Erasmus+ traineeships pay between EUR 350 and EUR 700 per month in 2026, depending on the host country -- with additional top-ups available from national agencies. Summer 2026 traineeship agreements are being signed now. This is the authoritative breakdown of amounts, eligibility, and the application process.
Erasmus+ traineeship grant amounts by country group (2026)
The European Commission divides host countries into three groups based on cost of living. Your grant amount depends on where you are going, not where you are from.
| Group | Monthly grant | Countries included |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (Highest) | EUR 700/month | Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden |
| Group 2 (Mid) | EUR 550/month | Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain |
| Group 3 (Standard) | EUR 350/month | Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkiye |
Important clarification: Switzerland (EUR 700), Norway (EUR 700), and Iceland (EUR 700) participate in Erasmus+ through bilateral agreements. Their grant levels match Group 1. UK universities participate through the Turing Scheme (separate funding, different amounts).
Additional top-up grants available in 2026
On top of the base country-group grant, students may qualify for additional top-ups:
- Fewer opportunities background grant: Extra EUR 250/month for students from low-income households, students with disabilities, or students from remote areas. Eligibility is defined by your home National Agency.
- Green travel bonus: EUR 50 one-time bonus if you travel to your placement by train, bus, or car-share instead of flying. Must be documented with travel receipts.
- Disability supplement: Up to EUR 100/month additional support for students with a documented disability. Agreed on a case-by-case basis with the International Office.
- Language preparation: Access to the Erasmus+ Online Linguistic Support (OLS) platform, free of charge, for the main language of the host country.
Combining grants: Erasmus+ can be combined with national scholarship programmes in most cases, as long as you are not receiving two EU-funded grants for the same costs. Dutch students can combine Erasmus+ with the Nuffic-beurs. German students can combine with DAAD PROMOS. Spanish students can combine with Beca Santander. Always confirm combinability with your International Office before applying to both simultaneously.
Who can apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship
Eligibility is set at the programme level. The key criteria for 2026:
- Enrolled students: Any student enrolled at a higher education institution (HEI) that participates in Erasmus+ (identified by an ECHE -- Erasmus Charter for Higher Education). This includes bachelor, master, and PhD students.
- Recent graduates: Students who have completed their degree within the past 12 months. The traineeship must start and end within the 12-month post-graduation window. You apply before you graduate, and your institution nominates you for the grant.
- Duration: Minimum 60 days (2 months), maximum 12 months. The 12-month maximum applies to the total of all Erasmus+ periods (study + traineeship) across your entire programme.
- Host country: Any Erasmus+ programme country or partner country (varies by your institution's agreements). Does not include your home country.
- Host organisation: Any company, research centre, or public institution in the host country. Private companies, SMEs, NGOs, and research labs are all eligible. EU institutions in Brussels are specifically excluded from standard Erasmus+ traineeship grants.
How to apply: the correct process step by step
The most common misconception is that students apply directly to Erasmus+ or to the European Commission. They do not. All applications go through your home institution's International Office. Here is the actual process:
- Find your placement first. Erasmus+ funds a traineeship you have already arranged -- it is not a matching programme. You find the company, agree a role and dates, and then apply for Erasmus+ funding to support it. Alternatively, your institution may have an approved partner network you can draw from.
- Contact your International Office. Tell them you want to apply for Erasmus+ traineeship funding. They will tell you the institutional application deadline (varies -- often 2-4 months before the placement start date) and what documents to prepare.
- Draft a Learning Agreement. This three-party document is signed by you, your home institution, and the host company. It specifies what you will do, what learning outcomes are expected, how ECTS credit will be calculated, and who the supervisors are on both sides. The International Office will typically provide a template. The European Commission's official Learning Agreement template is available at erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu.
- Receive your grant letter and pay the first instalment. Once approved, your institution issues a Grant Agreement. The first 80% of the grant is typically paid before departure; the remaining 20% is released after you submit your final report.
- Complete the Erasmus+ survey on return. All Erasmus+ participants must complete the EU Survey (previously the Participant Report) at the end of their traineeship. Failure to submit delays the final grant payment.
Timeline reality check: "Can I apply this week for a traineeship starting next month?" -- almost certainly not. Most institutions have application deadlines 6-10 weeks before placement start. Some have just two application windows per year (September and February). Contact your International Office as early as possible. Students who start the process in January for a September traineeship are in a comfortable position. Students who start in July for a September start are probably too late.
The Learning Agreement: what it is and why it matters
The Learning Agreement is not bureaucratic overhead. It is the legal document that protects your academic credit. Without a correctly completed Learning Agreement, signed by all three parties before you start, your ECTS credit is at risk on return.
The agreement must specify:
- Your name, institution, and study field
- The host organisation name, address, and NACE sector code
- Placement start and end dates
- Learning outcomes in competency language (what you will be able to do, not just what tasks you will perform)
- ECTS credits to be awarded on completion
- Name and signature of your academic supervisor (at your home institution)
- Name and signature of your workplace supervisor (at the host)
For institutions working with multiple placements simultaneously, our team at Internship Abroad supports the Learning Agreement process directly. See our Erasmus+ Traineeship Coordinator's Handbook for the full coordinator's perspective, or how a Living Profile supports the application and matching process from the student side.
Frequently asked questions from students
Can I do Erasmus+ in a country outside the EU?
Yes, to a limited extent. Erasmus+ programme countries include all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkiye. Some institutions also have agreements with partner countries (outside this list) that enable Erasmus+ mobility -- check with your International Office for your institution's specific agreements.
Does Erasmus+ cover language courses?
Erasmus+ provides access to the Online Linguistic Support (OLS) platform at no cost. This is a self-study platform for the main language of the host country. It does not cover paid external language courses, though some national agencies provide additional language support grants.
What happens if my placement is cut short?
If you complete less than the minimum 60-day duration due to circumstances outside your control (e.g. medical emergency), your National Agency may still award a partial grant. Contact your International Office immediately if your placement is at risk of early termination. Do not simply leave without formal documentation -- this affects your grant and your academic credit.
Can Spanish students also apply for the Beca Santander on top of Erasmus+?
Yes -- this is one of the most valuable combinations available to Spanish students. Erasmus+ (EUR 550/month for most European destinations) combined with the Beca Santander Practicas Internacionales (up to EUR 2,000 one-time) can significantly reduce the financial barrier for a 3-6 month European placement. Confirm combinability with your university's International Office, as specific university-Santander agreements may have different conditions. Our Spanish-language guide covers the Beca Santander application process in full.
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