ERASMUS+ 2021–27: Programme Overview

ERASMUS+ is the European Union’s programme for education, youth and sport. It brings together the previous EU programmes for lifelong learning, youth and sport, as well as European cooperation programmes in the field of higher education.

With a budget of €26 billion, Erasmus+ 2021–27 is designed to run over seven years. The programme aims to enhance skills and employability, while advancing the modernisation of general education, vocational training, and youth services.

The programme comprises three Key Actions:
•    Key Action 1 – Learning mobility of individuals (63% of the budget)
•    Key Action 2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices (28% of the budget)
•    Key Action 3 – Support for policy reform (4% of the budget)
 

Funding is primarily used to strengthen mobility within Europe and, to a lesser extent, with other regions of the world.

Students at bachelor, master and doctoral level may each receive funding for up to 12 months. To increase the financial incentive for studying abroad, monthly mobility grants have been raised, particularly for host countries with higher living costs.

Work placements abroad are also possible after graduation. In addition, ERASMUS+ offers students wishing to complete a full master’s degree in Europe the opportunity to apply for a low-interest loan.

The existing excellence funding under Erasmus Mundus, which supports outstanding students throughout entire master’s programmes with joint degrees at selected European universities, continues under ERASMUS+.

ERASMUS+ also contributes to the further internationalisation of higher education institutions by supporting short-term teaching assignments and staff training periods for academic and administrative staff. Universities can also invite staff from enterprises abroad to teach. Furthermore, institutions may participate in multilateral strategic partnerships with other European partners (including non-academic organisations) to jointly develop innovative projects, for example in curriculum development or cross-sectoral topics. For cooperation with industry, ERASMUS+ provides funding through knowledge alliances. Universities wishing to engage in capacity-building in third countries can do so through the programme’s international higher education partnerships.

Funding for most mobility measures and strategic partnerships is allocated by National Agencies in the 33 programme countries (27 EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway and Türkiye). In Germany, this role is carried out by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Under the umbrella of ERASMUS+, the following mobility activities are supported:

• ERASMUS+ Studies abroad (SMS)
• ERASMUS+ Internships abroad (SMP)
• ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility for Training and Continuing Professional Development (STA)
• ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility for Teaching (STT) 

Any higher education institution wishing to participate in ERASMUS+, the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, must hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). For HAWK, the central application for Erasmus+ 2021–27 was submitted in 2020 by the International Office. The application required, among other things, a description of the institution’s future international strategy in the form of a European Policy Statement (EPS).

The ECHE was awarded by the European Commission in 2020 for the period 2021–27. It confirms that a higher education institution meets all the requirements for successful participation in the ERASMUS+ programme.

Funding for the mobility measures listed above, based on inter-institutional agreements with partner universities, is applied for annually by the International Office through the DAAD as the National Agency and is centrally administered for the university.

ERASMUS+ is funded with the support of the European Commission. The author bears sole responsibility for the content of this publication; the Commission accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.