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{{Promotional|date=April 2025}}{{Short description|European Commission programme for education, training, youth, and sport}}
[[File:Programa Erasmus.png|thumb|271x271px|Countries participating in the Erasmus Programme]]
The '''Erasmus Programme''' is an educational programme named after [[Erasmus]], combining all the EU's current schemes for education, training, youth and sport. It was created as the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students,<ref name="ERASMUS-ProgHist">{{cite web |title=What's in a name? History of the Erasmus Programme |publisher=European Commission |url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/history_en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404063516/http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/history_en.htm |archive-date=4 April 2013}}</ref> a [[European Union]] (EU) [[student exchange program]]me established in 1987.<ref>Council decision, OJ L 166, 25 June 1987</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31987D0327 |website=EUR-Lex |title=87/327/EEC: Council Decision of 15 June 1987 adopting the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (Erasmus) |id=Document 31987D0327 |access-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017151200/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31987D0327 |archive-date=17 October 2017}}</ref>

== Overview ==
[[Erasmus+]] is the [[European Union|EU]]'s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. The programme involves the 27 EU Member States and 6 non-EU associated countries (North Macedonia, Serbia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Eligible countries - Erasmus+ |url=https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-a/eligible-countries |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Erasmus+ |publisher=European Commission |language=en}}</ref> with 55 National Agencies responsible for the decentralised management of most of the programme's actions. Other countries across the world may also participate in certain parts of the programme. The overall responsibility for the programme’s management, direction and evaluation lies with the [[European Commission]] ([[Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture]]), assisted by its [[European Education and Culture Executive Agency|Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency]] (EACEA).

The objective of Erasmus+ is to promote transnational learning mobility and cooperation, as a mean of improving quality and excellence, supporting inclusion and equity, and boosting innovation in the fields of education, youth and sport. In all these sectors, the aim is to provide support, through [[lifelong learning]], for the educational, professional and personal development of participants in Europe and beyond.

The programme's objective is pursued through 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

Other activities include "Jean Monnet" actions, which support teaching, learning, research and debates on European integration matters, e.g. on the EU's future challenges and opportunities. 

Full information on the current profile and the activities for which funding within the programme is available can be found in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erasmus+ Programme Guide |website=Erasmus+ |url=https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide |access-date=2024-12-14 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref>

Launched in 1987, the Erasmus programme was originally established to promote closer cooperation between universities and higher education institutions across Europe. Over time, the programme has expanded and is now referred to as [[Erasmus+]], or Erasmus Plus, combining the EU's different schemes for transnational cooperation and mobility in education, training, youth and sport in Europe and beyond. The Erasmus+ programme concluded its first funding cycle from 2014 to 2020 and is now in its second cycle, spanning from 2021 to 2027. Noted for its participation among staff, students, young people, and learners across age groups, as of 2021, the programme had engaged over 13 million participants. Its name refers to [[Erasmus|Erasmus of Rotterdam]], a leading scholar and inspiring lecturer during the [[Renaissance]] period who travelled extensively in Europe to teach and study at a number of universities. At the same time, the word "Erasmus" is also an acronym for "European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students".

In 1989, the Erasmus Bureau invited 32 former Erasmus students for an evaluation meeting in [[Ghent]], [[Belgium]]. The lack of peer-to-peer support was singled out as a major issue, but it was also a driving force behind the creation of the [[Erasmus Student Network]]. The organization supports students from the Erasmus programme and other bilateral agreements and cooperates with national agencies in order to help international students. As of 23 July 2020, the Erasmus Student Network consists of 534 local associations ("sections") in 42 countries and has more than 15,000 volunteers across Europe.

As of 2014, 27 years after its creation, the programme had promoted the mobility of more than 3.3 million students within the European community. More than 5,000 higher education institutions from 38 countries are participating in the project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/document/higher-education-institutions-holding-an-eche-2021-2027|title=Higher education institutions holding an ECHE – 2021–2027 |website=Erasmus+ |publisher=European Commission}}</ref>

The Erasmus Programme, along with several other independent programmes, was incorporated into the [[Socrates programme]] established by the European Commission in 1994. The Socrates programme ended on 31 December 1999 and was replaced with the Socrates II programme on 24 January 2000, which in turn was replaced by the [[Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013]] on 1 January 2007.

