Erasmus+ KA1 internship stipends in 2026 range from EUR 310/month (Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia and lowest-cost programme countries) to EUR 670/month (Denmark, Norway, Iceland). The exact amount depends on the destination country group, not the student's home country. This article covers every programme country, the full grant structure including travel lump sums, eligibility rules, and how to apply.
Monthly stipend amounts by destination country
The monthly stipend amount is determined by the destination country, organised into three groups based on cost of living. Your home country has no bearing on the amount you receive. The table below covers all 33 Erasmus+ programme countries.
| Group | Monthly Stipend | Destination Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | EUR 670/month | Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden |
| Group 2 | EUR 580/month | Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain |
| Group 3 | EUR 490/month | Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey |
| UK (special) | EUR 670/month | United Kingdom (Group 1 rate for eligible programme streams despite Brexit) |
Note on Malta: Malta is classified as a Group 2 country for outgoing students from lower-cost countries, but as a Group 3 country for certain incoming mobility flows. Confirm the applicable group with your National Agency when Malta is the destination. The UK is included in Erasmus+ for certain streams at the Group 1 rate; eligibility depends on the specific KA1 mobility strand and bilateral arrangements in force for your institution.
What does the stipend cover?
The Erasmus+ KA1 traineeship grant is composed of several components. The monthly stipend is the main element, but the full package includes a travel lump sum, an optional green travel top-up, and institutional insurance obligations.
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly living allowance | EUR 310-670/month | Per destination group table above. Paid for the duration of the agreed traineeship. |
| Travel lump sum (under 100 km) | EUR 0 | No travel support for placements within 100 km of home institution. |
| Travel lump sum (100-499 km) | EUR 180 | Paid once per direction. Not reimbursed monthly. |
| Travel lump sum (500-1,999 km) | EUR 275 | Covers the majority of standard intra-EU routes. |
| Travel lump sum (2,000-2,999 km) | EUR 360 | Relevant for eastern European students to Iberia/Nordic region. |
| Travel lump sum (3,000-3,999 km) | EUR 530 | Applies to Turkish or Balkan students travelling to Nordic countries. |
| Travel lump sum (4,000-7,999 km) | EUR 820 | Relevant for UK/Iceland/Norway destinations from southern or eastern programme countries. |
| Travel inclusion support (green travel bonus) | +EUR 50 | One-time top-up for students who travel by train or bus instead of plane. Declared in participant report. |
| Insurance (liability and accident) | Arranged by sending institution | Sending institution must provide or verify basic liability and accident insurance. Health insurance (EHIC or supplementary) is the student's own responsibility. |
| Institutional top-ups | EUR 50-300/month (varies) | Many universities supplement the Erasmus+ grant from their own mobility budgets. Confirm with your International Office. |
Who is eligible for Erasmus+ internship funding?
Eligibility is determined at the institutional level, not by nationality or citizenship. The key requirements are:
- The student must be enrolled at a higher education institution in a programme country that holds an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE).
- The internship must be hosted by an organisation in a different programme country from the student's home institution country.
- Minimum traineeship duration: 2 months (60 days).
- Maximum traineeship duration: 12 months per study cycle, counting all Erasmus+ mobilities (studies and traineeship combined).
- All study cycles are eligible: bachelor's, master's, doctorate, and recent graduates (up to 12 months after graduation).
- Nationality: no restriction. Non-EU nationals enrolled at a programme country university are eligible on the same terms as EU nationals.
The following are explicitly excluded from KA1 traineeship funding:
- Internships at EU institutions themselves (European Commission, European Parliament, EU agencies).
- Internships at organisations that manage EU programmes on behalf of the Commission.
- Internships at the student's home country embassy or consulate abroad.
Students placing through Internship Abroad can see what a verified student profile looks like before their university nominates them for Erasmus+ funding.
How long can an Erasmus+ internship last?
Duration rules are among the most misunderstood aspects of KA1 traineeship funding. The following are the definitive rules for 2026:
- Minimum duration: 2 months (60 calendar days). Short-cycle programmes may have lower minimums; confirm with your National Agency.
- Maximum duration: 12 months per study cycle, counting all Erasmus+ mobility periods (study and traineeship combined). A student who spent 6 months on Erasmus+ study exchange has a maximum of 6 remaining months for a traineeship in the same cycle.
