The official 2026 Erasmus+ traineeship grant table
The European Commission sets a funding ceiling for each country group. National agencies (DAAD in Germany, SEPIE in Spain, Agence Erasmus+ France Education Formation in France, Nationaal Agentschap Erasmus+ in the Netherlands) then set the actual per-student amounts within that ceiling. The table below reflects the amounts in effect for mobility starting in academic year 2025/26 and continuing through 2026.
How to read this table: Find your sending country in the left column. The amounts shown are the monthly grant in EUR depending on whether your destination is a Group 1 (higher-cost), Group 2 (medium-cost), or Group 3 (lower-cost) country.
| Sending Country | To Group 1 destination (EUR/month) | To Group 2 destination (EUR/month) | To Group 3 destination (EUR/month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 sending countries (DE, AT, DK, FI, FR, IE, IS, IT, LI, LU, NL, NO, SE) | n/a (same group) | 500-600 | 400-500 |
| Group 2 sending countries (BE, CY, CZ, EE, GR, HR, HU, LT, LV, MT, PL, PT, RO, SI, SK, ES, TR) | 600-700 | 500-600 | 350-450 |
| Group 3 sending countries (BG, MK, ME, RS, XK) | 650-750 | 550-650 | n/a (same group) |
Group 1 destinations (highest cost): Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom (via Turing Scheme).
Group 2 destinations (medium cost): Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland (via SEMP/Movetia).
Group 3 destinations (lower cost): Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey.
Important: These are the European Commission grant ceilings. Your national agency may set amounts slightly below the ceiling depending on their annual budget allocation. Always confirm the exact amount with your university's international office before accepting a placement -- amounts can vary by EUR 50-100/month from the table above.
What does the Erasmus+ traineeship grant cover?
The Erasmus+ grant is described by the Commission as a "contribution to the costs of the mobility" -- it is not intended to cover 100% of your expenses, and it does not. What it is meant to cover:
- Stipend purpose: Bridging the difference in cost of living between your home city and your destination city. A German student from Leipzig going to London has a larger cost gap than the same student going to Warsaw -- hence the country group system.
- Top-up rules: Students from disadvantaged backgrounds (defined by low family income, disability, or parental education level) receive an additional EUR 250/month on top of the standard grant. This top-up is applied automatically if you qualify and declare it in your application.
- Travel grant: In addition to the monthly stipend, Erasmus+ provides a one-off travel grant based on distance (calculated using the Erasmus+ distance calculator). Amounts range from EUR 180 (100-499 km) to EUR 1,500 (over 8,000 km for participants from EU outermost regions).
- What it does not cover: The grant does not cover visa fees, language courses, or accommodation deposits, although some national agencies provide additional top-ups for these costs. It also does not replace an internship salary -- you can and should negotiate a company stipend on top of your Erasmus+ grant.
Eligibility: who can apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship?
The eligibility rules are set at EU level and apply uniformly across all Erasmus+ programme countries:
- Enrolled students: Any student enrolled at a university in an Erasmus+ programme country, regardless of their nationality, can apply. A Brazilian student at KU Leuven is fully eligible.
- Recent graduates: Graduates can apply up to 12 months after their graduation date, provided the traineeship was applied for while they were still enrolled. The traineeship must start and end within that 12-month window.
- Duration: A minimum of 2 months (60 days) and a maximum of 12 months per study cycle. You can do multiple Erasmus+ periods (study + traineeship) but the total funded time per cycle (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate) cannot exceed 12 months.
- Host country: Any Erasmus+ programme country except your own home country. Students from the Netherlands cannot do an Erasmus+ traineeship in the Netherlands, but can go to any of the other 32+ programme countries.
For career services teams and university mobility coordinators: our platform provides a structured onboarding flow for students applying for Erasmus+ traineeships, including a Living Profile template that satisfies the Learning Agreement requirements. You can read more about how the Living Profile works and how it reduces administrative burden for coordinators managing large cohorts of trainees.
How to apply through your university
There is no direct application to the European Commission or to any national agency. All Erasmus+ traineeship applications go through the student's home university. The process:
- Find a host organisation. The host must be a legally registered entity in a programme country. Companies do not need to be accredited. Your university may have a list of approved partners, or you can approach companies directly.
- Apply to your international office. Submit a traineeship application to your university's Erasmus+ coordinator or international office with the host company's details, your proposed dates, and a draft Learning Agreement.
- Sign the Learning Agreement. This three-party document (student, home university, host company) describes the work you will do, confirms its relevance to your studies, and sets the conditions for grant payment. It must be signed before your traineeship starts.
- Receive the grant agreement. Your university issues a grant agreement specifying the monthly amount. The first installment (typically 70-80% of the total) is paid before departure; the remainder after you submit your Traineeship Certificate and Europass Mobility document at the end.
- Complete the OLS language assessment. Erasmus+ participants are required to take an Online Language Support assessment before and after the mobility period. It does not affect your grant but is mandatory.
Coordinator note: For universities looking to place students efficiently with verified companies, our platform integrates directly with the Learning Agreement workflow. Students who arrive with a Living Profile require significantly less coordinator time to match -- register your organisation to explore the coordinator dashboard.
Erasmus+ traineeship vs Erasmus+ study: key differences
| Dimension | Erasmus+ Traineeship | Erasmus+ Study (KA131) |
|---|---|---|
| Host organisation | Company, NGO, research institute, public body | Partner university only |
| Duration | 2-12 months | 3-12 months |
| Grant level | Same country-group table (see above) | Same country-group table |
| Credit recognition | Via Learning Agreement (not ECTS, but workload equivalent) | Full ECTS via Transcript of Records |
| Can combine with salary | Yes -- company may pay additional stipend | N/A (university setting) |
| Counts toward 12-month cycle cap | Yes | Yes |
| Available to recent graduates | Yes (within 12 months) | No |
Frequently asked questions
Can I do Erasmus+ at a company, not a university?
Yes. Erasmus+ traineeships are specifically designed for placements at companies, organisations, and institutions. The host can be any legally registered organisation in an Erasmus+ programme country: a company, NGO, research institute, or government body. There is no accreditation requirement for the host.
Do I need a language certificate for Erasmus+ traineeship?
No formal language certificate is required. The European Commission's Online Language Support (OLS) platform offers free language courses to Erasmus+ participants. Your university may have internal requirements -- check with your international office.
Is the Erasmus+ traineeship grant taxable income?
In most EU member states, Erasmus+ grants are exempt from income tax as they are classified as scholarships. In Germany, they are tax-free under paragraph 3 EStG. In Spain, they are treated as becas and exempt. Check the specific rules in your home country.
Can I work part-time alongside my Erasmus+ traineeship?
Yes, in most cases. The Erasmus+ grant does not prevent you from receiving a company internship salary or part-time income in the host country, subject to local visa rules. Many Erasmus+ trainees receive both the grant and a company stipend.
What happens if I leave the Erasmus+ traineeship early?
If you leave voluntarily, your home university will typically request repayment for uncompleted months. If you leave due to force majeure (illness, bereavement, host company closure), the national agency can grant an exemption. Always notify your international office immediately.
Who pays the Erasmus+ traineeship grant?
Your home university pays you, not the host company. The funding chain runs: European Commission to national agency to university to student. The host company may choose to pay an additional internship stipend -- that is entirely separate from the Erasmus+ grant.
Can recently graduated students apply for Erasmus+ traineeship?
Yes. Graduates can undertake a traineeship within 12 months of graduation, provided the traineeship was applied for while still enrolled. Apply to your university before your graduation ceremony, not after.
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