Erasmus+ surpasses 2 million participants in 2025 and opens up to 45 non-EU countries
In 2025, Erasmus+ crossed the threshold of 2 million annual participants. This is double the figure from 2014, the year the program was reformed and endowed with a budget of 26.2 billion euros for the 2021-2027 period. Since its creation in 1987, Erasmus+ has trained 14 million people in 45 countries.
These figures reflect a continuous expansion of the program, which has progressively broadened beyond university students to include apprentices, teachers, youth workers, and adults in vocational training.
---
A program that has changed dimension
The original Erasmus program, launched in 1987, exclusively concerned university students. It allowed them to spend a semester at a partner university in another European country, with a monthly grant and exemption from tuition fees at the host institution.
In 2014, the Erasmus+ reform merged several distinct programs (Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci for vocational training, Comenius for teachers, Grundtvig for adult education) into a single integrated program. This merger enabled the creation of synergies and an increase in the overall budget.
The 2021-2027 budget of 26.2 billion euros represents an 80% increase compared to the previous period (14.7 billion for 2014-2020). This increase reflects the EU's priority given to education and mobility in its competitiveness strategy.
For 2026, the program guide foresees grant rates of 400 euros per month for study mobilities and 550 euros per month for traineeships. These amounts are supplemented by additional funds for low-income students, people with disabilities, and participants from remote regions.
---
Opening to the world: 45 partner countries
One of the most significant developments of Erasmus+ since 2021 is its opening to non-EU countries. The KA171 program (Key Action 171) funds mobilities between European universities and partner universities worldwide.
In 2025, more than 45 non-EU countries participated in Erasmus+ mobilities, including countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. This opening allows African or Asian students to come and study in Europe with an Erasmus grant, and European students to go to these regions.
The KA171 program is still limited in volume compared to intra-European mobilities, but it is growing rapidly. In 2024, mobilities to and from Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 35% compared to 2022. French, Spanish, and Portuguese universities are the most active in these partnerships.
This opening responds to a demand from European employers, who seek graduates with international experience in emerging markets. It also responds to a demand from partner universities in the Global South, who see Erasmus+ as a lever for strengthening their capacities.
---
Short-term mobilities: an innovation to broaden access
One of the traditional criticisms of Erasmus+ was that the standard format, a semester abroad, was inaccessible for many students: the cost of accommodation in the host city, the inability to maintain a part-time job, family or personal difficulties.
To address this criticism, Erasmus+ developed "short-term mobilities" (Blended Intensive Programmes, BIP). These programs combine a short period of physical mobility (5 to 30 days) with an online component before and after the stay. They allow students who cannot leave for a semester to still benefit from a structured international experience.
In 2024, BIPs accounted for 18% of Erasmus+ mobilities in higher education, compared to 5% in 2021. Growth is rapid, particularly in vocational fields and short-term training. Students in BTS (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur), professional bachelor's degrees, and professional master's degrees are the main beneficiaries of this format.
Universities that have developed BIPs report that these programs reach audiences who would never have participated in long-term mobility: working students, parents of young children, students with disabilities.
---
Erasmus+ for vocational training: the poor relation becomes a priority
For a long time, Erasmus+ for Vocational Education and Training (VET) was the poor relation of the program. Apprentices and vocational high school students participated much less than university students.
Since 2021, the European Commission has made VET mobility an explicit priority. The budget allocated to vocational training has increased by 40% compared to the previous period. Specific initiatives have been launched to facilitate the mobility of apprentices, notably by simplifying administrative procedures and increasing grants.
In 2024, 150,000 vocational training learners participated in an Erasmus+ mobility, compared to 100,000 in 2019. The Commission's goal is to reach 200,000 per year by 2027.
Apprentice mobility has specific characteristics. It is generally shorter (2 to 12 weeks), more focused on acquiring practical skills, and more dependent on cooperation between host companies in both countries. The most active sectors are hospitality-catering, crafts, digital technology, and care professions.
For apprentices, an experience abroad can have a significant impact on employability. A study by the European Training Foundation (ETF) published in 2024 shows that apprentices who completed an Erasmus+ mobility find employment 20% faster than those who did not, and have initial salaries 8% higher on average.
---
Teachers: 80,000 mobilities per year
Erasmus+ also funds the mobility of teachers and trainers. In 2024, 80,000 primary, secondary, and higher education teachers participated in an Erasmus+ mobility for observation placements, training, or exchanges of practices.
These mobilities have a multiplier effect: a teacher returning from an Erasmus+ mobility shares their experiences with their students and colleagues. Studies show that classes whose teacher participated in an Erasmus+ mobility have slightly higher results in language skills and intercultural openness.
Teacher mobility is particularly developed in Nordic countries and Germany, where it is integrated into institutions' continuing training plans. In France, it remains less systematic, but the Erasmus+ France Agency launched a specific incentive program in 2025 for institutions in priority education networks (REP and REP+).
