The European Solidarity Corps funds volunteer and trainee placements for young Europeans aged 18-30. Unlike Erasmus+, the ESC does not require university enrollment: recent graduates, gap-year students, and young professionals all qualify. The full package for volunteers covers accommodation, food, travel, and a pocket money of EUR 155-360 per month, depending on the host country. Trainee and job placements under ESC are paid at market rates in the host country.
The ESC is managed through the European Youth Portal and has placed over 100,000 young Europeans since 2018. This guide covers what the ESC offers, who qualifies, and how to apply for a 2026 or 2027 placement.
ESC vs Erasmus+: what is the difference?
| Feature | European Solidarity Corps (ESC) | Erasmus+ Traineeship |
|---|---|---|
| University enrollment required? | No | Yes, at time of placement |
| Age limit | 18-30 | No upper limit; undergraduate or postgraduate |
| Focus | Solidarity, civic engagement, NGOs, public bodies | Career development in any sector |
| Host organisations | NGOs, public bodies, social enterprises | Any private or public employer |
| Funding model | Full package: accommodation, food, travel, pocket money | Monthly grant, student arranges own accommodation |
| Duration | 2-12 months (volunteering), variable (jobs/traineeships) | 2-12 months |
| Certificate issued | Youthpass (EU recognised) | Europass transcript |
The ESC and Erasmus+ traineeship serve different purposes and different audiences. Erasmus+ is the right programme for students who want a paid internship at a company in their field of study. ESC is the right programme for students, graduates, and young professionals who want to work with NGOs, community organisations, or public institutions, with full costs covered.
Who is eligible for the European Solidarity Corps in 2026?
- Age 18-30 at time of application (you must not have turned 31 before the placement begins)
- Registered in one of the 33 ESC programme countries: all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Georgia
- Legally resident in a programme country (citizenship is not required; non-EU nationals with a valid residence permit qualify)
- Not currently enrolled in a programme in the same country (you cannot volunteer in your home country under ESC's international strand)
- University enrollment is not required
University coordinators: the ESC is an important complement to Erasmus+ for students who want solidarity or civic placements rather than corporate internships. ESC projects can be offered alongside Erasmus+ traineeships under the same institutional framework. Contact the National Agency in your country for institutional access.
What the ESC pays: volunteer package in 2026
For volunteering placements, the ESC covers all costs. The volunteer does not pay anything out of pocket:
| Cost category | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Host organisation | Full accommodation or housing allowance |
| Meals | Host organisation | Full meals or food allowance (approx. EUR 4-12/day) |
| Travel to/from placement | ESC grant via sending organisation | Up to EUR 1,100 for distances over 4,000 km; less for shorter routes |
| Local transport | ESC grant | Monthly public transport pass or equivalent |
| Pocket money | ESC grant | EUR 155-360/month depending on host country |
| Language training (OLS) | ESC / European Commission | Free online language course in host country language |
| Accident, health and liability insurance | ESC | Full insurance coverage during placement |
Pocket money rates by host country cluster (2025-2026 rates):
| Cluster | Countries (examples) | Pocket money per month |
|---|---|---|
| High cost | Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Iceland | EUR 360 |
| Medium-high | Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Belgium | EUR 310 |
| Medium | Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Czechia, Poland | EUR 265 |
| Lower | Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Georgia | EUR 155-205 |
Types of ESC placements in 2026
Volunteering is the core strand: 2-12 month placements with a registered ESC organisation (charity, NGO, local authority, social enterprise). All costs covered. Popular sectors include environmental sustainability, social work, youth work, health promotion, cultural heritage, and humanitarian response. Over 3,000 active placements are open at any given time on the Youth Portal.
Solidarity Projects are small-scale local initiatives (1-12 months) initiated by groups of young people to address a local challenge. Funded at EUR 500-30,000 per project. Less relevant for students looking for structured placements abroad.
Traineeships and Jobs under ESC are paid at market rates and located at ESC-registered organisations. Duration: 2-6 months (traineeships) or 3-12 months (jobs). These are distinct from Erasmus+ traineeships and are exclusively with NGOs or public-benefit organisations, not private companies.
How to apply for a European Solidarity Corps placement
- Register on the European Youth Portal at youth.europa.eu/solidarity-corps. Registration takes 10-15 minutes and requires your EU login credentials.
- Search available projects by country, duration, sector, and language. Each project listing includes a description, host organisation profile, and contact details.
- Contact the sending organisation in your country: Most ESC placements are managed via a sending organisation (a registered ESC intermediary in your home country). The sending organisation manages your application, pre-departure training, and on-call support during placement.
- Complete the placement agreement: Once selected, you sign a tripartite agreement (you, sending organisation, host organisation). This formalises the placement and triggers the funding disbursement.
- Attend pre-departure training: Mandatory for all ESC volunteers. Typically 2-3 days, online or in-person, organised by the sending organisation.
The European Solidarity Corps is one of the few funded mobility programmes that works well alongside an Erasmus+ traineeship. Students who have already used their Erasmus+ mobility can use ESC for a second international experience without affecting their Erasmus+ quota.
Youthpass: the credential that comes with ESC
Every ESC participant who completes a placement receives a Youthpass certificate. This is an official EU document that describes the duration, activities, and competences developed during the placement. It is recognised by employers, universities, and public institutions across all EU member states and is particularly valued for roles in the European institutions, civil society, and public administration.
For students building an international profile, the combination of a corporate Erasmus+ traineeship on the CV and an ESC Youthpass signals both professional and civic engagement, a profile that stands out at multilateral organisations, EU-funded projects, and INGOs.
ESC for institutions: what mobility coordinators should know
Higher education institutions can partner with the ESC by registering as a sending or hosting organisation. This allows them to offer students an ESC placement option alongside the standard Erasmus+ traineeship, with the ESC covering all costs that would otherwise require supplemental student funding. For institutions targeting social sciences, environmental studies, or health programmes, ESC fills a gap that corporate Erasmus+ placements do not address.
For guidance on supporting ESC and Erasmus+ mobility programmes at institutional level, see our guide for Erasmus+ host organisations and the Internship Abroad institutional platform, which aggregates student mobility placements across Europe.
Ready to find a placement?
The European Solidarity Corps portal is the starting point for all placements. For students who also want to explore corporate and research internships abroad, the Internship Abroad platform aggregates both funded programme placements and direct employer internships across 17 European markets.
Create a free profile on Internship Abroad and access mobility guidance for the ESC, Erasmus+, and direct-employer internship routes across Europe.