Beside the more popular student mobility (SMS), the [[Erasmus+]] programme promotes the teacher mobility (STA), by which university teachers can spend a short period, for a minimum of 2 teaching days and a maximum of 2 months, teaching at least 8 hours in a foreign partner university. The average and suggested stay is of 5 teaching days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-individuals/staff-teaching/higher-education-teaching-staff|title=Higher Education (teaching staff)|website=Erasmus+ |publisher=European Commission|date=14 February 2024 }}</ref>

==Background and history==

===Origins of the name===
[[File:Holbein-erasmus.jpg|thumb|281x281px|[[Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam]]]]
The programme is named after the Dutch philosopher, theologian, [[Renaissance Humanism|Renaissance Humanist]], [[monk]], and devout [[Roman Catholic]], [[Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam]], called "the crowning glory of the Christian humanists".<ref name="ERASMUS-ProgHist" /> Erasmus, along with his good friend [[Thomas More]], became one of the main figures of European intellectual life during the Renaissance. Known for his satire, Erasmus urged internal reform of the Catholic Church. He encouraged a recovery of the Catholic [[Patristic]] tradition against what he considered to be contemporary abuses of the [[Sacraments]] and certain excessive devotional practices. He famously clashed with Protestant revolutionary [[Martin Luther]] on the subject of [[free will]]. ERASMUS is a [[backronym]] meaning ''European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students''.<ref name="ERASMUS-ProgHist" /> Erasmus travelled widely across Europe and he was a pioneer of the European [[Republic of Letters]]. He was one of the first intellectuals to use as a vehicle of diffusion of his ideas a path-breaking technology, namely the [[movable type]] and spent a lot of his time inside printing workshops.<ref>{{cite book |last=[[Johan Huizinga|Huizinga]] |first=Johan |date=1924 |title=Erasmus and the Age of Reformation |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22900 |location=London |publisher=Phaidon Press, Ltd}}</ref>

The programme's origins can be traced through a series of significant events documented on the official European Commission programme page:

* From 1973 to 1976, the first European-level education action programme was established.

* Between 1976 and 1987, the foundations for what would later become Erasmus were laid through the "Joint Study Programme" (JSP) scheme in higher education. The organisation and execution of the JSP was entrusted to the [[European Cultural Foundation]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=friso |date=2022-01-20 |title=35 years of Erasmus - and ECF's role in establishing it |url=https://culturalfoundation.eu/stories/35-years-of-erasmus-and-ecfs-role-in-establishing-it/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=[[European Cultural Foundation]] |language=en}}</ref> This initiative gained traction as more universities and students participated, contributing to the development of mobility, partnership, and joint curricula.

* From 1985 to 1987, the "Erasmus" proposal was developed and negotiated. In 1985, the Directorate for Education and Training presented the proposal to the [[Council of Europe|Council]] and [[European Parliament]]. The Council officially adopted the "Erasmus" programme on June 15, 1987, and it was officially launched on July 1, 1987. The responsibility for the central operations office of the programme was in the hands of the European Cultural Foundation until 1995.<ref name=":0" />

In 1969, the concept of promoting cultural, social, and academic exchanges among European students took root, thanks to the efforts of Italian educator and scientific consultant [[Sofia Corradi]] for the permanent conference of Italian university rectors. Her role allowed her to raise awareness about this idea and make it known in the academic and institutional spheres.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/sofia-corradi-mamma-erasmus_N004-0043_ev|title=Sofia Corradi, "Mamma Erasmus"|access-date=17 September 2019|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525151452/https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/sofia-corradi-mamma-erasmus_N004-0043_ev|url-status=dead}}</ref> The project was born after an initiative of the EGEE student association (now [[AEGEE]]) founded by [[Franck Biancheri]] (who later became president of the trans-European movement [[Newropeans]]) which in 1986–1987 convinced French president [[François Mitterrand]] to support the creation of the Erasmus programme.

This active collaboration between AEGEE and the European Commission and especially Domenico Lenarduzzi, Ministry of Public Education, allowed the approval of the Erasmus programme in 1987. It became an integral part of the Socrates I (1994–1999) and Socrates II (2000–2006) programmes. From 2007 it became one of the elements of the Lifelong Learning Programme (2007–2013).

In June 1984, the European Council decided in Fontainebleau to establish an ad-hoc European citizens' committee with the mission to make proposals to improve the image of the European Union. Each council member would select a member and together they should present a set of proposals to be approved at a future European Council. Under the chairmanship of Pietro Adonnino, the committee presented two successive reports<ref>L'impact du Comité Adonnino (1984–1986): Rapprocher les Communautés Européennes des Citoyens, Nathalie Tousignant, Etudes Internationales, vol. 36, 1 maart 2005, Erudit</ref> that were approved at the Council session in [[Milan]] on the 28–29 of June 1985.<ref>Session du Conseil Européen, Milan 28 et 29 juin 1985, Conclusions des Sessions du Conseil Européen (1975–1990), 240–245.</ref> Under the proposals that were advanced in these reports was the suggestion (to be found in the second report from number 5.6: University Cooperation) that the ministers for education and universities and higher-education establishments
# should establish a cross-frontier cooperation enabling students to pursue part of their studies in an establishment in a member state other than their own;
# should implement, a comprehensive European inter-university programme of exchanges and studies aimed at giving this opportunity to a significant section of the EU's student population.
These suggestions were advanced by the Belgian member Prosper Thuysbaert and were discussed and approved by the committee.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

