UK Erasmus students normally receive an Erasmus grant provided by the European Commission which contributes towards the extra costs arising from studying abroad. Erasmus grants in the UK are paid through your home institution and are paid in addition to the standard grants or loans to which you are entitled. Please remember that this is a supplementary, non-repayable grant intended to offset any additional expenses you may incur while you are abroad. During your Erasmus period, you continue to receive any student grant or loan to which you are entitled.
When this monthly grant is combined with the new additional one-off options and tuition fee contribution schemes detailed below, it is a very appealing option for higher education students looking to improve their CVs, have an unforgettable experience and stretch their finances as far as possible. Read how some former Erasmus students did this in our datasheet 'Do the Maths'
For 2013/14 the grant varies from €275 (Band 1),to €315 (Band 2) and €375 a month (Band 3), depending on the country you visit, as some are more expensive than others:
BAND 1 Bulgaria, Romania
BAND 2 Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey
BAND 3 Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Widening Participation Supplementary Funding
For students identified as eligible for the various widening participation premiums already operating at HE level across the UK, there is also a one-off supplementary grant of €500. The aim of this supplement is to encourage greater participation in mobility by students who might otherwise be put off due to their own economic constraints. Widening participation in Erasmus is a key priority for all the Governments of the UK.
Also, students with a severe disability or exceptional special needs may be entitled to extra funding to cover associated costs on their Erasmus placement.
Students undertaking short-term work placements can receive additional supplementary funding in order to offset the relatively high initial setup costs of such placements:
- A one-off supplementary grant of €250 can be paid to each student, to assist with the higher expenses relating to shortterm accommodation.
- Up to €300 can be paid to each student for receipted travel costs.
These supplementary amounts apply only to work placements with a minimum duration of two months and a maximum duration of three months which are carried out by students registered for shortterm vocational higher education courses (foundation degree courses and HNDlevel qualifications).
There is a one-off supplementary grant of €400 for students undertaking mobility to the less-visited Erasmus countries. For 2013/14, the country destinations eligible for such additional funding are:
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey
The Erasmus grant is not means-tested. To be eligible for an Erasmus grant you must:
- be registered at a UK Higher Education institution which holds an Erasmus University Charter (EUC).
- spend an approved study or work period of between 3 to 12 months at an institution which holds an EUC in another EU, EEA or candidate country (for students on short term higher vocational education courses, the minimum period on a work placement is two months)
You do not pay any tuition fees to the university you are visiting.
Currently students benefit from the tuition fees support scheme. If you spend a full academic year on Erasmus, you may be eligible to benefit from the tuition fee waiver for the year you are away. An academic year is classed as 24 weeks, excluding weekends and holidays. However, if you study abroad for less than a year, you will have to pay the UK tuition fees, although this will usually be reduced proportionally. This scheme is reviewed annually by the UK Government. Talk to your university Erasmus office about HEFCE's tuition fee support scheme for students in England, as it will depend on your current situation/year.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed the continuation of Government financial support for universities and students participating in the Erasmus programme beyond 2013/14 which will ensure that students can continue to take part in the programme at a cost, to them, substantially lower than a year’s study in the UK, as is the case now.
Our colleagues at Eurydice have produced a helpful document that gives a breakdown of tuition fees across Europe. The report provides a country-by-country overview of the national public fee and support systems in place in across Europe. The overviews are based on the fees, grants and loans which applied in the 2011/12 academic year. Information on forthcoming national reforms is also provided. This report relates to the wider country tuition fee regimes; Erasmus students do not pay tuition fees to the university they visit.
The cost of living varies considerably across Europe.
During your period of study in the partner institution you will need to pay for accommodation, and general living costs. In many countries, living costs are lower than in the UK, while in some they may be more expensive than at home. Many countries have a variety of student reductions, in order to make life cheaper.
For a good source of information for students on general finance issues, loans and grants, please go to the directgov website Another useful website for general financial advise for students is the moneysaving expert website.
Student Finance has set up a website to help clarify the bursary application procedure for prospective students in England, with links to each institution's bursary and scholarship web pages. For students in Wales and Scotland, follow the links from their website for further information.
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