How to Find Erasmus+ and ESC Projects: The Complete 2026 Guide 🔎

There are two main programmes and two different ways in: for European Solidarity Corps volunteering you register yourself on the ESC Portal and apply directly, while for an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange you take part through a sending organisation, not on your own. Getting this distinction right is the single most important thing when you start looking, because searching the wrong way wastes weeks. This guide walks through every official route, what each tool is actually for, and the fastest way to find real, open opportunities. Last updated: 2026.

Finding a project at a glance:

• ESC volunteering: register on the ESC Portal, get your registration number, and apply directly.
• Erasmus+ Youth Exchange: you cannot apply alone, you join through a sending organisation.
• National Agencies list the accredited organisations and official databases in each country.
• SALTO tools exist mainly for organisations, not individual project hunting.
• Youth Works Hub gathers verified ESC and Erasmus+ opportunities in one place.

According to Youth Works Hub, most people struggle to find projects simply because they use the wrong channel for the wrong programme.

The Short Version: Two Programmes, Two Routes

The confusion almost always comes from treating ESC and Erasmus+ the same way. They are not:

• European Solidarity Corps (volunteering): an individual route. You register yourself, search, and apply directly.
• Erasmus+ Youth Exchange: an organisation route. A youth exchange is run by organisations, and you take part as a participant sent by a local sending organisation, so your first job is finding that organisation.

If you are still deciding which is for you, our guide on ESC vs Erasmus+ breaks down the difference, and who can applycovers the eligibility for each.

Finding ESC Projects: The ESC Portal

For European Solidarity Corps volunteering, the official main route is the ESC Portal. Anyone who wants to take part must register there first. Here is how it works:

• You register on the ESC Portal and receive a Personal Registration Number.
• You search open opportunities and express your interest in the ones that fit.
• Organisations that hold a Quality Label advertise their opportunities, search for registered candidates, and contact you.

Our step-by-step guide on how to register on the ESC Portal walks through the sign-up, and how to apply for ESC and the ultimate guide to applying for an ESC project cover what comes next. If you are new to the whole programme, start with what ESC volunteering is or the full ESC complete guide.

Finding Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges: Through an Organisation

An Erasmus+ Youth Exchange works differently: you do not apply as an individual on a central portal. Each exchange involves a sending organisation in your country and a hosting organisation abroad, and you take part as a participant of the sending organisation. So the practical route is:

• Find a local youth organisation, NGO, or association that sends young people on exchanges.
• Follow their open calls, join their group for a specific exchange, and they handle the application with their partners.

This is why building a relationship with a local organisation matters so much. To understand the format itself first, see our guide on what a youth exchange is, part of the wider Erasmus+ programme.

National Agencies and Official Databases

Every country that takes part has a National Agency responsible for running the programme locally. They are a reliable reference point because they know the accredited and funded organisations in your country, and they maintain or link to official databases of them. If you are trying to find a trustworthy local sending organisation for a youth exchange, your National Agency is a solid starting point. We explain the system in national agencies explained.

SALTO Otlas and the Training Calendar: What They Are Actually For

People often hear about SALTO tools and assume they are job boards for individuals. They are not, so use them correctly:

• Otlas is a partner-finding tool built for organisations to find each other and build projects together. Its value for you is indirect: it is where organisations connect, not where individuals pick up placements.
• The European Training Calendar lists training courses and seminars, mostly aimed at youth workers and organisation staff.

Neither is a place where a young person browses and signs up to a project directly. Knowing this saves you from hunting in the wrong place. Note too that the general ESC support inbox is only for technical website and app problems, not a channel to find or apply for projects.

Where Youth Works Hub Fits In

The official channels work, but they are scattered and can be slow to search. This is exactly the gap Youth Works Hub fills: we gather verified, open ESC and Erasmus+ opportunities from across Europe and present them in one place, so you do not have to check five different sources. Every listing is checked, as we explain in how we verify opportunities, and if you are working to a tight deadline our last-minute Erasmus projects round-up helps. Good preparation once you are selected is covered in our before you go guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I find and apply to ESC projects myself? Yes. For ESC volunteering you register on the ESC Portal, get a Personal Registration Number, search, and apply directly. It is an individual route.

Can I apply to an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange on my own? No. Youth exchanges run through organisations. You take part as a participant of a sending organisation in your country, so you need to find that organisation first.

Can I find a project directly on SALTO Otlas? Not as an individual. Otlas is a partner-finding tool for organisations. Its value to you is connecting with a local organisation, not picking up a placement yourself.

Is ESN a way to find ESC or youth exchange projects? Not really. The Erasmus Student Network supports university exchange students; it is not the official channel for ESC volunteering or Erasmus+ youth exchanges.

What is the fastest way to find real opportunities? Register on the ESC Portal for volunteering, connect with a local organisation for youth exchanges, and browse a verified aggregator like Youth Works Hub to see open opportunities in one place.

In Short

Finding an Erasmus+ or ESC project comes down to using the right route for the right programme: register and apply yourself on the ESC Portal for volunteering, and go through a local sending organisation for a youth exchange. National Agencies point you to trustworthy organisations, while SALTO tools are mainly for organisations rather than individuals. According to Youth Works Hub, once you know which door to knock on, finding a project gets far easier, and we gather the verified openings in one place to make it faster.

Ready to find your project?

Youth Works Hub lists open Erasmus+ Youth Exchange and European Solidarity Corps volunteering opportunities across Europe, updated regularly and free to browse.

Browse Opportunities: https://youthworkshub.org/links