ERASMUS+ - General Information

Programme Overview

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2021-2027. The programme contains three key actions:

• Key Action 1 – Learning Mobility of Individuals
• Key Action 2 – Cooperation among organisations and institutions
• Key Action 3 – Support to policy development and cooperation

Building on the success of the 2014-2020 programme, Erasmus+ is stepping up its efforts to offer more opportunities to more participants and a wider range of organisations, with a particular focus on qualitative impact and contributing to more inclusive and cohesive, greener and digitally-ready societies.

Funding for most mobility activities and strategic partnerships is allocated by the National Agencies in the 33 programme countries (EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey). In Germany, the task is performed by the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD).

Objectives of the programme

The overall objective of the programme is to support the educational, vocational and personal development of people in the fields of education, training, youth and sport in Europe and beyond through lifelong learning, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, quality employment and social cohesion, fostering innovation and strengthening European identity and active citizenship.

35 Years Erasmus+

The European education programme Erasmus+ celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2022:

• In 1987 Erasmus started with 3.244 students – 657 were from Deutschland, and 70 German universities were involved
• Between 1987 and 2022, Erasmus+ enabled around 7 million student and staff mobilities in the higher education sector, with around 12 million funded mobilities in all education sectors
• By 2022, Erasmus+ had reached the mark of around 950,000 funded students from Germany
• The NA DAAD has provided a total of €1.7 billion in Erasmus+ funding to universities over 35 years
• In its anniversary year, €4 billion was invested in the Erasmus+ programme. Around 50,000 mobilities and projects are funded in Germany with almost €200 million

Further information on the Erasmus+ programme can be found in the Factsheet Erasmus+ 2021-2027:https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/ff1edfdf-8bca-11eb-b85c-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

 

Participation in the Erasmus+ programme

The programme is open to students at all levels of study, up to and including doctoral level, who wish to spend part of their studies or internship abroad. For the first time, bachelor's, master's and doctoral students can each receive funding for up to 12 months. In order to increase the financial incentive to go abroad, the monthly mobility allowance for students will also be increased, especially for host countries with higher living costs. There is also an additional special grant for participants with fewer opportunities and an additional grant for sustainable travel. In the future, internships abroad will also be possible after graduation. Finally, Erasmus+ offers a low-interest loan to students wishing to complete a full Masters course in Europe. The previous Erasmus Mundus Excellence Grant, which supports the entire Master's programme of outstanding students in selected European Master's programmes with a joint degree, will continue under Erasmus+.

Erasmus+ also contributes to the further internationalisation of universities by funding short-term lecturing and training visits for teaching and administrative staff. Universities can now also participate in multilateral strategic partnerships with other European partners (also from the non-academic sector) and jointly develop innovative projects (e.g. in the area of curriculum development or on cross-curricular themes). Erasmus+ provides funding for cooperation with industry in the new Knowledge Alliances. Universities wishing to engage in capacity building in third countries can do so through the programme's International University Partnerships.