Higher education

Why take part in Erasmus+?

Higher education institutions in the UK can build stronger ties with European partners and expand international networks, through opportunities to travel abroad for staff and students and strategic partnerships to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

What opportunities are available?

Mobility projects (Key Action 1)

Learners and staff can gain international experience and develop future-ready skills with funding for placements abroad. Applications for mobility projects are managed by the National Agency.

Opportunities for learners

  • Study period: A student from a UK university can complete a study period at a higher education institution abroad as part of their degree programme. Study periods should last between two months and one year, excluding travel time. Study periods abroad could include a traineeship as well, but the total mobility period shouldn’t be longer than one year.
  • Traineeship: A student from a UK university can undertake a traineeship abroad in a relevant workplace. Where possible, this should be an integrated part of their study programme. Traineeships should last between two and 12 months, excluding travel time.
  • Doctoral mobility: PhD students at UK universities can undertake study periods abroad, lasting between five and 30 days or two and 12 months. Doctoral mobilities can include a complementary traineeship, as long as the total maximum duration is not exceeded.
  • Blended mobility: All physical mobilities can be carried out as a blended mobility. This means combining physical mobilities with virtual components such as collaborative online learning exchange or teamwork. Students can also participate in blended intensive programmes, which are short programmes involving innovative learning and teaching methods. The physical component of a blended intensive programme must be between five and 30 days for learners, but there is no minimum duration for the virtual element.

Opportunities for staff

  • Teaching period: Teaching staff at a UK higher education institution or enterprise can teach at a partner higher education institution abroad. Teaching activities can be combined with training activities as part of the same staff mobility period. The total duration of staff mobilities, in most cases, must be between two and 60 consecutive days.
  • Training period: Any staff at a UK higher education institution can undertake training abroad at a partner higher education institution, enterprise, or any other relevant workplace, as long as it is relevant to their work. This could include training events, job shadowing and observation periods, but excludes conferences. Training activities can be combined with teaching activities as part of the same staff mobility period. The total duration of staff mobilities, in most cases, must be between two and 60 consecutive days, although the Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets out certain minor exceptions.
  • Blended mobility: Any staff teaching or training period abroad could be a blended mobility. The physical component of a blended intensive programme must be between five and 30 days for most staff, and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets out certain minor exceptions.

Partnerships (Key Action 2)

UK higher education institutions can build partnerships with HEIs in other countries to improve the quality of education provision or collaborate on joint research projects.

Co-operation partnerships

These partnerships are for larger projects with at least three organisations from different countries. The projects should run for between one and three years. Funding of up to €400,000 is available.

Partnerships for Excellence

These partnerships include Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters and European Universities Initiative alliances

Alliances for Innovation

These projects support stronger cooperation between the higher education sector, businesses and the broader socio-economic environment. They have a duration of between two and four years and involve multiple partners from at least four countries.

Capacity building projects

Higher education institutions can apply directly for Erasmus+ funding or through a consortium of higher education institutions.

Policy development and cooperation (Key Action 3) and Jean Monnet actions

Universities can also apply for funding under Key Action 3, with support available for policy development and cooperation and for Jean Monnet actions which support teaching, learning and research in the field of European Union studies.

Applications for Cooperation partnerships are made through the National Agency. Applications for other types of higher education partnership, policy development and Jean Monnet actions should go through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

You can browse previous projects for inspiration on the Erasmus+ website.

Be inspired

An aerial view of solar panels in a field.

Project example

Sustainable Development Strategies for Higher Education Institutions

Countries covered
Ireland, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and Türkiye
Period
2022-25
Funding
€400,000
Type
Cooperation partnership

This project aimed to empower European higher education institutions to become drivers of sustainable development by embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals Holistically across education, research, governance, campus operations, entrepreneurship, and outreach.

A man and two women sat at a table around an iPad in discussion.

Project example

Refugee Education Initiatives

Countries covered
UK, Belgium, Austria and Hungary
Period
2016-19
Funding
€440,000
Type
Support for policy reform

This project aimed to develop a network of higher education and advocacy training programmes in three of the countries that had recently received large numbers of refugees, namely Hungary, the UK and Austria.