Erasmus grant & funding guide
What the Erasmus+ grant is, roughly how much you can expect per month, when the money lands, and how to build a budget that survives the gap in between.
What the grant is (and is not)
The Erasmus+ study grant is a monthly contribution towards the extra cost of living abroad. It is paid by your home university from EU funds, it is not a loan, and it does not have to be repaid unless you cut your stay short below the minimum duration (usually two months for studies).
- •It covers a share of rent, food and local transport — not the whole semester
- •Tuition stays with your home university; the host cannot charge you tuition
- •The amount depends on your host country's cost-of-living group, not on your grades
- •The exact rate is set by your home university within the EU range — always confirm your figure in writing
Country groups and typical monthly amounts
Erasmus+ splits destinations into three cost-of-living groups. Universities set their own rates within EU bands, so treat these as planning ranges and confirm the exact number with your international office.
- •Group 1 — higher cost of living (e.g. Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein): typically around €650–700 per month
- •Group 2 — medium cost of living (e.g. Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta): typically around €550-650 per month
- •Group 3 — lower cost of living (e.g. Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye): typically around €500-550 per month
- •Traineeships (work placements) usually receive around €150 per month more than study mobility
Top-ups worth asking about
- •Inclusion support for participants with fewer opportunities — low household income, a disability or health condition, or caring responsibilities
- •Green travel top-up plus extra travel days when you reach your destination by train, bus or carpool instead of flying
- •Distance-based travel support, which some universities pay separately from the monthly grant
- •National, regional or university scholarships that stack on top of Erasmus+ — your international office keeps the list
- •Continued national student support: in most countries your usual student grant or loan keeps running while you are abroad
The payment timeline (and the gap it creates)
The single most common financial surprise on Erasmus is that the first instalment arrives after you have already paid a deposit, a first month's rent and a flight.
- •Before departure: sign the grant agreement and the Learning Agreement — no signature, no payment
- •After arrival: submit the Certificate of Arrival, then wait typically 2–6 weeks for instalment one (about 70–80%)
- •During the stay: no further payment in most setups — budget as if the rest arrives late
- •After return: submit the Certificate of Departure, the EU Survey participant report and the OLS language assessment to unlock the final 20–30%
- •Plan to have roughly one to two months of costs available yourself before the first instalment clears
What to budget for
Put these into the Finances tab as one-off or monthly entries so the balance reflects reality rather than the brochure.
- •One-off, before you go: visa or residence permit fee, travel tickets, insurance, first-month rent and a deposit of one to two months
- •One-off, on arrival: registration or city hall fees, transport card, bedding and kitchen basics, SIM card
- •Monthly: rent and utilities, groceries, local transport, phone, study materials, social life
- •Variable: weekend travel — the single biggest budget-breaker for exchange students
- •One-off, at the end: cleaning or repair costs, return travel, and the deposit you hopefully get back
Frequently asked
- When is the Erasmus grant actually paid?
- Most universities pay in two instalments: roughly 70–80% shortly after your arrival is confirmed (once the Certificate of Arrival and Learning Agreement are signed), and the remainder after you return and submit the Certificate of Departure, the EU participant report and any language assessment. The first payment often lands several weeks into the semester, so plan to cover your first month yourself.
- Does the grant cover all my costs?
- The grant is a contribution towards the difference in living costs, not a full budget. Most students fund the rest through savings, family support, a national student grant or part-time work where their visa allows it.
- Can I get extra money on top of the standard grant?
- Yes — Erasmus+ has top-ups for participants with fewer opportunities (for example a low household income or a disability) and for green travel by train, bus or carpool. Some home countries and universities add their own regional or mobility scholarships on top.
- Do I have to pay tuition at the host university?
- No. Under Erasmus+ you keep paying tuition to your home university and the host institution cannot charge you tuition fees. Small administrative, student union or insurance fees can still apply.
Turn these numbers into a real plan: add your grant as monthly income and your deposit as a one-off cost.
Open the budget planner