Erasmus+ programme
How the EU supports education, training, youth and sport in Europe, promotes common European values, fosters social integration and intercultural exchange.
Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It is one of the most renowned, celebrated and successful EU programmes. It all started in 1987 as a modest mobility scheme for higher education students.
For over 35 years now, it has offered young people opportunities to broaden their horizons by going abroad. Erasmus+ adds value at European level, going beyond what participating countries could achieve on their own. Erasmus+ and its predecessors have had a positive impact on over 12 million Europeans by:
- helping them develop professionally and personally
- strengthening European identity and values
Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027
The mobility of learners and staff is the core of the Erasmus+ programme. It is through the unique experience of living, studying, training or travelling abroad that participants:
- gain self-confidence and soft skills
- discover different cultures
- build interpersonal and professional relationships with people from other countries
This improves their career prospects and increases their active participation in society while also contributing to greater social inclusion and a strengthened European identity.
The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on:
- social inclusion
- the green and digital transitions
- promoting young people’s participation in democratic life
It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area initiative, the digital education action plan (a set of initiatives for high-quality, inclusive and accessible digital education in Europe) and the European skills agenda. The programme also:
- helps to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights
- implements aspects of the EU youth strategy 2019-2027
- helps develop the European dimension of sport
With more than 2 000 transnational strategic partnerships per year, the Erasmus+ programme is expanding and becoming more and more international.
The programme is managed partly at national level by national agencies and partly at European level by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
The programme also aims to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education and to help achieve the objectives of the EU youth strategy.
The Erasmus+ programme aims to:
- reduce unemployment, especially among young people
- promote adult learning, especially of new skills and skills required by the labour market
- encourage young people to take part in European democracy
- support innovation, cooperation and reform
- reduce early school leaving
- promote cooperation with and mobility in the EU's partner countries
Programme budget 2021-2027
The programme has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion for seven years (2021-2027). This is nearly double the funding for the period 2014-2020.
The Erasmus+ programme is expected to triple its number of participants over the course of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF).
Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU (infographic)
Who can participate?
Erasmus+ offers more than just opportunities for university students. Merging seven previous programmes, it offers opportunities for:
- individuals: people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organisations in different countries
- organisations: a wide range of organisations, including universities, education and training providers, think-tanks, research organisations and private businesses
It is open to school pupils, learners in higher education and vocational education and training, adult learners, participants in youth exchanges, youth workers and sport coaches.
The programme now covers 33 countries:
- EU member states
- Türkiye
- Republic of North Macedonia
- Serbia
- Norway
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- United Kingdom (since 2027; to be reviewed after 10 months)
The new Erasmus+ also invests in cross‑border cooperation projects such as:
- the European universities initiative, which encourages cooperation between higher education institutions in the EU
- the Erasmus+ teacher academies, creating European partnerships between teacher education and training providers
- centres of vocational excellence, collaborative networks bringing together a wide range of local partners with the aim of setting up skills ecosystems for innovation, regional development and social inclusion.
What is new in the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme?
The Erasmus+ programme plays a crucial role in the development of a European Education Area. EU leaders called for mobility and exchanges to be stepped up, including through a substantially strengthened, inclusive and extended Erasmus+ programme.
The current generation of the programme responds to this call by:
- offering learning mobility to a record number of people
- improving accessibility for young people with fewer opportunities
- improving accessibility for small and grass-roots organisations
- maintaining the integrated nature of the programme, covering learning in all contexts - formal, non-formal and informal
Inclusive Erasmus+:
- reaches more people who have fewer opportunities
- includes people from diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds
- includes people living in rural and remote areas
- is more international
Digital Erasmus+:
- supports the development of digital skills and accelerates the digital transition of education and training systems, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- encourages traineeships in the digital sector
- implements the roll-out of the European Student Card
Green Erasmus+
- offers financial incentives for participants to use sustainable modes of transport
- invests in projects promoting awareness of environmental issues
Erasmus+ for young people:
- supports young people to travel and, explore the diversity of Europe, learn about European cultural heritage and history under the DiscoverEU initiative
The Erasmus+ resilience effort
- helps accelerate new practices that improve the quality and relevance of education, training and youth systems across Europe, at national, regional and local level.
Erasmus+ programme 2028–2034
The next generation of Erasmus+ (2028–2034) is currently under negotiation.
On 11 May 2026, the Council agreed its negotiating position, marking the first step towards negotiations with the European Parliament. Financial and horizontal aspects remain under discussion in the context of the next multiannual financial framework (MFF).
The proposed programme builds on the achievements of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps under the 2021–2027 period. It aims to continue supporting high-quality education and training, learning mobility and skills development, while also promoting civic engagement, solidarity and social inclusion.
The future programme is structured around two main pillars:
- learning opportunities for all
- capacity building through cooperation between organisations and institutions and support for policy development
It will continue to support activities in the fields of education and training, youth and sport, while expanding opportunities linked to volunteering, participation and talent development across Europe.
Expanded scope
From 2028 onwards, the programme is expected to:
- continue supporting education, training, youth and sport
- build on the legacy of the European Solidarity Corps
- support youth participation and volunteering activities, including humanitarian aid initiatives
- strengthen cooperation in the field of sport
The Council’s position
The Council has proposed changes to the legislative text that strengthen the role of member states, ensure that all sectors are visible, and preserve the legacy of the European Solidarity Corps.
In particular, the Council calls for:
- an enhanced governance model with greater scrutiny powers for member states
- references to volunteering activities within the scope of the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps
- greater visibility for actions supported by Erasmus+ in the fields of youth and sport
Last review: 4 February 2025