Erasmus+ funding for studies in Europe

Study stays within the Erasmus+ programme take place for one or two semesters at a European partner university.

For your semester abroad with the Erasmus+ programme, you will receive an Erasmus+ grant, the so-called "mobility grant", to support you with the additional costs incurred abroad during your stay. The amount of the respective grant depends on the individual destination country.

The countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme are divided into a total of three country groups according to the levl of local living costs:

The Erasmus+ mobility grant at the h_da has been limited to 120 days (4 months) for semesters abroad since the academic year 2019/20. Periods of stay that exceed this limit are counted as a so-called "zero-grant period". However, you retain the status of an Erasmus+ student. Your Erasmus+ quota of 12 months per study cycle will be reduced by the confirmed total period (period of financial support plus zero-grant period).

BAföG recipients can also receive Erasmus+ funding.

• Start date: first day you are present at your host university for study purposes or introduction days.
• End date: last day you are present at your host university for study purposes.
• Start date and end date can only be weekend or public holidays in exceptional cases.
• Full months are counted as 30 days and additional days are added.
• Funding is limited to 120 days.
• If your semester abroad lasts less than 120 days, you will receive funding for the confirmed total period on a daily basis.
• If your semester abroad is longer than 120 days, you will receive the financial support for a maximum of 120 days and the exceeding period will be counted as a "Zero Grant Period". This “Zero Grant Period” will be added to your Erasmus+ mobility grant. This way your Erasmus+ contingent of 12 months per study cycle will be reduced by the confirmed total period of your stay (financial support period plus Zero Grant Period).

The Erasmus+ Mobility Grant is usually paid in two payments:

• In the first payment, you will receive 75% of the total funding amount. The funding is usually paid out before the start of your stay abroad, as soon as all the required documents have been signed and submitted completely.
• In a second payment (final payment), the retained 25% of the funding amount will be paid as soon as all required final documents have been submitted completely. The second payment will be made after the end of your stay abroad when you have returned.

The Confirmation of Stay signed of the partner university forms the basis for the calculation of the completion rate. For this purpose, the confirmed period of stay is compared with the period of financial support of a maximum of 120 days and may result in the following consequences:

• The confirmed period of stay is equal to the period of financial support of a maximum of 120 days.
  • You will receive the retained 25% of the mobility grant as a final instalment.

• The confirmed period of stay is longer than the period of financial support of a maximum of 120 days
  • As the financial support is limited to 120 days, you will receive the retained 25% of the mobility grant as a final instalment. The period exceeding the 120 days is defined as a "Zero Grant Period" and is counted as part of the Erasmus+ mobility phase.

• The confirmed period of stay is shorter than the period of financial support of a maximum of 120 days
  • Your final instalment will be reduced according to the number of days by which your confirmed stay is shorter than 120 days. If necessary, you might be asked to pay back the amount of funding you received that exceeds your actual period of stay. The minimum duration for Erasmus+ semesters abroad (3 months) must not be undercut, otherwise the entire grant must be paid back.

You can find the general participation requirements and eligibility conditions here. 

Mobility grants that you have not been used in accordance with the contract  Grant Agreements (sample contract) must be paid back.

By accepting the mobility grant, you undertake to submit the required documents promptly and within the specified deadlines. If you do not comply with this obligation by the specified deadline despite being asked at least twice, the funding commitment will expire and you will have to repay the entire mobility grant.

The "Zero Grant Period" are days or periods of stay that a student participates in the Erasmus+ programme in but does not receive a mobility grant for.

All Erasmus+ eligibility conditions must be fulfilled. Your Erasmus+ contingent of 12 months per study cycle is always reduced by the total confirmed period of stay (i.e. financially eligible period plus zero-grant period).

The Grant Agreement forms the contractual and financial basis of the stay abroad and must therefore be submitted in the original. It contains, among other things, the duration of the funding period, the reporting obligations of the grantees as well as the intended financial Erasmus+ funding and the method of payment.

Students can receive a one-off €50 for sustainable travel. You must travel to your host institution by bus, train and/or carpool. In addition, up to 4 additional days of travel can be funded as days of stay.
This top-up for environmentally friendly travel can also be combined with the special funding.
As proof of environmentally friendly travel, you must sign a declaration on your honour.