How to get an Erasmus grant?

What is an Erasmus grant?

It is one of the major programmes of the European National Commission so far and allows students to go and study in another European country. Without having to pay registration fees or similar costs at the host university or college. So how do you get your Erasmus grant?

Erasmus grants have a minimum duration of 3 months and can be up to a maximum of 12 months, from a four-month period to a full year. It is important to know that, a person can go on several exchanges, as long as their total period does not exceed the limit of 12 months.

During this period, the Erasmus student will continue to study and get his degree, with the peculiarity of doing it in another country and in another language. On their return to their home university, the subjects taken in the Erasmus+ programme will be validated by the corresponding subjects in their university.

Who can apply for an Erasmus grant?

Any citizen who is a national of an European Union country or of any country participating in the Erasmus+ programme, such as Norway or Switzerland, can apply for an Erasmus grant. In addition, there are different types of scholarships, both for professional training students, undergraduate, graduate or master studies.

There are minimum requirements for university students, which you should know about:

• To be at least in the second year of the University (to be able to leave for Erasmus in the 3rd or 4th year).

• To have passed a minimum number of credits. You should check with your University because it will depend on whether you are going to take an Erasmus course in the 3rd or 4th year.

• Language level to be certified. Depending on the host University, you will be required to have a language level that you must certify. However, there are many destinations where you do not need to have a minimum level, such as Universities in Italy and Portugal.

• Not to have exceeded the limit of 12 months in Erasmus exchanges prior to the one requested.

5 steps to apply for an Erasmus grant

1. Application for an Erasmus exchange:

The first thing you should do is to contact your international relations office in advance or search for information on the University's website to find out what the deadlines are for applying for the Erasmus+ programme. Once you are clear about this, you can move on to the second point.

 2. Present the right documents:

You must present apart from your application, a series of documents or minimum requirements to be eligible for the Erasmus plus grant such as

• Academic record

• Average grade

• Credits passed

• Language certificate

• Others (depending on the University)

3. Provisional and final lists:

Once all the necessary information has been submitted, the Universities draw up a provisional list which, following complaints and corrections, they will draft a definitive list. This list contains all students who have applied for Erasmus in your faculty ordered by score and priority of choice of  Erasmus destination.

4. Choosing Erasmus destination:

The most exciting day of all arrives, when you will finally discover where you are going to live your Erasmus experience. The list begins to run and the destinations are eliminated as they are being assigned, so we recommend you make a list with the destinations you like most, in order of preference, so that you can make a good choice when it’s your turn. Destinations are assigned according to the previous list ordered by score of applicants.

Once you have chosen your destination, you must sign the acceptance of admission to the Erasmus plus programme with your international relations office.

Erasmus Play has compiled a list of the best Erasmus 2020 destinations, which can help you in your choice of destination.

5. Application Form and Learning Agreement:

Before you move to your Erasmus city, you will have to send the Application Form to the host University, in which you will formalise the destination you have been given.

Finally, you will have to prepare the most important document for all Erasmus students, the famous Learning Agreement. Where you will fill in the subjects that you are going to validate in your Erasmus+ programme. Meaning, the subjects that you are going to take at the host university that are validated as subjects from your home university. Don't worry too much if your class schedule coincides in the host university. You will be able to modify the Learning Agreement once you are at your host university.

Total amount of the Erasmus scholarship

Every Erasmus student is entitled to receive financial support from the European National Commission, which will partially cover the costs of Erasmus stay, travel and accommodation. The total amount of the grant can range from 170€ to 520€ per month and will depend on different factors:

• Country of home university (low, medium, high cost of living).

• Country of host university (low, medium, higher cost of living).

• Total duration of the Erasmus.

Our recommendation is that you directly ask international relations office of your university or direct research on the website of your university, as it will be much easier to find the exact amount for each host country and the maximum duration of the financial aid. Also, you can consult all the information on the European Commission's website, but it will take more time.

In addition to the aid from the European Commission, there are different financial aids from other organisations, depending on the city/country where you live and the city/country where you are going on your Erasmus. In this case, from Erasmus Play team, we recommend talking directly to your assigned Erasmus mentor, so that he/she can explain in a simple way what extra financial aids are there and how you can apply for it.