Want to go on Erasmus+? Step-by-step guide that opens Europe's doors for you to study or work

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(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing Editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture: ©Matthew Ansley via Unsplash)

'Erasmus+' is one of the strongest projects ever created by the European Union, because it invests directly in you and your future. From your first study trip to a traineeship, from a youth exchange of a few days to an international master's degree: Erasmus+ is designed to accompany you at different times of your life and not at a single stage.

Are you ready to go?

What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ is an EU program for education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It was founded in 1987 under the name Erasmus and has been called Erasmus+ since 2014. It's the best known of European-funded programs for mobility between Member States. A record confirmed by its numbers: more than 16 million people have been involved in the program since 1987.

The name Erasmus is the acronym for European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, and at the same time refers to Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, the great Dutch humanist who traveled all over Europe to get to know the different cultures better.

Why take part in Erasmus+?

Because it lets you experience Europe from the moment you take a train to another country, or when you learn a language locally by coming into contact with other boys and girls, or when you share a house with people of dozens of nationalities, or when you participate in a social or environmental project. At that point, Europe stops being far away and becomes your home.

It helps you get to know the world and grow, it makes you better prepared for the job market, more open and independent. It's committed to inclusion, but also focuses heavily on the green and digital transition, encouraging sustainable travel and projects that are about the environment and the future.

What you need to know: it's not something reserved only for university students. Erasmus+ is there for students, for young people who aren't following traditional pathways, for associations, schools, organizations and informal groups. It's a huge network that connects education, work, rights and sustainability.

Want to go abroad with Erasmus+? This is where you start

At the heart of Erasmus+'s individual mobility opportunities is Key Action 1, or KA1. This is the pillar that enables people to physically go to another country for a period of study, internship or non-formal learning.

KA1 is not a 'counter program' for individuals: in most cases, it's organizations, schools, universities, youth associations or local governments that submit projects. These organizations then select participants and guide them before, during and after the experience.

1) If you are studying at university

The starting point is always your university's website, especially the International Office or Erasmus service. Each university publishes its own internal calls, with destinations, conditions and specific deadlines. The European deadlines are the framework, but the selection of students takes place at the university level.

What you need to do specifically: follow your university's website (or ask directly at the Erasmus office).

2) If you are not studying at university (or looking for something else)

This is where the lesser-known but huge part of Erasmus+ comes in. There's a wide array of opportunities, especially for young people: youth exchanges (even of several days), international training programs, educational projects, internships and mobility projects. In these cases, the projects are managed by associations, youth organizations, NGOs, schools and local authorities. You don't submit a project: you apply as a participant.

Where can you find Erasmus+ opportunities? You can start here:

- Consult youth.europa.eu to understand what types of Erasmus+ mobility there are.

- Check erasmusplus.it to see how the program works in Italy.

- Use the Portale dei Giovani for a clear and translated overview of the different opportunities.

- Find concrete opportunities on Eurodesk.it or through the Eurodesk Opportunity Finder.

- Check the SALTO Youth calendar for international courses and training activities.

- Apply: contact the organization or association coordinating the project and sign up as a participant.

3) Long and structured pathways: Erasmus Mundus

If you're thinking of a high-quality international academic path, there are also the Erasmus Mundus masters which are joint programs of universities from different countries. They are selective pathways with specific admission criteria, but they are among the most complete opportunities within the program.

Erasmus+ is not just leaving

KA1 is the best-known Erasmus+ action, but not the only one. The program works with several Key Actions, each developed for different objectives.

KA2 - Cooperation between organizations

Key Action 2 lets organizations and institutions from different countries work together. It's the action that allows schools, universities, associations, institutions and NGOs to work together in Europe. So in this case, you do not start as individuals, but develop joint projects, exchange good practices and strengthen organizations, even those that are small or have less experience.

KA3 - Supporting European policies.

This action focuses on the public policy level and thus works at a broader level: it serves to improve European policies around education, training and youth, by promoting dialogue between institutions, states and civil society.

In short, if KA1 lets you leave, KA2 and KA3 grow the projects and policies that make Erasmus+ possible.

Understanding is a step forward

If you haven't yet set out on Erasmus+, it may only be because you haven't yet come across the right opportunity. Erasmus+ does not follow a single route: it consists of universities, associations, institutions and diverse projects, each with its own timing and ways of working. Taking some time to understand how it works is already a first concrete step. The rest is often closer than you think.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the Representation of the European Commission in Italy. Neither the European Union nor the providing body can be held responsible for them.

(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing Editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture: ©Matthew Ansley via Unsplash)