The Erasmus+ programme
Grant funding for international placements and partnership projects for organisations working in education, training, youth and sport.
The UK and the EU have agreed for the UK to associate to the Erasmus+ programme from 2027.
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is an EU programme that provides grant funding for international placements and partnership projects for organisations working in education, training, youth and sport. It aims to helps people improve their education, gain work experience, and grow personally by offering chances to study, learn and work in eligible countries.
The UK was part of Erasmus+ from 2014 to 2020, and predecessor programmes prior to that. Associating to Erasmus+ from 2027 will create new opportunities for a wide range of participants to take part in international activities.
Aims of the Erasmus+ programme
The Erasmus+ programme is split into 4 key actions:
- Key action 1: supports students, young people, and staff working in education, youth and grassroots sports to travel abroad to study, train, teach, or volunteer. This is known as a ‘mobility’
- Key action 2: supports partnerships and capacity building for schools, colleges, higher education providers, and other groups to work together and share ideas
- Key action 3: supports countries to work together to improve education, youth work, and sport across Europe
- Jean Monnet actions: supports people to learn more about the European Union (EU) and its policies, especially in schools and universities
Who it’s for
Erasmus+ is open to learners, trainees and staff in higher education (HE), further education (FE), vocational education and training (VET), schools, adult education, youth and sport.
School pupils can spend time studying abroad, either as part of a class or group, or individually.
Students and apprentices in HE, FE and VET can study, train, volunteer or do a work placement abroad.
Adult learners can spend time at an adult learning organisation abroad or study abroad as part of a group.
Young people who work or volunteer for youth organisations can travel for training or a youth exchange and take part in workshops, debates and outdoor activities.
Youth workers and staff working in schools, FE, HE or adult education can train or teach abroad and take part in professional development activities.
Grassroots sports staff can spend time abroad job-shadowing or on a coaching assignment.
Who can apply for funding
Learners or staff cannot apply directly for Erasmus+ funding. You must apply through a participating organisation such as your school, university, FE college or place of work.
Organisations that can apply for funding include:
- schools
- HE providers
- FE providers
- VET providers
- adult education providers
- youth and sport organisations
- non-profit organisations
The Erasmus+ Programme Guide contains more information about which organisations can apply for funding.
How funding works
Funding for decentralised actions (mostly Key Actions 1 and 2) is managed by a National Agency who will be appointed to deliver Erasmus+ for the UK. For international placements and mobility projects (Key Action 1), Erasmus+ funding contributes towards:
- travel costs
- living costs
- course fees
- visa and entry costs
- language learning
- organisational costs
- preparatory visits
There is additional funding for people with disabilities, additional learning needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Jean Monnet actions and other parts of Erasmus+ which are centralised (including some of Key Action 2 and most of Key Action 3) are run by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). If an action is managed by EACEA, applicants must submit their funding applications directly to EACEA rather than through the UK National Agency.
The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has further information on which activities are included under each Key Action, how to apply and whether they are managed by the National Agency or EACEA.
How Erasmus+ supports the UK’s government’s objectives
Erasmus+ supports the government’s Opportunity Mission by helping people from all backgrounds take part. There is extra support available for travel, accommodation and some other costs for people with disabilities, additional learning needs or who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Erasmus+ helps build future-ready skills by providing high-quality learning experiences that support personal and career development. Activities include study placements, traineeships, staff exchanges, and collaborative projects across schools, colleges, universities, youth organisations, and sport organisations.
Erasmus+ enables UK institutions to collaborate with international partners on innovation, inclusion, and educational improvement. These partnerships help strengthen the UK’s global reputation in education and training.
Erasmus+ supports the UK Government’s commitment to growing physical activity participation and increasing access to grassroots sport opportunities.
Timescales
A National Agency will be appointed in due course to deliver Erasmus+ for the UK. A website with further information will be launched by the UK’s National Agency by Summer 2026.
Opportunities for each sector
Higher education
Erasmus+ provides funding for students and teaching and administrative staff to take part in learning mobilities in another country. Learning mobilities are part of Key Action 1. For students, this could involve travelling to a different country to study or for traineeships, while staff can undertake job shadowing, observation periods, training courses, or teaching placements.
Opportunities for students
Study period
A student from a UK university can complete a study period at a higher education institution abroad as part of their degree programme. Study periods should last between 2 and 12 months, excluding travel time. Study periods abroad may include a traineeship as well, although the total mobility period should not exceed the maximum duration.
Traineeship
A student from a UK university can undertake a traineeship abroad in a relevant workplace. Where possible, this should be an integrated part of their study programme. Traineeships should last between 2 and 12 months, excluding travel time.
