(11 July 2014) – The latest Erasmus statistics released by the European Commission yesterday reveal that nearly 270 000 students – a new record – benefitted from EU grants to study or train abroad in 2012-2013.
While studying at another university continues to be the most popular choice, one in five students (55 000) opted for Erasmus job placements in companies. The three most popular destinations for Erasmus students in 2012-2013 were Spain, Germany and France. Countries sending the highest number of students as a proportion of their graduate population were Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Finland, Latvia and Spain.
The statistics show that the average Erasmus grant, designed to cover part of the costs of living abroad and travel, was €272 per month, a 9% increase on the previous year (€250). The grant is topped up in some countries by national, regional or institutional funds.
The new Erasmus+ programme will provide grants for 4 million people, including 2 million higher education students and 300 000 staff over the next seven years (2014-2020). It will also fund 135 000 student and staff exchanges between Europe and partner countries worldwide.
The expanded programme, which includes Erasmus and similar mobility schemes for other groups including apprentices and volunteers, puts more emphasis on linguistic support, more flexible rules for grants, as well as specific additional support for people with special needs, from disadvantaged backgrounds and remote areas.