Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme for education, training, youth and sport. It is not a research grant scheme, and that single point resolves most of the confusion research offices run into: the money goes to organisations that run mobility and cooperation projects, and individuals take part through those organisations. This guide is written for research and international offices, and reflects the official Erasmus+ pages as described on 2026-10-29.
What Erasmus+ is and who runs it
Erasmus+ is the EU programme covering higher education, vocational education and training (VET), school education, adult education, youth and sport. The current programme period is 2021-2027, with what the European Commission describes as a strong focus on social inclusion and the green and digital transitions. Its estimated budget for the period is EUR 26.2 billion, which the Commission says is nearly double the funding of its 2014-2020 predecessor (source: What is Erasmus+, European Commission, checked 2026-10-29).
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture manages the programme. Delivery is shared: National Agencies in each participating country bring the programme close to participants, and the Commission’s official page lists their roles as providing information, selecting projects to be funded, monitoring and evaluating, supporting applicants and participants, and promoting results (source: Erasmus+ National Agencies, checked 2026-10-29). Some actions are applied for through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) rather than a National Agency; the Programme Guide says which.
The programme began in 1987 and has passed through successive names: stand-alone Erasmus (1987-1994), Socrates (1995-2006), the Lifelong Learning programme (2007-2013), the first single Erasmus+ programme (2014-2020) and the current period. The Commission states that over 16 million people have taken part (source: History, funding and future of Erasmus+, checked 2026-10-29).
Is Erasmus+ the same as Horizon Europe?
No. Erasmus+ funds learning mobility, cooperation and policy work in education, training, youth and sport. Research and innovation funding sits in a separate EU programme; see the CASRAI guide to Horizon Europe and EU research funding. A university will often deal with both, through different offices, different portals and different rules. For the EU portal used for Horizon Europe and similar calls, see the guide to EU Funding and Tenders Portal registration; researchers looking for mobility and job listings can also read about EURAXESS.
Eligibility: countries and applicants
The Programme Guide sorts countries into three groups. EU Member States (27) take full part in all actions. Six third countries associated to the programme also take full part: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, plus North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye, with the Guide noting that their participation is subject to the signature of association agreements. All other countries are partner countries grouped into numbered regions and may join only certain actions that name them (source: Programme Guide, eligible countries, checked 2026-10-29).
What changed from “Programme Countries”?
The Commission’s national agencies page notes that eligible countries were previously called Programme Countries. Older internal documents, templates and checklists may still use the old term; update them to the Guide’s current wording.
Can individuals apply directly?
Generally no. The Programme Guide states that natural persons are not eligible to apply directly for a grant to National Agencies or EACEA, with one exception: self-employed persons. Projects are submitted and run by participating organisations, and the successful applicant becomes the beneficiary that signs the grant agreement. Participants such as students and staff can receive part of an EU grant towards their participation costs through the organisation (source: Programme Guide, who can participate, checked 2026-10-29).
As a general rule, organisations must be established in an EU Member State or an associated third country. Some actions, mainly in higher education, VET, youth and sport, also accept organisations from non-associated third countries. EU bodies cannot be part of a consortium, except the Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Action-specific conditions are in Part B of the Guide.
What it funds
The Commission groups the programme into three Key Actions:
- Key Action 1: learning mobility of individuals.
- Key Action 2: cooperation among organisations and institutions.
- Key Action 3: support to policy development and cooperation.
Within these sit sector-specific actions, among them the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships covered in a separate CASRAI guide. Organisations must comply with the conditions for participation and funding set out in the Programme Guide.
Application and compliance steps
- Identify the current Programme Guide. It is described as a detailed technical description of the programme, published each year with the call for proposals in 24 languages, and the English version prevails. The 2026 edition, checked on 2026-10-29, is version 1, dated 12.11.2025.
- Confirm that your country and your organisation are eligible for the specific action in Part B.
- Check where the action is applied for: a National Agency or EACEA. Partner-country organisations are pointed to National Erasmus+ Offices.
- Submit the application as the organisation, not as an individual.
- If selected, sign the grant agreement as the beneficiary and follow the Guide’s conditions for participation and funding.
Typical timeline phases
The Programme Guide and call are published together; applicants submit to the National Agency or EACEA; the agency selects projects to be funded; selected applicants sign a grant agreement; the agency then monitors and evaluates the project. Deadlines differ by action and by year, so take them from the current Guide rather than from an earlier cycle.
Common mistakes
- Treating Erasmus+ as research funding. It funds education, training, youth and sport activity; research grants are a different programme.
- Expecting an individual to apply directly. Apart from the self-employed exception, the applicant is an organisation.
- Assuming the UK or Switzerland is an associated country. In the Programme Guide’s country lists they appear in a partner-country region (Region 14, with the Faroe Islands), not among the associated third countries, so participation depends on action-specific rules.
- Citing the wrong Guide version. The Guide is versioned and dated each year. Record the version and date in your compliance file.
- Using the old “Programme Countries” term in internal checklists, when the Guide now speaks of eligible countries.
Related programs
| Programme | What it is | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ | EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, 2021-2027 | European Commission |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters | Joint masters scholarships funded through Erasmus+ | CASRAI guide |
| Horizon Europe | EU research and innovation funding, separate from Erasmus+ | CASRAI guide |
| DAAD | German academic exchange organisation that also acts as a National Agency for Erasmus+ | CASRAI guide |
FAQ
What is Erasmus+?
The EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, running 2021-2027 with an estimated budget of EUR 26.2 billion.
Who selects the projects?
For actions run nationally, National Agencies select the projects to be funded. The Programme Guide states which actions are handled by EACEA instead.
Can an individual apply for Erasmus+ funding?
Generally no. The Programme Guide says natural persons are not eligible to apply directly to National Agencies or EACEA, except self-employed persons (sole traders). Students and staff take part through a participating organisation.
Is the UK or Switzerland an associated country?
Not in the Programme Guide’s current country lists. Both appear in partner-country Region 14 together with the Faroe Islands, so participation depends on what each action allows.
Is Erasmus+ the same as Horizon Europe?
No. Erasmus+ covers education, training, youth and sport; research and innovation funding is a separate EU programme.
Which document controls the rules?
The Erasmus+ Programme Guide for the call year. Where translations differ, the English version prevails.
Sources
- What is Erasmus+, checked 2026-10-29
- History, funding and future of Erasmus+, checked 2026-10-29
- Erasmus+ Programme Guide, checked 2026-10-29
- Programme Guide: eligible countries, checked 2026-10-29
- Programme Guide: who can participate, checked 2026-10-29
- Erasmus+ National Agencies, checked 2026-10-29