===1987 European Commission proposal===
By the time the Erasmus Programme was adopted in June 1987, the [[European Commission]] had been supporting pilot student exchanges for six years. It proposed the original Erasmus Programme in early 1986, but reaction from the then member states varied: those with substantial exchange programmes of their own (essentially France, Germany and the United Kingdom) were broadly hostile{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}; the remaining countries were broadly in favour. Exchanges between the [[member state]]s and the [[European Commission]] deteriorated, and the latter withdrew the proposal in early 1987 to protest against the inadequacy of the triennial budget proposed by some member states.<ref name="ERASMUS-ProgHist" />

===European Court of Justice decision===
This method of voting, a simple majority, was not accepted by some of the opposing member states, who challenged the adoption of the decision before the [[European Court of Justice]]. Although the court held that the adoption was procedurally flawed, it maintained the substance of the decision; a further decision, adapted in the light of the jurisprudence, was rapidly adopted by the [[Council of the European Union|Council of Ministers]].{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

===Adoption and growth===
The programme built on the 1981–1986 pilot student exchanges, and although it was formally adopted only shortly before the beginning of the academic year 1987–1988, it was still possible for 3,244 students to participate in Erasmus in its first year. In 2006, over 150,000 students, or almost 1% of the European student population, took part. The proportion is higher among university teachers, where Erasmus teacher mobility is 1.9% of the teacher population in [[European Union|Europe]], or 20,877 people.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

From 1987 to 2006, over two million students benefited from Erasmus grants.<ref name="Survey of the Socio-Economic Background of Erasmus Students - DG EAC 01/05">[http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/doc920_en.htm Ec.europa.eu] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211164532/http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/doc920_en.htm |date=11 December 2008 }}, Table: Erasmus student mobility (number of outgoing students): 1987/88-2006/07</ref> In 2004, the Erasmus Programme was awarded the [[Princess of Asturias Awards#Prince or Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation|Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation]].

===Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013===
After 2007, the [[Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013]] replaced the Socrates programme as the overall umbrella under which the Erasmus (and other) programmes operated.

===Erasmus Mundus===
{{Main|Erasmus Mundus}}
[[File:ERASMUS.jpg|thumb|[[Erasmus Mundus]]]]
The [[Erasmus Mundus]] programme is a parallel programme oriented towards globalising European education and is open to non-Europeans with Europeans being exceptional cases.

===Citizens' initiative for more money 2014–2020===
In May 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/initiatives/ongoing/details/2012/000001|title=Open initiatives – European Citizens' Initiative – European Commission|website=ec.europa.eu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706022524/http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/initiatives/ongoing/details/2012/000001|archive-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> [[Fraternité 2020]] was registered as Europe's first [[European Citizens' Initiative]] and a goal to increase the budget for EU exchange programmes like Erasmus or the [[European Voluntary Service]] starting in 2014. It ultimately collected only 71,057 signatures from citizens across the EU out of 1 million signatures needed by 1 November 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=European Citizens Initiatives – one year of challenges |author=Simona Pronckutė |work=European Public Affairs |url=http://www.europeanpublicaffairs.eu/european-citizens-initiatives-one-year-of-challenges/ |publisher=EuropeanPublicAffairs.eu |date=1 November 2013 |access-date=20 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518054159/http://www.europeanpublicaffairs.eu/european-citizens-initiatives-one-year-of-challenges/ |archive-date=18 May 2014}}</ref>

===Erasmus+ Programme 2014–2020===
[[Erasmus+]], also called Erasmus Plus, has been the new 14.7 billion euro catch-all framework programme for education, training, youth and sport from 2014 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1110_en.htm |website=European Commission |title=Green light for Erasmus+: More than 4 million to get EU grants for skills and employability|access-date=30 December 2014|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122090334/http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1110_en.htm |archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref> The Erasmus+ programme combined all the EU's schemes for education, training, youth and sport, including the Lifelong Learning Programme (Erasmus, [[Leonardo da Vinci]], Comenius, Grundtvig), Youth in Action and five international co-operation programmes (Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and the programme for co-operation with industrialised countries). The Erasmus+ regulation<ref>[http://new.eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013R1288 Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing 'Erasmus+': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC Text with EEA relevance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304183848/http://new.eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32013R1288 |date=4 March 2014 }}</ref> was signed on 11 December 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2011/0371(COD)|title=Procedure File: 2011/0371(COD) – Legislative Observatory – European Parliament|website=www.europarl.europa.eu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623075619/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2011%2F0371%28COD%29|archive-date=23 June 2017}}</ref>

