suitable for large organisations such as multi-academy trusts, local authorities or teacher training institutions. Individual schools can also be involved as partners.

Cooperation partnerships aim to support the development of innovative practice and promote cooperation and exchanges of ideas at European level.  Selected projects will be expected to share the results of their work at all levels, including:

• local
• regional
• national
• international

Eligibility

To be considered for funding, a cooperation partnership must address one Erasmus+ horizontal priority.

How to apply

Choose a grant of €120,000, €250,000, or €400,000.

When planning your project, you and your project partners will need to choose the appropriate grant option to cover the cost of the project. This will be based on the needs and objectives of the project, and the activities you intend to do.

Applications for cooperation partnerships are made through the UK’s National Agency.

To apply, you must:

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

• then 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.

European Partnership for School Development

This funding supports cooperation between schools and other organisations that are part of school education across countries that are part of Erasmus+.  The purpose is to:

• improve quality of teaching and learning through international collaboration
• strengthen school’s capacity to offer more learning mobility for pupils and staff
• encourage innovation in teaching and learning by sharing best practice across countries

Projects can choose from activities in 2 main categories:

• Improving the quality of teaching and learning
• capacity building for cross-border cooperation in school education

This supports schools, trusts and local authorities to develop the systems and skills to collaborate effectively with schools in other European countries.

The Erasmus+ Programme Guide contains the full list of activities that are supported by this funding.

Projects must:

• involve at least 6 organisations
• last 3 years
• focus on improving teaching quality or building cross‑border cooperation

Eligibility

This type of funding is aimed at:

• local authorities
• academy trusts
• early years providers
• primary and secondary schools
• other coordinating bodies

How to apply

Funding is available as a lump sum of €400,000.

Applications for European Partnerships for School Development are made through the UK’s National Agency.

To apply, you must:

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

• then 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.

Teacher Academies

Teacher Academies are international partnerships that bring together organisations involved in teacher education and training. Their purpose is to strengthen international cooperation between teacher training providers and build networks and practice oriented communities that support teacher education.

Funding is provided to develop and test new training modules with international partners and to support opportunities for teacher mobility across Europe and other Erasmus+ programme countries.

Eligibility

This funding is for providers of teacher education including higher education (HE) or further education institutions that provide Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and school centred initial teacher training (SCITT).

How to apply

Funding for Teacher Academies is available as a lump-sum grant and is managed directly by the EU.

Applications for funding are made through European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

To apply, 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+

Jean Monnet Actions

Jean Monnet Teacher Training

This funding is for teacher training providers to develop learning materials and course modules that help schools and Further Education or Vocational Education and Training providers learn more about the European Union and its institutions.

Eligibility

Those eligible include:

• HE or FE Institutions that provide initial teacher training
• providers of School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)
• teacher training providers of in-service training to teachers in schools

Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives

Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives support schools to teach about EU related subjects, such as:

• democracy
• how the EU works
• EU history

Example activities can include lessons about the EU, project weeks and educational visits. These can be embedded into the curriculum or offered as extra-curricular activities. 

Schools can design and deliver content themselves or work with higher education institutions, charities and other organisations.

Eligibility

To qualify, projects must deliver at least 40 teaching hours per year for 3 consecutive years. The maximum grant per project is €35,000.

Jean Monnet networks for schools

Jean Monnet Networks bring together schools, FE or VET providers and teacher training institutions to strengthen the teaching of EU related topics and to collaborate with partners in other Erasmus+ countries.

Organisations taking part in a Jean Monnet Network work together to improve how EU subjects are taught. Activities should focus on sharing expertise, developing joint approaches, and strengthening cooperation among schools, VET providers, and teacher training institutions.

How to apply for Jean Monnet Actions

Applications for Jean Monnet Actions are made through European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

To apply, 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.