- Recent graduate window: Graduates can complete a traineeship up to 12 months after their graduation date, provided the university nominated them before graduation.
- ECTS credits: Not automatic. Home university must pre-approve credit recognition via a signed Learning Agreement or Traineeship Agreement before departure. Erasmus+ does not guarantee credit recognition; the Traineeship Agreement does.
- Extensions: Possible up to the 12-month per-cycle limit. An extension requires an amendment to the Traineeship Agreement, signed by all three parties (student, host organisation, sending institution) before the original end date.
How do you apply?
Applications for Erasmus+ KA1 traineeship grants go through the student's home university International Office, not directly to the European Commission. The Commission funds national agencies; national agencies fund institutions; institutions fund individual students.
- Check ECHE status and budget. Confirm your university holds an active Erasmus Charter for Higher Education and has available KA1 mobility budget for the current academic year. Budget allocation varies year to year and runs out; apply early.
- Apply through your institution's internal selection. Most universities run two selection rounds: November for spring semester departures, April for autumn departures. Some run a single annual round. Deadlines are set by the institution, not the Commission.
- Find your host company. Sourcing the host placement is typically the student's responsibility. Platforms like Internship Abroad connect students with verified host companies across Europe. The host must be in an eligible programme country other than the student's home country.
- Sign the Traineeship Agreement. The Traineeship Agreement is signed by the student, the host company, and the sending university. Under Erasmus Without Paper (EWP) requirements in force since 2023, agreements for Erasmus+ mobilities must be processed through EWP-connected institutional systems.
- Receive grant disbursement. Standard practice: 80% disbursed before departure once the signed Traineeship Agreement and bank details are confirmed. The remaining 20% is disbursed after return and successful submission of the participant report via the EU Survey tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can non-EU students apply for Erasmus+ internship funding?
Yes. Nationality is irrelevant. What matters is enrollment at an ECHE-holding university in a programme country. An Indian or South African student enrolled at a Dutch or French university can receive Erasmus+ internship funding on the same terms as an EU national.
What is the difference between Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2?
KA1 is Individual Mobility: grants for individual students and staff to move to another programme country. KA2 is Partnerships: institutional cooperation projects between universities and companies. A student doing a traineeship uses KA1. KA2 funds the partnership agreements that underpin mobility, not individual grants.
Can I do an Erasmus+ internship in a non-EU country?
Not under standard KA1. KA1 traineeships require the host organisation to be in another programme country. Programme countries are EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The UK is included for certain streams. Countries outside this list (USA, India, UAE, etc.) are not eligible host countries for KA1 traineeships.
Can I combine an Erasmus+ internship with part-time work?
The Erasmus+ grant is a stipend, not employment. You can hold a separate part-time job if local laws permit and if your visa or residence status allows it. Check host country rules as some countries limit working hours on student visas. The traineeship itself may pay a salary from the host company on top of the Erasmus+ grant; this is permitted.
What happens if my host placement falls through after I have the grant?
If the placement falls through before departure, the grant is cancelled and no funds are disbursed. If it falls through after arrival, the student must notify the sending university immediately. A new placement at another company in the same country can sometimes be arranged with a new Traineeship Agreement. If no alternative is found, the student returns home and repays the travel grant; the monthly stipend is prorated for days actually spent.
Are travel costs fully covered by Erasmus+?
Partially. The travel lump sum (EUR 180-820 per trip) covers a portion of travel costs based on distance. For short distances such as Netherlands to Belgium, it covers most of the flight or train cost. For long distances such as Portugal to Finland, it covers considerably less. The lump sum is a contribution, not a full reimbursement. Some universities supplement it from their own budgets.
How do universities disburse the Erasmus+ stipend?
Standard practice is 80% before departure once the Traineeship Agreement is signed and bank details are provided, and 20% after return and successful submission of the participant report via the EU Survey tool. Universities must disburse within 30 days of the pre-departure payment trigger. Some universities pay 100% upfront.
Related reading: For DAAD-funded internships from Germany, see the internshipabroad.de insights for German-language programme guides. For Indian students exploring Erasmus+ pathways from Indian universities with EU partnerships, see the internshipabroad.in blog for eligibility under Erasmus+ ICM (KA171).