The popularity of Erasmus+ scholarships continues to grow among students: more than 10 million people have participated in the Erasmus program until 2020 since it began back in 1987. Spain is the most requested destination among those millions of students and ranks second in sending students to other countries in the world, according to the annual report of the Ministry of Universities and the Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education (Sepie).
What many do not know is that it is not necessary to be a graduate student to enjoy this program. There are also options for vocational training, master’s or doctoral students, as well as for university or school teachers. Everyone can enjoy the experience of living for several months or a full course in another country and, at the same time, improve or learn a language and immerse themselves in a different culture. We rounded up some of the most popular shows.
Erasmus+ for Students
The offer of this program is divided into two main categories, depending on whether the students want to study or have practical experience in a company in another country.
A study period
It is designed to study part of the subjects of a degree, FP, master’s degree and even carry out part of the doctorate at a university in another country. This is the most well-known Erasmus model and can be chosen by those students who want to carry out a study period of 3 to 12 months (provided they have completed their first year of training) in one of the EU member states or in Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia and Turkey. In addition, they must meet other linguistic requirements (the language level required by the destination university) and academic requirements: prepare a Learning Agreement, the document in which the subjects to be taken are set out and which will be recognized at the home university when they return, validating for similar matters. They will also have to sign the stay confirmation document, which is dated on the day of arrival in the chosen country.
Deadline for application: last quarter of the year in the international relations offices of each university.
A period of practical training
It is aimed at students who have completed their undergraduate, master’s, doctorate or higher degree and wish to carry out a period of practical training in a company or any other place of work abroad. The scholarship can last from 2 to 12 months (even in different periods) and can only be done during the year after obtaining the degree. The interested parties are in charge of looking for the company or institution in which they want to develop professionally and, then, they will request that the university of origin make an agreement with it.
Application (4 periods): until June 7, 2022 / until October 7, 2022 / until January 9, 2023 / until March 9, 2023 at the international relations offices of each university.
Erasmus+ for Higher Education and VET Staff
Teachers can also apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship. In this case, there are two types: to teach at a foreign institution; or for the professional development of teaching and non-teaching staff (administration and services staff). In both cases, the exchange takes place in a public or private organization in a Program Country or in some field of education, training or youth. The duration is shorter than in other programs: from 2 days to 2 months with teaching activities that must include a minimum of 8 teaching hours per week.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD)
This modality allows mobility to countries that are outside the European Economic Area. The European Commission itself finances these high-level international master’s degrees taught by consortia of higher education institutions from different countries, which award scholarships to the best students in the world. It is also aimed at doctoral students who, upon completion of their studies, will receive an Erasmus Mundus Joint Degree. At the application stage, EMJMD proposals must submit fully developed study programs: the selection process is very strict, so only the best proposals will receive financial support. It is open to master’s students who have obtained a first higher education degree or demonstrate an equivalent level of learning recognized in accordance with national legislation and practice in the countries that issue the degrees.
Erasmus+ for School Teaching Staff
Despite not being as well known, in the 2018-2019 academic year, Spain ranked first in the number of mobility projects for teaching staff (680), ahead of Germany (605) and far behind Turkey (259), France (253 ) and Italy (216). The application for this type of scholarship is submitted by the school that wishes to send its staff abroad (individual application) or the coordinator of a national mobility consortium (consortium application). The exchange lasts between 2 days and 2 months and can have three objectives: Teaching: allows teachers or other members of the school teaching staff to give classes in a partner school abroad. Receive structured training courses abroad: to support to the professional development of teachers, school directors or other school staff. Shadowing: an opportunity for teachers, school directors or other staff to spend a period abroad at a partner school or in another relevant organization active in the field of school education.
Request: the procedure is the responsibility of the National Agency of the country in which the requesting consortium or organization is established.