Erasmus+ & ESC Dictionary – Your Colorful Guide to EU Opportunities 💙

This page is your emoji-packed cheat sheet for the terms you keep seeing in Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) offers.
Use it before you apply, share it with your friends, and keep it open while scrolling opportunities. 🚀

🌍 Countries & Programme Structure

Programme Countries 🇪🇺
Countries fully part of Erasmus+ and ESC (EU Member States + some others like 🇧🇪🇨🇿🇫🇮🇮🇹🇱🇺🇪🇸🇹🇷etc.).

  • Full access to most Erasmus+ & ESC actions
  • Managed through National Agencies
  • Usually eligible as applicants and participants

Partner Countries 🌎
Countries outside the main programme area (e.g. many countries in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Southern Mediterranean, Africa, Asia, Latin America).

  • Can participate in specific actions
  • Often involved as partners, with different rules
  • Always check if the call is open to them

When reading a call, always look for:
“Eligible countries:” or “Open to: Programme Countries / Partner Countries.” ✅

🧭 Organisations & Roles

Sending Organisation 🏠
Your support organisation in your home country.

  • Helps you understand the project
  • Supports your application & preparation
  • Stays in contact during your activity
  • Helps with follow-up, certificates, and reflection

Hosting Organisation 🏡
The organisation in the country where the activity takes place.

  • Organises daily activities and tasks
  • Provides mentors / coordinators
  • Takes care of accommodation and local logistics
  • Supports your learning and well-being

Coordinating Organisation 🧩
The project manager.

  • Applies for EU funding
  • Manages the budget and reporting
  • Coordinates all partners and communication
  • Ensures rules and quality standards are respected

📂 Key Documents & Application Essentials

Infopack 📘✈️
Your official project guide. A good infopack includes:

  • Project topic & objectives
  • Dates & city / country
  • Activities & methods
  • Travel budget and reimbursement rules
  • Accommodation & meal details
  • Participant profile (age, country, skills)
  • Application steps & deadline

If any of these are missing, ask for clarification before applying.

Motivation Letter 💌
Your personal “this is why I belong in this project” statement.
Keep it:

  • Short, clear, honest
  • Connected to the specific project topic
  • Focused on what you bring + what you want to learn
  • Written in proper English (no copy-paste templates)

Europass CV 📄💼
The official European CV format used for Erasmus+, ESC, internships, scholarships.

  • Clean structure, easy to read
  • Recognised by most organisations and universities
  • Simple to update online and download as PDF

Many quality calls will ask specifically for a Europass CV.

Call for Participants 📣
The official announcement for a confirmed project.
A serious call normally includes:

  • Project type (Youth Exchange, ESC Volunteering, Training Course, etc.)
  • Topic and main activities
  • Eligible countries and age range
  • Funding conditions (what is covered / any fee)
  • Application link or form
  • Clear deadline and contact details

If the call is vague, missing key info, or looks “too good to be true” with no details: be careful.

Deadline ⏰
The final time your application must be submitted.

  • Sometimes includes an exact hour and time zone
  • Late applications are usually not accepted
  • Always assume the deadline is strict

🎓 Learning, Skills & Recognition

Youthpass 🎓
The official recognition certificate for many Erasmus+ & ESC activities.
It:

  • Describes the project you joined
  • Highlights your learning outcomes and competences
  • Supports your CV, job, scholarship, or university applications

It’s not just a paper; it’s a tool to reflect on what you really learned.

Learning Outcomes / Competences ⭐
The concrete things you gain through participation, such as:

  • 🗣️ Communication & public speaking
  • 🤝 Teamwork & cooperation
  • 🌍 Intercultural awareness
  • 🧠 Critical thinking & problem solving
  • 💡 Digital, environmental, leadership or entrepreneurial skills

High-quality projects are clear about what participants are expected to learn.

Non-Formal Education (NFE) 🎲
The main educational style used in Erasmus+ & ESC.
It means:

  • Learning by doing
  • Workshops, simulations, games, debates
  • Creative tasks, group projects, real-life challenges
  • Active participation instead of passive listening

Good projects use non-formal education in a structured, meaningful way.

🤝 Inclusion, Access & Support

Inclusion & Fewer Opportunities 🤍
Refers to young people who face additional obstacles:

  • Economic difficulties
  • Geographical barriers (remote / rural areas)
  • Social exclusion or discrimination
  • Educational challenges
  • Health conditions or disabilities

Many projects:

  • Prioritise including such participants
  • Offer extra financial, logistical, or mentoring support
  • Adapt activities to make participation possible for everyone

Real inclusion is practical and visible, not just a buzzword.

Green Travel 🌱🚆
Choosing more environmentally friendly travel options whenever possible:

  • Train, bus, car-sharing instead of short flights
  • Combining routes smartly

Many projects:

  • Offer extra travel days
  • Provide slightly higher travel budgets
    to encourage sustainable options.

Co-funding / Participant Contribution 💶
Most Erasmus+ & ESC opportunities:

  • Cover travel (up to a limit), accommodation, food, and activity costs.

Sometimes:

  • A small participation fee
  • Or partial travel coverage

This must always be:

  • Clearly explained in the call or infopack
  • Transparent and justified

Hidden or unclear costs are a warning sign.