1. Erasmus+ in a nutshell: what it offers students

What you can do with Erasmus+

• Study abroad for 2 to 12 months at a partner university – your credits count towards your degree. Studying abroad with Erasmus+ »
• Do a traineeship (work placement) abroad for 2 to 12 months – also within a year after graduation. Traineeships abroad »
• Travel and volunteer – DiscoverEU for 18-year-olds, youth exchanges, volunteering. DiscoverEU, youth exchanges and volunteering »
• Do a whole Master's abroad with an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, or join a short intensive programme. Erasmus Mundus and short programmes »

Who can take part

Students at Bachelor, Master and doctoral level (and in short-cycle programmes) whose university holds the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education. What counts is where you study, not your passport: an international student enrolled at a participating university can go on Erasmus+ too.

Erasmus+ covers the 27 EU countries and six associated countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. Some universities also have Erasmus+ agreements with partners outside Europe – ask your Erasmus+ office which ones.

What's changing

• United Kingdom: the EU and the UK agreed in April 2026 that the UK joins Erasmus+ in 2027. EU and UK decision
• Switzerland: the Swiss government aims to join Erasmus+ from 1 January 2027; parliament's decision is expected by December 2026. Until then, Switzerland runs its own Swiss Programme for Erasmus+. Movetia
• After 2027: the current programme runs from 2021 to 2027. The next one, for 2028–2034, keeps the name Erasmus+ and is planned to include the European Solidarity Corps; EU countries agreed their position in May 2026 and are now negotiating with the European Parliament. Council of the EU

How to start

1. Find the international or Erasmus+ office of your university – it runs the selection and knows the partner universities and deadlines.
2. Ask about the call for applications: most universities select students several months before departure, often in winter or early spring for the next academic year.
3. Before you leave, you sign a learning agreement (what you will study or do abroad) and a grant agreement.

Sources: European Commission – Studying abroad · Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 (12 Nov 2025) · European Commission, 15 April 2026 · Council of the EU, 11 May 2026 · Movetia (Switzerland). Checked: 1 October 2026.