Erasmus - What you need to know

Under the Erasmus+ student mobility scheme, you can study abroad as follows:

• stays of 3-12 months (multiple stays are possible) per study cycle (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate)
• stays in one of the 27 member states of the European Union as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey

• There must be a student exchange agreement between the home university and host university. Individual applications are not possible.
• The home and host universities must prove a valid Erasmus Charter (ECHE).
• Participants must be enrolled at the University of Erfurt institution for the entire duration of the Erasmus exchange.
• Upon beginning their study abroad period participants must have completed the first year of their studies. Bachelor students must have completed the orientation phase.

The financial support for Erasmus+ student stays is based on the different costs of living in the destination countries ("Programme Countries"). For the academic year 2023/24, the following funding rates for study visits (SMS) apply:

• Hosting country group 1 (600 EUR per month): Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden.
• Hosting country group 2 (540 EUR per month): Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain.
• Hosting country group 3 (490 EUR per month): Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Northern Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey.

The maximum funding period is 4 months for one-semester stays and 8 months for two-semester stays. Days or months of stay beyond this count as zero grant (no mobility grant). In the case of shorter stays, the duration of the grant is reduced to the actual study and examination period abroad in accordance with the financial agreement.

The mobility grant is usually paid in two instalments. A large part of the mobility grant (in the academic year 2022/23 this will be 75% of the mobility grant) should be available to Erasmus students before departure, the last instalment will be paid after completion of the study abroad and after all documents have been submitted.

Top-up amount for students with fewer opportunities:
Students with a chronic illness (see RKI website) or a disability from GdB20 can apply for a monthly top-up of 250 EUR. Alternatively, it is possible to apply to the National Erasmus Agency for funding of the real costs (so called "long application"). Students going abroad with child(ren), first-time academics as well as students who had a job subject to social security contributions for at least 6 months prior to their mobility abroad and earned more than 450 EUR and less than 850 EUR  per month can also apply for the social top-up.

Top-up for green travel:
For "green travel" to the host university and back, a one-time grant of 50 EUR and an allowance for up to four days of travel is provided.

The detailed funding criteria will be communicated to the participants in the ERASMUS programme in advance of the conclusion of the grant agreement.

Information on the The German Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) is available online at  https://www.bafög.de/de/europa-oder-der-rest-der-welt-589.php