Erasmus+ provided grants for a wide range of actions including the opportunity for students to undertake work placements abroad and for teachers and education staff to attend training courses. Projects are divided into two parts – formal and non-formal education – each of them with three key actions. Erasmus+ key action one provides an opportunity for teachers, headmasters, trainers and other staff of education institutions to participate in international training courses in different European countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/programme-guide/introduction/how-to-read-programme-guide_en|title=How to read the Programme Guide|last=Anonymous|date=7 October 2016|website=Erasmus+ – European Commission|language=en|access-date=5 December 2019}}</ref>

The staff home institution must apply to receive the grant to send its staff members abroad for training.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.erasmustrainingcourses.com/teacher-training-courses-erasmus-plus-funding.html|title=Erasmus Plus Funding for Teacher Training Courses {{!}} Erasmus+ KA1|website=TEACHER TRAINING|access-date=4 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022931/http://www.erasmustrainingcourses.com/teacher-training-courses-erasmus-plus-funding.html|archive-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>

Some parts of Erasmus+ are also open to activities in countries beyond the EU. As an example, in Central Asia's [[Kazakhstan]], 40 projects were supported involving 47 Kazakh universities with more than 35.5 million euros.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kazakh universities take part in European projects: Erasmus+ Projects Fair opened at the Eurasian National University |url=https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/kazakhstan/52922/kazakh-universities-take-part-european-projects-erasmus-projects-fair-opened-eurasian-national_en |website=eeas.europa.eu}}</ref>

With [[Brexit]], the UK government decision not to participate in Erasmus+ meant UK students (9,993 in 2018) lost access to the Erasmus programme and EU students (29,797 in 2018) lost access to UK universities,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Erasmus Programme |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8326/CBP-8326.pdf |date=6 January 2021}}</ref> despite some Conservatives such as [[Suella Braverman]] having benefitted from it and promises made by then-Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] that "There is no threat to the ERASMUS scheme."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200118063522587 | title=Prime minister denies threat to Erasmus scheme }}</ref><ref name="brexit">{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Richard |date=2020-12-24 |title=UK students lose Erasmus membership in Brexit deal |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/24/uk-students-lose-erasmus-membership-in-brexit-deal |access-date=2020-12-27 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The UK decided to utilise the funds that would have been paid into Erasmus+ to create the [[Turing scheme]], allowing 40,000 students p.a., from age 4 to university age, to gain experience overseas, without being limited to European destinations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Di Santolo|first=Alessandra Scotto|date=January 8, 2022|title=Cheaper and more global' Brexit Britain hailed as new scheme trounces EU's Erasmus|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1546905/Brexit-news-uk-Turing-scheme-studying-abroad-Erasmus-university-students|website=[[Daily Express]]}}</ref>

===Erasmus+ Programme 2021–2027===
{{main|Erasmus+}}

[[File:Erasmus+ official signature.png|thumb|Logo of the current Erasmus+ programme (2021–2027)]]
On 30 May 2018, the European Commission adopted its proposal for the next Erasmus programme, with a doubling of the budget to 30 billion euros for the period 2021–2027.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commission adopts proposal for the next Erasmus programme 2021–2027 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/news/commission-adopts-proposal-next-erasmus-programme-2021-2027_en |publisher=European Commission |access-date=8 December 2018|date=30 May 2018 }}</ref> Further negotiations were expected to take place during the 2019–2024 European parliamentary term with the European Parliament and the European Council before the final programme is adopted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europeaninterest.eu/article/erasmus-2021-2027-budget-tripled-2021-2027-period/|title=Erasmus+ 2021–2027: Budget tripled for the 2021–2027 period|last=Benakis|first=Theodoros|date=28 March 2019|website=European Interest|access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref> The agreement between the European Parliament and the European Council was adopted and the publication of the new regulation 2021/817 establishing the new Erasmus+ programme was made on 28 May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=EUR-Lex – 32021R0817 – EN – EUR-Lex|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/817/oj|access-date=2022-01-16|website=eur-lex.europa.eu}}</ref>

For the second phase of the programme, the EU has made the commitment to expand Erasmus+ further and to enrich it by introducing a new 'greening' dimension as well as a strong new digital education component. The new greening dimension is designed to contribute to combating climate change and addressing other global challenges including health, while the digital education strand seeks in particular to improve the quality of online education in Europe which has grown considerably in the aftermath of the Covid 19 pandemic. Further transversal priorities for the programme are the commitment to social inclusion and diversity, and to promoting stronger participation in democratic life, common values and civic engagement.