Doctoral mobility
PhD students at UK universities can undertake physical study periods abroad, lasting between 5 and 30 days or 2 and 12 months. Doctoral mobilities can include a complementary traineeship, provided the total maximum duration is not exceeded.
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. 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.
Opportunities for teaching and administrative staff
Teaching period
Teaching staff at a UK higher education institution or enterprise can teach at a partner higher education institution abroad. Teaching activities can be combined with training activities as part of the same staff mobility period. The total duration of staff mobilities, in most cases, must be between 2 and 60 consecutive days, although the Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets out certain minor exceptions.
Training period
Any staff at a UK higher education institution can undertake a training activity abroad at a partner higher education institution, 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. The total duration of staff mobilities, in most cases, must be between 2 and 60 consecutive days, although the Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets out certain minor exceptions.
Blended mobility
Any staff teaching or training period abroad may be conducted as a blended mobility. 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.
Partnership opportunities for higher education institutions
Erasmus+ provides funding for UK higher education institutions to build partnerships with higher education institutions abroad to improve the quality of education provision. Examples include:
- cooperation partnerships
- the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme
- Alliances for Innovation
- capacity-building projects
The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about partnership opportunities in higher education.
Erasmus Charter for Higher Education accreditation
Higher education institutions must successfully apply for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) before applying for a mobility project to their Erasmus+ National Agency, whether they are applying as an individual organisation or as a consortium. Signing the charter means committing to providing participants with all the necessary support for their placements, including linguistic preparation.
How to apply for Erasmus+ funding for higher education institutions
Applications for Erasmus+ funding must be made through your higher education institution.
Higher education institutions can apply directly for Erasmus+ funding or through a consortium of higher education institutions.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Students and apprentices in FE or VET can go to another country to do a work placement, participate in a skills competition or travel as part of a group to a partner VET provider. Teachers, trainers and other staff members working in VET can travel to another country to attend a course or training, job shadow or teach. This is a mobility project and is part of Erasmus+ Key Action 1.
Opportunities for students and apprentices
Group mobility of VET learners
A group of students or apprentices can spend time learning at a partner VET provider in another country. They will be accompanied by a qualified member of staff. This type of mobility can last from 2 to 30 days.
Short term learning mobility of VET learners
Students or apprentices can spend time learning at a partner VET provider or do a work placement in a company abroad. This type of mobility can last between 10 days and 3 months. For disadvantaged students or apprentices, or those with additional needs, mobility placements can be as short as 2 days.
Long-term learning mobility of VET learners (Erasmus Pro)
A long-term mobility is when students or apprentices study or do a work placement that is longer than 3 months. These mobilities can be up to a year.
Skills competitions
Erasmus+ offers funding for students or apprentices to attend skills competitions in other countries. These mobilities can be from 1 day to 10 days.
Opportunities for staff working in VET
Courses and training
Teachers, lecturers and other staff members working in VET can attend training courses abroad to develop their skills and knowledge. A mobility for a training course can be from 2 to 10 days.
Job shadowing
VET staff can spend time job-shadowing a colleague at a partner organisation or another relevant provider. This type of mobility can be from 2 days to up to 2 months.
Teaching assignments
VET teachers or lecturers can spend a period of time teaching or providing training at a partner organisation in another country. This can be from 2 days up to 1 year.
Partnership opportunities for VET providers
Erasmus+ provides funding for VET providers to develop partnerships with other relevant organisations in different countries. The project should address at least one of the Erasmus+ priorities. These partnerships are part of Erasmus+ Key Action 2. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about partnership opportunities for FE and VET providers.
How to apply for Erasmus+ funding for VET
Applications for Erasmus+ funding must be made through your FE or VET provider or place of work.
FE and VET providers can apply directly for Erasmus+ funding or through a consortium.
Schools
Erasmus+ provides funding for pupils, teachers, school leaders and other education staff to take part in learning mobilities in another country. Learning mobilities are part of Key Action 1 and could involve travelling to a different country to study at a partner school, take part in group learning activities, attend training or job-shadow.
Opportunities for pupils
Group mobility
A class or group of pupils from a UK school can travel to a host school in another country to take part in learning activities. They will be accompanied by a teacher or another member of school staff. This type of mobility can last from 2 to 30 days.
Short-term learning mobility
Pupils can study abroad at a partner school or do a traineeship at a relevant organisation abroad. This type of mobility usually lasts between 10 to 29 days.
Long-term mobilities
A long-term mobility is when pupils study or do a traineeship abroad for longer than a month.
Opportunities for teachers and other education staff
Courses and training
Teachers and school staff can attend training courses abroad to develop their skills and knowledge. Schools can also host an education expert from another country to provide training. A mobility for a training course can be from 2 to 10 days.
