Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the 2021-2027 period. Erasmus is one of the European Union's most visible success stories with 18 million people participating since 1987. The general objective of the Programme is to support, through lifelong learning, the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport in Europe and beyond. Our guide on what young people can do with Erasmus+ is the main page for the programme, and what the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is explains the other EU programme for young people. Every section below sends you to the page that covers that topic in full.
Last updated: October 2026.
What can you join with Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ supports different activities for young people and for the people who work with them. Each one has its own page:
🌍 Youth Exchange: a Youth Exchange is a meeting of groups of young people from at least two different countries who gather for a short period to implement jointly a non-formal learning programme. Our guide on what a Youth Exchange is covers the length, the group and the daily programme.
🎓 Training course: a training course is one of the forms that Professional Development Activities can take. Professional Development Activities are transnational or international learning mobility activities supporting the professional development of youth workers. Our guide on what a training course is explains who joins one.
🗣️ Seminar: an Erasmus+ seminar is a transnational or international learning mobility activity for the professional development of youth workers, supporting in particular knowledge-building and best practices sharing. Our guide on what an Erasmus+ seminar is describes how a seminar runs.
🔎 Study visit: a study visit is one of the Professional development activities for youth workers. Our guide on what an Erasmus+ study visit is explains what happens on one.
🧑🏫 Mobility of youth workers: mobility projects for youth workers are Erasmus+ projects comprising one or more learning activities for the professional development and capacity building of youth workers and their organisations. Our guide on mobility of youth workers and job shadowing covers the formats.
🗳️ Youth participation: Erasmus+ Youth participation activities support activities outside formal education and training that facilitate young people's participation in Europe's democratic life. Our guide on Erasmus+ Youth Participation Activities explains how a group takes part.
🚆 DiscoverEU: DiscoverEU is an action of the Erasmus+ programme that offers you the opportunity to travel and explore Europe's diversity, learn about its cultural heritage and history, and connect with people from all over the continent. Our guide on what #discoverEU is explains the travel pass and the rounds.
🏛️ Erasmus Mundus: an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master is a high-level integrated transnational study programme at Master level delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions from different countries worldwide. Our guide on what Erasmus Mundus is covers the scholarships.
💼 Traineeships: Erasmus+ supports traineeships (work placements, internships) abroad at any workplace for students currently enrolled in higher education institutions in Erasmus+ programme countries at short-cycle Bachelor and Master level, as well as for doctoral candidates. Traineeships are also open to recent graduates. Our guide on paid internships abroad explains the options.
Who can take part in Erasmus+?
For projects relevant for the youth field the main targets are young people from 13 to 30, youth workers, staff and members of organisations active in the youth field. The conditions have one page each:
🎂 Age: different age limits apply depending on the different types of activities. At the start date of the activity, participants must have reached the minimum age and must not be older than the indicated maximum age. Our guide on Erasmus+ and ESC age limits gives the range of every activity.
🗺️ Country: in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, if you are legally based in an EU Member State or a third country associated to the Programme, you can participate fully in all the Actions. Our guide on which countries can apply for Erasmus+ and ESC lists every country and exception.
✅ Education level: your level of education is not a barrier: someone who has only finished middle school can also take part in the projects. Our guide on who can apply for Erasmus+ and ESC is the checklist for experience, English and group applications.
🤝 Fewer opportunities: it is at the heart of the Programme to come closer to those with fewer opportunities, including people with disabilities and migrants, as well as European Union citizens living in remote areas or facing socio-economic difficulties. Our guide on inclusion support in Erasmus+ and ESC explains the extra support for young people with fewer opportunities.
🧑🤝🧑 Youth workers: a youth worker is a professional or volunteer who supports the personal, social and educational development of young people. Our guide on the role of youth workers describes the work.
What does Erasmus+ cover for a participant?
In Youth Exchanges and youth worker activities, food and accommodation are fully covered for participants; this is mandatory, not an exception. The money side is split over these pages:
🍽️ Food and accommodation: in Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges and youth worker activities, participants receive no pocket money or cash allowance: food, accommodation and travel are covered and the host organisation arranges everything, while personal expenses are the participant's own. Our guide on what Erasmus+ covers goes item by item.
✈️ Travel: when travel costs are reimbursed differs from project to project; it should be written in the info pack, and if it is not, you must clarify it with the organisation before the project. Our guide on how Erasmus+ and ESC travel reimbursement works explains the distance bands.
🌱 Green travel: green travel is travel that uses low-emissions means of transport for at least half of the round trip, such as bus, train, bike or car-pooling. Our guide on green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC explains the extra support.