==Participation and impact of the programme==
Nearly 14 million people have participated in the Erasmus programme since its creation. The young participants has increased significantly since 1987. Nearly 300,000 a year{{when|date=January 2020}} compared with only 3,244 in 1987. [[Spain]] is the country that has allowed most people to participate in Erasmus with more than 40,000 per year, slightly ahead of [[France]], [[Germany]] and [[Italy]]. The countries receiving the most Erasmus students are Spain with more than 47,000 students and Germany with 32,800.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thisistherealspain.com/en/spain-in-the-world/europeanism/spain-the-most-popular-erasmus-destination/|title=Spain: The most popular Erasmus destination|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407172648/https://www.thisistherealspain.com/en/spain-in-the-world/europeanism/spain-the-most-popular-erasmus-destination/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Erasmus has positively impacted higher education, bringing educational, social, cultural, and economic benefits to institutions. It professionalizes international cooperation, strengthens academic ties, fosters research collaborations, and forms informal networks, creating friendships across borders. The programme has become a valued source of 'soft power' and diplomatic value for participating countries. There are currently more than 4,000 higher institutions participating in Erasmus across the 37 countries. In 2012–13, 270,000 took part, the most popular destinations being Spain, Germany, Italy and France.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-821_en.htm |title=Press release—Another record-breaking year for Erasmus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920233047/http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-821_en.htm |archive-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> Erasmus students represented 5 percent of European graduates as of 2012.<ref>{{cite web | title = Erasmus students as a proportion of graduates in 2012, page 35 | url = http://ec.europa.eu/education/library/statistics/ay-12-13/facts-figures_en.pdf | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305053245/http://ec.europa.eu/education/library/statistics/ay-12-13/facts-figures_en.pdf | archive-date = 5 March 2016 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="programme">[http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm European Commission: Erasmus+]</ref> EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme can fully take part in all the Actions of Erasmus+. The third countries associated to the Programme are North Macedonia, Serbia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey.<ref name=":1" />

Studies have discussed issues related to the selection into the programme and the representativeness of the participants. Some studies have raised doubts about the inclusiveness of the programme, by socio-economic background, level of study, or academic performance. Thus, one study analyses the financial issues and family background of Erasmus students, showing that despite the fact that access to the programme has been moderately widened, there are still important socio-economic barriers to participation in the programme.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Otero|first=Manuel Souto|date=12 February 2008|title=The Socio-Economic Background of Erasmus Students: A Trend Towards Wider Inclusion?|journal=International Review of Education|volume=54|issue=2|pages=135–154|doi=10.1007/s11159-007-9081-9|bibcode=2008IREdu..54..135O|s2cid=40096930|issn=0020-8566|url=http://orca.cf.ac.uk/81314/1/The_socio-economic_background_of_Erasmus.pdf}}</ref> Another study uncovered what seems to be an adverse self-selection of Erasmus students based on their prior academic performance, with higher-performing students less likely to participate than lower-performing ones. However, this case was based on four hundred graduates in only a Spanish university.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Varela|first=Diego|date=5 May 2016|title=Grade uncertainty and the adverse selection of Erasmus students: a Spanish experience|url=http://www.jcer.net/index.php/jcer/article/view/697|journal=Journal of Contemporary European Research|volume=12|issue=2|doi=10.30950/jcer.v12i2.697 |s2cid=156295309 |issn=1815-347X|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529154708/http://www.jcer.net/index.php/jcer/article/view/697|archive-date=29 May 2016|doi-access=free}}</ref> Inversely, one study looking in details at French and Italian students found that the primary predictor of participation to Erasmus was students' prior academic records, not the occupation of their parents.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Di Pietro|first=Giorgio|date=20 August 2008|title=Who Studies Abroad? Evidence from France and Italy|journal=European Journal of Education|volume=43|issue=3|pages=389–398|issn=1465-3435|doi=10.1111/j.1465-3435.2008.00355.x}}</ref>

===Requirements===
The Erasmus Programme had previously been restricted to applicants who had completed at least one year of tertiary-level study, but it is now also available to secondary school students. Indeed, non-formal education programmes for adults, can expand opportunities for its students and staff through the development of international partnerships following the priorities of the Programme, such as inclusion and diversity, digital transformation, environment and climate change or participation in democratic life.<ref>Baños-Martínez, V. . (2022). Articulation of an Erasmus+ project for senior university students. HUMAN REVIEW. International Humanities Review / Revista Internacional De Humanidades, 14(6), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.37467/revhuman.v11.4169</ref>

