ERASMUS+






Erasmus+, the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport is due to begin in January. Aimed at boosting skills, employability and supporting the modernisation of education, training and youth systems, the seven-year programme will have a budget of €14.7 billion1 - 40% higher than current levels. More than 4 million people will receive support to study, train, work or volunteer abroad, including 2 million higher education students, 650 000 vocational training students and apprentices, as well as more than 500 000 going on youth exchanges or volunteering abroad. Students planning a full Master's degree abroad, for which national grants or loans are seldom available, will benefit from a new loan guarantee scheme run by the European Investment Fund. Erasmus+ will also provide funding for education and training staff, youth workers and for partnerships between universities, colleges, schools, enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations.

Erasmus+ has three main targets: two-thirds of the budget is allocated to learning opportunities abroad for individuals, within the EU and beyond; the remainder will support partnerships between educational institutions, youth organisations, businesses, local and regional authorities and NGOs, as well as reforms to modernise education and training and to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and employability.

For more information read the press release which was published on the 19th of November 2013

The Erasmus+ programme will start in January 2014.

Budget: €14.7 billion



Erasmus+ will support:
  • Opportunities to study, train, gain work experience or volunteer abroad.
  • Education, training and youth sector staff to teach or learn abroad.
  • The development of digital education and the use of ICTs.
  • Language learning.
  • Recognition of skills, including those learned outside the formal education system.
  • Strategic Partnerships among educational institutions and youth organisations with peers in other countries in both their own sector and other sectors, in order to foster quality improvements and innovation.
  • Knowledge Alliances and Sector Skills Alliances, to address skills gaps and foster entrepreneurship by improving curricula and qualifications through cooperation between the worlds of work and education.
  • A loan guarantee facility for master’s degree students to finance their studies in another country.
  • Teaching and research on European integration. Exchanges, cooperation and capacity building in higher education and the youth sector worldwide.
  • Initiatives to foster innovation in pedagogy, and progressive policy reform at national level through Prospective Initiatives.
  • Good governance in sport and initiatives against match-fixing, doping, violence, racism and intolerance, particularly in grassroots sport.