The Youth Works Hub FAQ answers the most common questions about Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) with short answers. Each answer links to the page that explains the topic in detail.
Last updated: November 2026.
What are Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps?
What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the 2021-2027 period. Our guide on what Erasmus+ is explains the programme.
What is the European Solidarity Corps?
The European Solidarity Corps brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal and humanitarian challenges. Our guide on what the European Solidarity Corps is explains the programme.
What is the difference between them?
Erasmus+ covers education, training, youth and sport, while the European Solidarity Corps brings together young people for solidarity activities. Our guide on the difference between ESC and Erasmus+ compares the two programmes.
Who can take part?
How old do you have to be for ESC?
You can register on the European Solidarity Corps Portal from 17 years of age, but participants must have reached 18 and must not be older than 30 at the start date of the activity; in humanitarian aid related solidarity activities, the upper age limit at the start of the activity is 35 years old. Our guide on Erasmus+ and ESC age limits lists every age rule.
How old do you have to be for a Youth Exchange?
In an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange, the eligible participants are young people aged between 13 and 30 residing in the countries of their sending and receiving organisations. Our guide on what a Youth Exchange is explains how one works.
Do you need a degree or to be a member of an organisation?
No: your level of education is not a barrier, and there is no requirement to be a member of the sending (support) organisation. Our guide on who can apply goes through the conditions.
Can you join if you live outside the EU?
Yes, if you live in a third country not associated to the Programme neighbouring the EU (regions 1 to 4): you can apply to the European Solidarity Corps and the Erasmus+ youth projects, but there are fewer places and more competition. In the European Solidarity Corps, Ukrainian nationals are counted as participants coming from an EU Member State, so the fewer places and more competition do not apply to Ukrainian nationals; the exception depends on Ukrainian nationality, not on the country where the person lives. Young people from countries that are not EU Member States, third countries associated to the Programme or third countries not associated to the Programme neighbouring the EU (regions 1 to 4) cannot take part in the European Solidarity Corps or in the Erasmus+ youth projects (Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers, Youth participation activities); for them, Erasmus+ higher education mobility, Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges (Region 9 only) and Erasmus Mundus are open. Our guide on which countries can apply lists the countries, and our guide on opportunities for young people outside the EU explains what is open.
Is there anything for people over 30?
Yes: for participants in humanitarian aid related solidarity activities of the European Solidarity Corps, the upper age limit at the start of the activity is 35 years old. As a minimum requirement for Youth Exchanges, group leaders, facilitators and accompanying persons must be at least 18 years old; they are not considered participants of the activity, but are eligible for support under certain budget categories. Our guide on the options if you are over 30 lists what stays open.
Can two friends join the same project?
Technically yes: two friends can go to the same ESC project, but host organisations usually prefer volunteers from different countries for intercultural diversity. Our guide on how to choose a project helps you compare offers.
Does it cost anything?
Is ESC free?
Yes: ESC volunteering is fully funded, so technically you pay nothing, although you sometimes pay costs such as tickets and visas first and are reimbursed afterwards. Our guide on whether ESC is fully funded goes through the costs.
Do you pay to apply?
No fee is ever asked for applying, in ESC or Erasmus+ youth projects; nobody should pay anything at the application stage. In Erasmus+ youth projects that ask selected participants for a participation fee, the fee is usually deducted from the travel reimbursement, not paid in advance. Our guide on hidden costs in fully funded projects and our guide on how to spot fake offers explain what to watch for.
What does an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange cover?
In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, food, accommodation and travel are covered and the host organisation arranges everything, but participants receive no pocket money or cash allowance and personal expenses are the participant's own. Our guide on what Erasmus+ covers goes through each cost.
Do ESC volunteers get pocket money?
Yes: the ESC volunteer receives pocket money. ESC pocket money is paid weekly or monthly, in cash against a signed receipt or by bank transfer, depending on the organisation, and the details are written in the volunteering agreement. Our guide on ESC pocket money explains how it works.
How do you apply?
Do you need to write a project?
No: you do not need to write a project to take part in the ESC, because you apply to the projects that are published. Our guide on how to apply takes the steps one by one.
How many projects can you apply to, and how?
There is no limit on the number of applications. You can apply to a call in three usual ways: by email with a motivation letter and a Europass CV, with an application form, or, for the European Solidarity Corps, through your profile on the European Solidarity Corps Portal. Our guide on ESC application tips, our guide on the motivation letter and our guide on the Europass CV help you prepare.
How early should you apply?
Apply at least four months before the project starts; for long-term projects, six months is better. Our guide on the Erasmus+ and ESC timeline shows each stage.
Where do you find Erasmus+ youth projects?
There is no single registration point for Erasmus+ youth projects: calls are published separately (also on Youth Works Hub), and you apply through each call as it explains. Our guide on how to find Erasmus+ and ESC projects shows where the offers are.
What if nobody replies?
In Erasmus+ youth projects, selected applicants are always contacted, but rejected applicants are often not contacted at all. After applying there is no fixed waiting time; project start dates are known and, because of travel arrangements, everything should be clear 2-3 weeks before the start, so if no answer has come by 2-3 weeks before the start you have not been selected, except for urgent calls. Our guide on what to do when you heard nothing covers the wait.
Can you apply again after a rejection?
Yes: you can apply again, and you should update and improve your application. Our guide on what to do after a rejection goes through the next steps.
What is it like during the project?
How much do ESC volunteers work?
ESC volunteers work at least 30 and not more than 38 hours a week, and have 2 days of leave per month. Our guide on your first steps as an ESC volunteer covers the daily routine.
Do you need good English?
Most projects accept participants with basic English. Our guide on Online Language Support explains the language help in the European Solidarity Corps.
Can you study or work during a long-term project?
No: during a long-term project you cannot continue formal education (university, master's, doctorate) in the host country, and you cannot do paid work during the project, even in your free time. Our guide on common myths about ESC clears up what the programme is not.
Are ESC volunteers insured and supported?
Yes: ESC volunteers have the free Henner insurance. The host or support organisation appoints a mentor who looks after the volunteer's personal situation, separate from the tasks. Our guide on ESC insurance and our guide on the ESC mentor explain both.
What happens after the project?
Do you get a certificate?
Yes: in the European Solidarity Corps, Youthpass must be issued; who issues it (host or support organisation) varies and should be clear in the activity agreement. Our guide on what Youthpass is explains the certificate.
Can you do ESC again?
Yes: you can take part again as long as your total time in ESC volunteering does not exceed 12 months. Our guide on a second ESC project lists the combinations, and our guide on life after your project covers what comes next.
Where should you start?
Our guide on where to start gives the short route through ESC, Erasmus+, internships and scholarships. The Youth Works Hub pages below cover the next steps.
Related pages: where to start · how to find Erasmus+ and ESC projects · how to apply · who can apply
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=esc-projects
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=erasmus-projects