===Details===
Students who join the Erasmus Programme study at least three months or do an internship for a period of at least 2 months to an academic year in another European country. The former case is called a '''Student Mobility for Studies''' or '''SMS''', while the latter case is called a '''Student Mobility of Placement''' or '''SMP'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/international/outgoing/erasmus/index.php.en|title=Erasmus+ &#124; Outgoing &#124; International Office &#124; TU Chemnitz|first=Admin|last=IUZ|website=www.tu-chemnitz.de|access-date=2 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://associatie.kuleuven.be/p/isbi/gps-gids-internationalisering/uitgaand/Preparation/Administrationpreparation|title=What administration do I have to do before departure? – ISBI|website=associatie.kuleuven.be|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512162145/https://associatie.kuleuven.be/p/isbi/gps-gids-internationalisering/uitgaand/Preparation/Administrationpreparation|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Erasmus Programme guarantees that the period spent abroad is recognised by their university when they come back, as long as they abide by terms previously agreed. [[Switzerland]] has been suspended as a participant in the Erasmus programme as of 2015, following [[Federal popular initiative "Against mass immigration"|the popular vote]] to limit the immigration of EU citizens into Switzerland. As a consequence, Swiss students will not be able to apply for the programme and European students will not be able to spend time at a Swiss university under that programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/81542/Swiss-students-out-of-Erasmus-program-starting-in-2015.html|title=Swiss students out of Erasmus program starting in 2015|access-date=30 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403141442/http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/81542/Swiss-students-out-of-Erasmus-program-starting-in-2015.html|archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>

A main part of the programme is that students do not pay extra tuition fees to the university that they visit. Students can also apply for an Erasmus grant to help cover the additional expense of living abroad. Students with disabilities can apply for an additional grant to cover extraordinary expenses.

To reduce expenses and increase mobility, many students also use the European Commission-supported accommodation network, CasaSwap, FlatClub, Erasmusinn, [[Eurasmus]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurasmus.com|title=Student rooms and accommodation, internships and erasmus guides.|access-date=30 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105190410/http://eurasmus.com/|archive-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> Erasmate or Student Mundial, which are free websites where students and young people can rent, sublet, offer and swap accommodation – on a national and international basis. A derived benefit is that students can share knowledge and exchange tips and hints with each other before and after going abroad.

=== Impact ===
Erasmus has positively impacted higher education, bringing educational, social, cultural, and economic benefits to institutions. It professionalises international cooperation, strengthens academic ties, fosters research collaborations, and forms informal networks, creating friendships across borders. The programme has become a valued source of [https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-66061-1_4 'soft power'] and diplomatic value for participating countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodríguez-Izquierdo |first=Rosa M. |date=2023-03-08 |title=What is the real impact of the Erasmus programme on university students? |url=https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-real-impact-of-the-erasmus-programme-on-university-students-201114 |access-date=March 10, 2024}}</ref>

External evaluations and a multitude of personal stories abound from successive generations of participants to confirm the extent to which their "Erasmus experience" provided them not only with enhanced knowledge and competence in their respective fields, but also with a transformative, life-enhancing dimension both in personal terms and for their careers. This is true of all parts of the programme forming the present Erasmus+, though most data is available for higher education.

== Erasmus in the media and popular culture ==

=== The "Erasmus experience" ===
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:Aubergeespagnole.jpg|thumb|150px|Films such as [[L'Auberge espagnole]] shed light on the Erasmus cultural phenomenon]] -->

For many higher education students, the Erasmus Programme is their first time living and studying in another country. Alongside academic study or practical training, the programme fosters learning and understanding of the host country, and the Erasmus experience is considered both a time for learning as well as a chance to socialize and experience a different culture, not to mention self-discovery. In this respect, and thanks to its popularity among students, it has emerged as a contemporary cultural phenomenon, inspiring books and films that explore the Erasmus experience.

=== Films ===
Most of the characters in the French-Spanish film ''[[L'Auberge espagnole]]'' (2002) are enrolled in the programme, which plays a central role in the film. 

Various documentary films have been produced around the programme, notably the Italian documentary ''Erasmus 24 7''<ref>{{cite web |title = Erasmus 24_7 Official Website |url = http://erasmus247.com |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140504010217/http://erasmus247.com/ |archive-date = 4 May 2014 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> or [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyNjJ2KEO4c Erasmus, notre plus belle année] (2017).

=== Books ===
The self-finding experiences of Erasmus students in France form the basis for Davide Faraldi's first novel ''Generazione Erasmus'' (2008).

In [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]]'s 1997 novel ''[[Slade House]]'', an Erasmus party is the scene for an important experience for fresher student Sally Timms.

