When people hear ‘Erasmus’, they picture this: a student living abroad for a semester or a year, making friends from all over Europe and the world. But it is more than that!
The Erasmus+ programme offers a whole range of opportunities, and finding the right one can make all the difference for you! That's why, in this article, I will share with you the different options to enjoy Erasmus!
Study Mobility
It’s the most well-known experience within the programme. You spend one or two semesters at a partner university abroad, earning credits that count towards your degree back home.
Beyond the academic experience, you’ll fully immerse yourself in a new city with a new university system and with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), which stays with you long after you return. ESN is not only for exchange students but also for trainees, Erasmus Mundus students and Youth Exchanges participants.
Erasmus+ Traineeship
Another possibility offered by Erasmus+ is the opportunity to live abroad while doing an internship in another EU country, gaining professional experience while living in a new city, learning a new language or improving your skills while benefiting from the opportunity to improve your CV.
Here is how it works:
1. Find a host organisation in an EU country that matches your field of study.
2. Apply through your university to get the Erasmus+ grant.
3. Move abroad and gain professional experience while immersing yourself in a new city and culture.
Erasmus Mundus
It’s a scholarship-based programme for Master’s students, which offers the opportunity to study in multiple universities across different countries within a single degree. It can be really demanding, but it might also become an amazing experience for those who are open to trying something different than “just” doing an exchange in another country.
Youth Exchanges
The main aim of Youth Exchanges is to bring young people from different countries together under a shared theme, like arts, environment, social issues and more. It’s open to everyone up to the age of 30, and it is a great first step towards an international experience without the need to move abroad for months.
European Solidarity Corps
The European Solidarity Corps lets you volunteer abroad for between a few weeks and a year. It’s fully funded and open to people up to 30 years of age. It’s less focused on career building and more on giving back to society while living an experience that will stay with you for a long time.
So, which one is right for you?
It really depends on your goals, and we would recommend taking some time to reflect and ask yourself questions about whether you want to study or have an internship and whether to move for a short or long time.
If you don’t know if you are made for a longer experience, you could start with a youth exchange or with the European Solidarity Corps!
Don’t hesitate to do some research about the different opportunities that the Erasmus+ programmes offer and talk to students at your university who may have already experienced some of those opportunities!