---
The housing challenge: a structural impediment
The expansion of Erasmus+ faces a structural obstacle: the housing crisis in major European university cities. The European University Association (EUA) published an alarming report in February 2026 on the availability and cost of housing for mobile students.
In Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Dublin, and Copenhagen, the cost of a room in a university residence or shared accommodation often exceeds 800 to 1,200 euros per month. The Erasmus+ grant (400 euros for studies, 550 for traineeships) covers only a fraction of this cost. 35% of Erasmus+ participants state that their grant is insufficient to cover their living expenses, according to a survey by the European Association for International Education (EAIE) published in 2025.
This situation creates selection by income: students who can afford to supplement their grant with their own resources or those of their family leave, while others stay. This is the main factor of inequality in access to Erasmus+ mobility.
Several solutions are under consideration. The European Commission plans to condition part of the European structural funds on the construction of student housing in university cities. Some universities have developed reciprocity agreements to guarantee places in residences for their incoming students. Platforms connecting students with host families are also developing.
---
The proposal for Erasmus+ 2028-2034: 60 billion euros
In February 2026, associations representing European universities and students published a joint proposal for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034). They are requesting a budget of at least 60 billion euros for Erasmus+, more than double the current budget.
This proposal is based on an evaluation of the economic and social impact of Erasmus+. According to this evaluation, every euro invested in Erasmus+ generates 3.5 euros in economic benefits, in terms of productivity, innovation, and social cohesion. The 14 million participants since 1987 have contributed to creating a European educational area where degrees are increasingly recognized and career paths are increasingly mobile.
The proposal also includes specific measures to improve equitable access: increased grants for low-income students, development of short-term mobilities, and extension to high school students and adults in professional retraining.
The final decision on the Erasmus+ 2028-2034 budget will be made within the framework of negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework, scheduled for 2027. Negotiations are expected to be difficult, given the pressure on European budgets related to defense spending and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
---
What mobility changes for individuals
Beyond the statistics, studies on the individual impact of Erasmus+ mobility show lasting effects. A longitudinal study by the European Commission, published in 2023 and covering 80,000 former participants, shows that:
Former Erasmus+ participants have an unemployment rate 23% lower than their non-mobile peers five years after graduation. They are 40% more likely to hold positions with international responsibilities. 64% state that their Erasmus+ experience had a significant impact on their personal development.
These effects are more pronounced for participants from less privileged backgrounds, who benefit more from exposure to other cultures and educational systems. This is the main argument for justifying increased grants and the development of short-term mobilities: the impact is there, we just need to ensure it is accessible to the greatest number.
---
What mobility concretely changes
Studies on the impact of Erasmus mobility converge on several points. Participants improve their foreign language proficiency: 77% of participants report having improved their level in at least one foreign language during their mobility. They develop intercultural skills and an ability to work in diverse environments, which are increasingly valued by employers.
The effects on employment are also measurable. A 2024 European Commission study shows that former Erasmus participants have an unemployment rate 5 percentage points lower than their non-mobile peers, five years after graduation. They are also more likely to work in another European country (23% vs. 8%) and to hold positions with international responsibility.
The effects on values and attitudes are perhaps the most important in the long term. Former Erasmus participants are more likely to consider themselves European citizens (64% vs. 38%), to vote in European elections, and to support European integration policies. In a context of rising nationalism, this effect of building a common European identity is invaluable.
New initiatives to broaden access
Facing the identified obstacles, several initiatives have been launched to make student mobility more accessible. In France, the Erasmus+ France Agency developed a specific program in 2025 for institutions in priority education networks (REP and REP+). This program funds short-term mobilities (5 to 15 days) for final-year high school students, with full coverage of transport and accommodation costs. In 2025, 3,200 high school students from REP+ institutions benefited from this program, compared to 800 in 2022.
The European Commission also launched the "Erasmus+ for All" program in 2025, which aims to triple the number of participants from disadvantaged backgrounds by 2027. This program increases grants for scholarship students (from 400 to 600 euros per month), simplifies administrative procedures, and develops partnerships with student aid associations.
Recognition of skills acquired through mobility is another important lever. The ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) allows for the automatic recognition of credits obtained in partner universities. However, in vocational training, recognition remains more difficult. Work is underway to develop an equivalent system for apprentices (ECVET), which would allow for the recognition of skills acquired during a mobility as part of an apprenticeship contract.
Sources
1. Erasmus+ France Agency, "Review of a pivotal year in 2025 and perspectives for Erasmus+ in 2026", December 2025, agence.erasmusplus.fr
2. European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, November 2025, erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu
3. European University Association (EUA), report on student housing, February 2026, eua.eu
4. EAIE, "Stepping into 2025: reflections from the Erasmus Generation", January 2025, eaie.org
5. European Training Foundation (ETF), study on the impact of VET mobilities, 2024
6. European Commission, longitudinal study on the impact of Erasmus+, 2023
7. The Guild, "Higher education sector proposes joint amendments", February 2026, the-guild.eu