Pakistani novelist Nimra Ahmed's novel ''Jannat K Patte'' (''Leaves of Heaven'') is based on the Erasmus programme, where the protagonist Haya goes to [[Sabancı University]] in [[Turkey]] through [[Erasmus Mundus]], which marks a turning point in her life.<ref>{{cite web | title = Online novels by Nimra Ahmed | url = http://www.urdunovelsonline.com/category/nimra-ahmed/ | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150831073232/http://www.urdunovelsonline.com/category/nimra-ahmed/ | archive-date = 31 August 2015 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

In the novel ''[[Normal People]]'' (2018) written by Irish author [[Sally Rooney]] and its [[Normal People (TV series)|subsequent adaptation for television]], Marianne goes to [[Sweden]] via the Erasmus programme.

=== ''Cafébabel'' ===
The online public forum ''Cafébabel'' was founded in 2001 by Erasmus exchange programme students, and is headquartered in [[Paris]]. The forum is based on the principle of participatory journalism. As of June 2020 it had over 15,000 contributors as well as a team of professional editors and journalists in Paris, [[Brussels]], [[Rome]], [[Madrid]] and [[Berlin]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Cafébabel. About us. | url = https://cafebabel.com/en/article/about-us-5ae00487f723b35a145da7bd/ | publisher = Cafébabel | access-date = 25 June 2020 }}</ref> Volunteer contributors simultaneously translate the forum into six languages – [[French language|French]], [[English language|English]], [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Polish language|Polish]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Cafébabel, the first European media | url = http://ec.europa.eu/languages/news/2013/20130716-cafebabel-european-media_en.htm | publisher = [[European Commission]] | date = 16 July 2013 | access-date = 24 September 2015 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925113212/http://ec.europa.eu/languages/news/2013/20130716-cafebabel-european-media_en.htm | archive-date = 25 September 2015 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

==The Erasmus generation==
Some academics have speculated that former Erasmus students will prove to be a powerful force in creating a [[pan-European identity]]. In 2005, the political scientist [[Stefan Wolff]], for example, argued that "Give it 15, 20 or 25 years, and Europe will be run by leaders with a completely different socialisation from those of today", referring to the so-called 'Erasmus generation'.<ref>{{cite news |first=Katrin |last=Bennhold |title=Quietly sprouting: A European identity |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/26/world/europe/quietly-sprouting-a-european-identity.html |work=The New York Times |date=26 April 2005 |access-date=24 January 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727215511/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/26/world/europe/quietly-sprouting-a-european-identity.html |archive-date=27 July 2017}}</ref> This term describes young [[Europeans]] who participate in Erasmus programme and are assumed to support [[European integration]] more actively when compared with their elder generations.<ref>Iain Wilson, What should we Expect of ‘Erasmus Generations’, ''Journal of Common Market Studies'', Vol.49, No.5, p.1114</ref> The assumption is that young Europeans, who enjoyed the benefits of European integration, think of themselves as European citizens, and therefore create a base of support for further European integration. However, questions are raised about whether there is positive correlation between the programme and pro-European integration.<ref>Feyen, B. The Making of a Success Story: the Creation of the programme in the Historical Context. in B. Feyen & Krzaklewska (eds.), ''The Erasmus Phenomenon-Symbol of a New European Generation?''(p.22)</ref>

According to the former [[European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth|European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport]], [[Tibor Navracsics]], Erasmus programme is a [[soft power]] tool and it reflects the political motivation behind its creation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20171218-talking-europe-eu-commissioner-tibor-navracsics-soft-power-european-identity-erasmus-brexit|title=Europe's 'soft power': EU Commissioner Tibor Navracsics on European identity|website=France 24|date=18 December 2017|access-date=13 May 2019}}</ref> including the task of legitimising the European institutions. This conception has already presented in the project of [[Sofia Corradi]], an Italian [[education]]alist creator of the Erasmus Programme. She gives a particular attention to the need to activate an exchange between young people from all over Europe to contribute to the strengthening of its unity and integrity.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Student mobility in higher education Erasmus and Erasmus plus|last=Corradi|first=Sofia|publisher=Laboratorio di educazione permanente, Dipartimento di scienze della formazione, Università degli Studi Statale Roma tre|year=2015|isbn=9788890527326|location=Rome|pages=19–21}}</ref>