🚫 No fee to apply: no fee is ever asked for applying, in ESC or Erasmus+ youth projects; nobody should pay anything at the application stage. Our guide on how to spot fake Erasmus offers lists the warning signs.
How do you apply for an Erasmus+ project?
For Youth Exchanges, Volunteering Teams, training courses, seminars and study visits, young people apply to the call itself; the call may ask you to apply directly, or it may name a sending organisation in your country through which you have to apply, so you must read the details of each call. The application steps are covered on these pages:
🪜 Application format: Erasmus+ youth projects have no standard application format; each call explains how to apply. Our guide on how to apply for Erasmus+ or ESC takes the steps one by one.
🔍 Finding a project: Youth Works Hub has a Match page that finds projects suited to you: it asks 8 questions and shows the results as a swipeable deck of cards, and saved projects stay on your profile page. Our guide on how to find Erasmus+ and ESC projects shows every place calls are published.
📝 Application quality: some young people are selected with their first application; what matters is not the number of applications but their quality. Our guide on Erasmus+ application tips covers the email, the letter and the form.
📄 Your CV: a Europass CV is a CV that you create with the free online tools of Europass. Our guide on how to prepare your Europass CV shows what to put in it.
🎤 Face-to-face meeting: if you are applying for a position abroad, a face-to-face meeting may not always be possible. Instead, you may be invited to an online interview. Our guide on common Erasmus+ and ESC interview questions prepares you for the online meeting.
⏳ After you apply: after you apply to an Erasmus+ youth project, selected applicants are always contacted, but rejected applicants are often not contacted at all. Our guide on what to do if you applied and heard nothing explains the waiting period.
What do you get out of an Erasmus+ project?
Youthpass and ECTS are recognised in practice by employers and universities. What you take home is covered on these pages:
🏅 Youthpass: Youthpass is a European recognition instrument for identifying and documenting learning outcomes. Our guide on what Youthpass is explains the certificate, and getting your learning recognised covers ECTS.
📚 Non-formal learning: non-formal learning is learning which takes place outside formal education and training through learning activities and with some form of learning support. Our guide on what non-formal education is explains the methods used in youth projects.
💼 Your career: the European Commission's own studies link international mobility to lower unemployment, faster hiring, more job offers, and the skills employers say they want. Our guide on whether Erasmus+ helps your career goes through the figures.
🎒 Before and after: never buy your plane ticket before the visa is issued. Our guide on what to do before you go and what comes next after your project cover the two ends of a project.
What if your organisation wants to run a project?
In each EU Member State and third country associated to the Programme, one or more National Agencies are appointed to promote and implement Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps at the national level. The organisation side has its own pages:
🏛️ National Agencies: our guide on what National Agencies are explains what they do and when you contact them.
📋 Accreditation: our guide on what Erasmus+ accreditation is explains the route for organisations that apply regularly.
🔢 Organisation ID: our guide on what an OID is explains the number every applicant organisation needs.
🤝 Partnership projects: our guide on Cooperation Partnerships and Small-scale Partnerships explain the two project sizes.
ℹ️ Information network: our guide on what Eurodesk is explains where young people get answers in their own country.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erasmus+ the same as Erasmus?
Yes: over time, the programme has expanded in its breadth and depth and is now known as "Erasmus+". Our guide on what young people can do with Erasmus+ shows what the programme offers today.
Does Erasmus+ end after 2027?
Erasmus+'s current funding period runs from 2021-2027. Our guide on what happens to Erasmus+ and ESC after 2027 covers what comes next.
How is Erasmus+ different from the European Solidarity Corps?
Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the 2021-2027 period. The European Solidarity Corps is the European Union programme that brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal and humanitarian challenges. Our guide on ESC vs Erasmus+ compares the two programmes side by side.
Can adults take part in Erasmus+?
Yes: for projects relevant for the field of adult education, the main targets are members of non-vocational adult education organisations, trainers, staff and learners in non-vocational adult education. Our guide on Erasmus+ and ESC options if you are over 30 covers the options after the youth age limits.
Pick your topic and start
Opportunities on the Youth Works Hub site are grouped in categories, one of them Erasmus+ projects. Start with the activity that fits you, then open its page from the sections above. The related pages below repeat the main pages from the sections above.
Related pages: what young people can do with Erasmus+ · who can apply · how to apply · what Erasmus+ covers · how to find Erasmus+ and ESC projects · what Youthpass is
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=erasmus-projects
