Programme guide
Erasmus+ Mobility: Which Route Can You Actually Join?
Erasmus is the European Union’s umbrella framework for education, training, youth, and sport. While famous for university semesters abroad, it actually funds a wide range of short-term group exchanges, vocational placements, jobseekers and entrepreneurs.
No universal application
Most routes use an organisation
Funding is managed locally
Rules differ by pathway
The eight Erasmus routes
| Program Name & Acronym | Sector / Category | Target Audience | Primary Focus / Opportunities | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ Higher Education (Erasmus+ KA131 / EMJM) |
Higher Education | University students (Bachelor, Master, PhD) & academic/administrative staff | Academic semester exchanges, internships, joint Master’s degrees, staff teaching assignments | 2–12 months (exchanges); 1–2 years (Joint Masters) |
| Erasmus+ VET (Vocational Education & Training) |
Vocational Training | Apprentices, vocational students, recent VET grads, & vocational trainers | Hands-on work placements in foreign companies and practical skills training | 2 weeks to 12 months |
| Erasmus+ School Education (Erasmus+ Schools) |
School Education | Primary and secondary pupils, teachers, & school staff | Class exchange trips, individual pupil study stays, teacher training, job shadowing | 2 days to 1 year |
| Erasmus+ Youth Action & DiscoverEU (Erasmus+ Youth) |
Youth & Informal Learning | Young people aged 13–30 (no student status needed) & youth workers | Cultural/social youth exchanges, informal group projects, training for youth leaders, DiscoverEU rail passes | 5–21 days (exchanges); Interrail passes for 18-year-olds |
| Erasmus+ Adult Education | Adult Learning | Adult learners (especially low-skilled/disadvantaged) & adult educators | Skill-building mobility stays, group learning visits, professional training for instructors | 2–30 days (individual); up to 1 month (groups) |
| Erasmus+ Sport | Grassroots Sport | Coaches, staff, and volunteers in non-profit/grassroots sports organizations | Job shadowing, coaching exchanges, capacity-building projects against discrimination | 2–14 days |
| Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) |
Entrepreneurship | Aspiring entrepreneurs & new business owners | On-the-job mentorship paired with experienced business owners in another EU country | 1–6 months |
| European Solidarity Corps (ESC) |
Volunteering & Community | Young people aged 18–30 | Long-term voluntary service and community impact/solidarity projects | 2–12 months |
How Erasmus works
Erasmus+ is a European Union initiative that funds study stays, work placements, exchanges, and professional training across Europe. The core principle is to allow individuals to spend time in another country to learn, teach, or gain practical experience while keeping their status at home. Selected participants receive an EU mobility grant to cover living, travel, and accommodation expenses.
Who organises it?
Erasmus is a multi-tiered program managed at three main levels:
The European Commission: Sets the overall strategy, budget, and program priorities.
National Agencies: Government bodies located in each participating country that manage funding, select local projects, and oversee implementation.
Local Institutions: Universities, schools, vocational centers, youth NGOs, and companies that apply for project funding and send or host individual participants.
Where and how to apply?
Individuals rarely apply to the EU directly; applications are made through a sending institution or partner organization.
Students & School Pupils: Apply directly through the international relations or Erasmus office of their home university or school.
Apprentices & Job Seekers: Apply through their vocational school, training center, or local employment agency.
Youth & Volunteers: Apply via local youth NGOs, community groups, or directly on official portals (e.g., the European Youth Portal for DiscoverEU or the European Solidarity Corps).
Instead of asking if you are eligible for Erasmus+, ask two better questions: Which specific program fits my background? and Which partner organization can sponsor my placement?