Erasmus+ 2027: what students need to know before the new Programme Guide

• Where the 2027 call stands
• Who applies – and where
• How long you can stay abroad
• Traineeships after graduation
• Grants, fees and recognition
• What to do now
• Key points

⇑Where the 2027 call stands

Commission decision C(2026) 7171 of 15 October 2026 sets out the 2027 annual work programme for Erasmus+, with a maximum EU contribution of EUR 6 212 985 300 for 2027. Its stated priorities include inclusion, the democratic participation of young people, the resilience of education systems and digital transformation. According to the European Youth Portal, the United Kingdom will join Erasmus+ from 2027.

The detailed rules for applicants are set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. On 6 November 2026, the official Programme Guide page still showed the 2026 edition (version 1 of 12 November 2025), which is part of the 2026 call for proposals. It gives no publication date for the 2027 edition, so the figures below come from the current guide and may change.

One 2027 call is already open, although it is aimed at institutions rather than individual students: alliances under the European Universities initiative can apply until 4 March 2027, 17:00 CET. The Commission describes it as the last European Universities call under the 2021–2027 programme.

⇑Who applies – and where

Students do not apply for an Erasmus+ grant in Brussels. The funding goes to universities, which select participants and must do so fairly and transparently. There is no central application form: the first step is always the international or Erasmus+ office at your own university, which sets its internal deadlines and publishes the list of partner institutions.

Students at short-cycle, bachelor’s and master’s level, as well as doctoral candidates, can take part if they are enrolled in a recognised degree programme at an institution taking part in Erasmus+.

⇑How long you can stay abroad

• Study period: from 2 months (or one academic term) to 12 months of physical mobility.
• Traineeship: from 2 to 12 months, not counting travel time.
• Short-term blended mobility: 5 to 30 days abroad combined with a virtual component; doctoral candidates may also go on short stays without the virtual part.
• Limit per study cycle: 12 months in total in each cycle (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral), however many stays you make; up to 24 months in one-cycle programmes such as medicine or architecture.

Earlier Erasmus+ stays count towards the limit within the same cycle. In practice, two full semesters abroad during a bachelor’s degree use up that cycle’s allowance, while a master’s degree starts a new one.

⇑Traineeships after graduation

Recent graduates can also go on an Erasmus+ traineeship. The condition is timing: your university must select you during your last year of study, and you must carry out and complete the traineeship within one year of graduating. Placements can be found through your university’s office or the Erasmus Intern traineeship portal. We explain the options in our guide to traineeships abroad, also after graduation.

⇑Grants, fees and recognition

The Erasmus+ grant is a contribution to travel and living costs, not full funding. The amount depends on the cost of living in the host country, the distance and the number of applicants, and it is paid through your institution. Under the current Programme Guide, students and recent graduates with fewer opportunities receive a top-up of 250 EUR per month on long-term stays, and 100 EUR (5–14 days) or 150 EUR (15–30 days) on short-term mobility.

You pay no tuition, registration or examination fees at the host university, although small charges such as insurance or student union membership may still apply. Before departure, you sign a learning agreement with both universities; after your return, the sending university must recognise the credits agreed in it and count them towards your degree. You also receive the Erasmus+ Student Charter, which sets out your rights and obligations. The European Commission’s page on studying abroad with Erasmus+ summarises these rules.

⇑What to do now

Because each university runs its own selection, the deadline that matters is the one set by your institution, not by the Commission. Check the dates announced by your Erasmus+ office, the partner universities available in your field and the language requirements for each destination. An overview of the programme, including DiscoverEU and Erasmus Mundus, is available in our Erasmus+ guide for students.

⇑Key points

The Erasmus+ work programme for 2027 was adopted on 15 October 2026, but the 2027 Programme Guide had not been published by 6 November 2026. Students apply through their own university, can spend 2 to 12 months abroad in each study cycle, pay no tuition at the host institution and have their credits recognised. Recent graduates can go on a traineeship if they are selected in their final year.