Job shadowing
Teachers or other school staff can shadow colleagues at a partner school abroad and have a practical learning experience. A mobility for job shadowing can be from 2 days to 2 months.
Teaching assignments
Teachers can spend time teaching abroad to learn through practice and gain experience of another education system. A mobility for a teaching assignment can be from 2 days to 1 year.
Partnership opportunities for schools
Erasmus+ provides funding for partnerships with other schools or relevant organisations to improve teaching, learning and education quality. These partnerships are part of Key Action 2. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about partnership opportunities for schools.
eTwinning
eTwinning is an online collaboration platform that allows schools to connect and work on joint projects, share teaching materials, find partners and discuss in online groups.
How to apply for Erasmus+ funding for schools
Applications for Erasmus+ funding must be made through your school.
Schools can apply directly for Erasmus+ funding or through a consortium of schools.
Adult Education
Staff and learners in adult education can take part in Erasmus+ mobility projects. Mobility projects allow adult education organisations to send learners or staff to another country to learn, train, job-shadow, or teach. Mobility projects are part of Erasmus+ Key Action 1.
Opportunities for learners and staff in Adult Education
Adult education learners can travel to another country to learn, train or volunteer with a partner organisation for up to one month.
Staff in adult education can travel to another country to teach or train at a partner organisation, job-shadow, take part in training, or complete a course that helps develop their professional skills.
Opportunities for Adult Education providers
Erasmus+ provides funding for adult education providers to develop partnerships with other relevant organisations in different countries. Partnership projects aim to develop, implement or exchange innovative practices and should address at least one of the Erasmus+ priorities. These partnerships are part of Key Action 2. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about partnership opportunities in Adult Education.
How to apply for Erasmus+ funding for adult education
If you are an individual adult learner or staff member, you cannot apply directly for Erasmus+ funding. Applications for Erasmus+ funding must be made through an adult education provider.
Youth
Young people and youth workers can travel to another country for training and youth exchanges. Young people can also get involved in a Youth Participation project. These are types of mobility projects and are part of Erasmus+ Key Action 1.
Opportunities for young people
Youth exchanges
Youth exchanges bring together young people from at least two different countries to learn together through activities like workshops, debates and outdoor activities. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about the types of activities that are eligible. Youth exchanges can last between 5 and 21 days.
Discover EU
Discover EU allows young people aged 18 to travel across Europe, mainly by train. Participants receive a free travel pass to explore different countries in the EU. Young people can travel alone or as part of a group of up to 5. All members of the group must meet the Discover EU eligibility criteria.
To be eligible for Discover EU, you must be 18 and from the UK, EU or another Erasmus+ programme county.
Youth participation projects
Youth participation projects help young people to get involved in civic, cultural and political life, and speak up on issues that matter to them. Youth participation projects can include activities like workshops, debates, awareness-campaigns, cultural events. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about Youth participation projects.
Opportunities for youth workers
Mobility Projects for Youth Workers
These are projects run by youth organisations to support youth workers’ professional development and networking. Activities can include seminars, training courses, networking events, study visits, or job shadowing abroad. The project must involve at least two youth organisations from different countries and can last from three months to 2 years. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about Mobility Projects for Youth Workers.
Partnership opportunities for Youth Organisations
Erasmus+ provides funding for Youth Organisations to develop partnerships with other relevant organisations in different countries. The project should address at least one of the Erasmus+ priorities. These partnerships are part of Erasmus+ Key Action 2. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about partnership opportunities for the Youth sector.
Sport
Opportunities for coaches and other sports staff
Erasmus+ provides funding for coaches and other sports staff to take part in professional development activities abroad. The funding is mainly aimed at grassroots sports staff but staff in non-grassroots sports can participate if their work can benefit grassroots sport.
Sport staff mobility
Coaches and sports staff can travel abroad to job-shadow, do an observation period or take part in a coaching or training assignment. Sports staff mobilities are part of Key Action 1.
A job shadowing or observation period can be from 2 to 14 days.
A coaching or training assignment can be from 2 weeks to 2 months.
Partnership opportunities for sport
Erasmus+ provides funding for sports organisations to develop partnerships with other relevant organisations in different countries. Examples include:
- capacity building in the field of sport
- not-for-profit European Sport Events
- Cooperation Partnerships
- Small-scale Partnerships
The project should address at least one of the Erasmus+ priorities. These partnerships are part of Erasmus+ Key Action 2. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide has more information about partnership opportunities for sports organisations.
How to apply for Erasmus+ funding for sport
Applications for Erasmus+ funding must be made through a relevant sports organisation.
Sports organisations can apply directly for Erasmus+ funding or through a consortium.