One issue discussed is whether participation in the Erasmus program helps generate more European [[solidarity]]. A study carried out by the European Commission in 2010, shows that participating to Erasmus strengthens tolerance. Another issue is whether Erasmus enables the mixing of Europeans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/anniversary/spotlight-erasmus-brings-people-together_en|title=In the spotlight: Erasmus+ brings people together|website=European Commission|access-date=13 May 2019}}</ref> For example, more than a quarter of Erasmus participants meet their life partner through it and participation in Erasmus encourages mobility between European countries.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/education/library/study/2014/erasmus-impact_en.pdf|title=The Erasmus impact study: effects of mobility on the skills and employability of students and the internationalisation of higher education institutions|last=European Commission|publisher=European Union|year=2014|isbn=978-92-79-38380-9|pages=14, 70}}</ref> [[Umberto Eco]] called it sexual integration.<ref>{{cite news |first= Gianni | last=Riotta |title= Umberto Eco: 'It's culture, not war, that cements European identity' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/26/umberto-eco-culture-war-europa }}</ref> The [[European Commission]] estimates that the program has resulted directly in the births of over 1 million children, sometimes called "Erasmus Babies".<ref>{{cite news |title='You Wouldn't Exist Without Europe': The Erasmus Baby Phenomenon |url=https://universitytimes.ie/2021/03/you-wouldnt-exist-without-europe-the-phenomenon-of-erasmus-babies/ |work=University Times}}</ref>

As to whether Erasmus fosters a sense of European identity the results are mixed. Some research indicates that those participating in Erasmus exchanges are already significantly predisposed to be pro-European,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wilson |first=I. |year=2011 |title=What Should we Expect of 'Erasmus Generations'? |url=https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/files/14663622/erasmusgenerationsauthorfinal.pdf |journal=JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies |volume=49 |issue=5 |pages=1113–1140 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-5965.2010.02158.x |hdl-access=free |s2cid=152860534 |hdl=20.500.11820/f3b95d45-89dd-445a-b20f-d038b3760bb0}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sigalas |first=Emmanuel |date=2010 |title=Cross-border mobility and European identity: The effectiveness of intergroup contact during the ERASMUS year abroad |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1465116510363656 |journal=European Union Politics |language=en |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=241–265 |doi=10.1177/1465116510363656 |s2cid=145366910 |issn=1465-1165|url-access=subscription }}</ref> leading some scholars to conclude that such exchange programmes are 'preaching to the converted'.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kuhn |first=Theresa |date=2012 |title=Why Educational Exchange Programmes Miss Their Mark: Cross-Border Mobility, Education and European Identity*: Why educational exchange programmes miss their mark |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-5965.2012.02286.x |journal=JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies |language=en |volume=50 |issue=6 |pages=994–1010 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-5965.2012.02286.x|s2cid=154731420 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> However, more recent research has criticised the earlier findings for being methodically flawed, relying primarily on the experience of British students and for using relatively small samples. Relying on a larger scale survey conducted on some 1700 students in six countries, Mitchell found that 'participation in an Erasmus exchange is significantly and positively related to changes in both identification as European and identification with Europe'.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mitchell |first=Kristine |date=2015 |title=Rethinking the 'Erasmus Effect' on European Identity: Rethinking the 'Erasmus effect' on European identity |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcms.12152 |journal=JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies |language=en |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=330–348 |doi=10.1111/jcms.12152|s2cid=55156492 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In addition, it has also been submitted that the earlier literature confused cause and effect, since the existence of such programmes constitutes a tangible benefit provided by the EU to prospective students interested in going abroad, which may cause them to view the EU positively even prior to participation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hoogenboom |first=Alexander |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995162537 |title=Balancing student mobility rights and national higher education : autonomy in the European Union |date=2017 |isbn=978-90-04-34445-7 |location=Leiden |pages=72–75 |oclc=995162537}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Academic mobility]]
* [[Comenius programme]]
* [[Erasmus Student Network]] (ESN) – non-profit European students organisation
* [[Association des États Généraux des Étudiants de l'Europe]] (AEGEE) – non-profit European students organisation
* [[European Students' Union]] (ESU) – non-profit European students organisation
* [[European Medical Students' Association]] (EMSA) – non-profit European medical students organisation
* [[European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management]] (ESTIEM) – non-profit European students organisation
* [[European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System]] (ECTS)
* [[European Higher Education Area]]
* [[Socrates Network for Translator Training]]
* [[University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific]]
* [[Student exchange program]]me
* [[Public diplomacy]]
* [[Enhancing Student Mobility through Online Support]]
* [[Turing scheme]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Benjamin Feyen/Ewa Krzaklewska (eds.): "The ERASMUS Phenomenon – Symbol of a New European Generation?" Peter Lang Publishing, 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-631-62719-8}}

==External links==
* [http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm Erasmus website of the European Commission]
* [https://cafebabel.com/en/ Cafébabel]
* [https://esn.org/ Erasmus Student Network]
* [https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/resources-and-tools/statistics-and-factsheets/ Statistics Erasmus+ Programme]
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