Complete Guide to Erasmus+ School Funding: What It Covers and How to Apply

One of the most frequent questions we receive from schools is: "How much money can I get with Erasmus+?". The answer depends on many factors, but the good news is that the Erasmus+ 2021–2027 programme has a historic budget of €26.2 billion, nearly double the previous period.

Structure of Erasmus+ school funding

Erasmus+ funding for schools is organised into several budget lines covering different aspects of mobility. It is not a blank cheque, but predefined contributions for each item:

1. Organisational Support (OS)

A contribution towards the costs the school incurs in organising and managing mobilities. It is calculated per participant:

1. Up to 100 participants: €350 per participant (staff) / €100 per participant (pupils).
2. From 101 participants: slightly reduced amounts.

This money covers costs such as language preparation, administrative management, insurance, communication with partners and participant follow-up.

2. Travel

The travel contribution is calculated based on the distance between the sending and receiving school, using the European Commission's distance calculator:

1. 10–99 km: €23 per participant
2. 100–499 km: €180 per participant
3. 500–1,999 km: €275 per participant
4. 2,000–2,999 km: €360 per participant
5. 3,000–3,999 km: €530 per participant

There is also an additional contribution for "green travel" (train, bus) that incentivises sustainable transport options.

3. Individual Support

Covers accommodation, meals and local transport for the participant during the stay. Amounts vary by destination country and are published in the annual Programme Guide. As an indication for 2025:

1. Staff — Group 1 countries (Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, etc.): up to €180/day.
2. Staff — Group 2 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain): up to €160/day.
3. Staff — Group 3 countries (Eastern Europe, Baltics): up to €140/day.
4. Pupils: reduced amounts, generally between €30 and €70/day depending on duration and destination.

4. Course Fees

For teacher training activities (KA1 structured courses), Erasmus+ covers up to €80 per day with a maximum of €800 per activity. This allows teachers to attend specialised courses in any European country.

5. Inclusion Support

Erasmus+ provides additional funding for participants with special needs or fewer opportunities. Schools can request extraordinary contributions to ensure mobility is accessible to all pupils.

Types of funded mobility

The programme funds different types of activities:

1. Staff mobility: Jobshadowing (observation at another school), training courses, teaching periods.
2. Pupil mobility: individual or group exchanges, stays at European host schools.
3. Preparatory activities: advance visits to prepare the mobility.
4. Invited experts: funding to bring professionals from other countries to your school.

How to apply for funding

The process varies depending on whether your school already holds Erasmus+ accreditation or not:

Accredited schools (KA121)

If you already hold accreditation, you apply for annual funding through a simplified form. You only need to indicate the estimated number of mobilities and the indicative budget. The National Agency allocates funds based on availability and your implementation plan.

Non-accredited schools (KA122)

You can submit a short-term mobility project (up to 30 participants) without accreditation. It is an excellent way to "test" Erasmus+ before committing to full accreditation. The project lasts 6 to 18 months.

"At EuryGo we always recommend starting with a KA122 if you have never participated in Erasmus+. It is the safest way to gain experience and confidence before applying for full accreditation."

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Poor expense justification: the National Agency may request fund reimbursement if documentation is incorrect.
2. Underestimating deadlines: closing reports have strict deadlines.
3. Leaving the reporting platform for the end: your National Agency’s system has to be kept up to date as the mobilities happen, not the week before the report.
4. Forgetting participation certificates: each mobility requires specific documentation signed by all parties.

Keeping the paperwork in order is the job of the school and its National Agency. What a good course provider can do is make it easy: clear invoices, attendance certificates with hours and content, and Europass documentation ready for the final report.

Conclusion

Erasmus+ funding is a real and accessible opportunity for any European school. The funds are there, the programme is designed to facilitate participation, and with the right support, the process can be much simpler than it seems.

To estimate what a structured course would cost your school and how much of it the KA1 grant covers, try our KA1 grant calculator or browse the course catalogue.