Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility
The Erasmus+ programme offers opportunities for students and university staff to engage in mobility to a Partner country (third countries not associated with the programme) or vice versa through International Credit Mobility (ICM). This action of the Erasmus+ programme allows students and staff to study, train, or teach at partner institutions in non-EU countries, fostering global cooperation and academic exchange. The programme covers all study levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral.
International Credit Mobility has four different opportunities: student mobility for studies, traineeships, and staff mobility for teaching and training. ICM provides participants with a unique opportunity to experience different cultures, educational systems, and professional environments, enhancing both their academic and personal development.
Requirements
To participate in International Credit Mobility, applicants must:
- Be enrolled in or employed by a Higher Education Institution that has an Erasmus+ partnership with a university in a third country not associated with the Erasmus+ programme.
- Meet the specific academic and language requirements set by the host institution.
- Be selected through a competitive application process based on merit and motivation.
Each partnership has its own funding conditions and eligibility criteria, depending on the region and the nature of the agreement between institutions.
Destinations
Length
The duration of an International Credit Mobility exchange varies depending on the type of programme:
- For students: 2 months to 12 months (per study cycle: Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate). For short term doctoral mobility or if part of a blended mobility, physical mobility can last from 5 to 30 days.
- For staff: 5 days to 2 months, including teaching and training opportunities, and can also be carried out as blended.
Participants must ensure that their study period, training, or teaching activities are recognised by their home institution. Student and staff mobility can take place in any subject area or academic discipline. A study period and a traineeship can also be combined, for a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 12 months.
A student can go on mobility several times, up to a maximum of 12 months per study cycle (excluding time covered by virtual components during a blended mobility). Prior experience under Erasmus Programme; Erasmus+ mobility for higher education students(within Programme countries) and as scholarship holders of Erasmus Mundus Master Courses and Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees is taken into account for the maximum of 12 months. However, non-funded mobility periods under Erasmus+ (e.g. virtual component of a blended mobility), participation in Erasmus Mundus Master Courses and Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees as self-financing participants are not taken into account for the 12 months-rule.
Please note that participants may need a visa or residence permit, and both sending and receiving institutions should provide guidance to facilitate this process. The EU Immigration Portal and National Agencies offer additional information on visa procedures.
Study fields
Depending on the programme you are enrolled in. Each HEI has agreements with various universities, specific to each course, and you must choose your preferred option from that list.
Funding
Check out our tool and make a simulation of your Erasmus+ Grant, based on your mobility type, duration and location. The simulation will give you an estimate based on general European wide rules based on the Erasmus+ programme guide. As an Erasmus+ student, you are exempt from fees for tuition, registration, examinations, and charges for access to laboratories or libraries at the receiving institution. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may still apply.
Make a simulation of your Erasmus+ Grant
The Erasmus+ programme offers various financial top-ups, also known as additional grants, which can help cover extra expenses related to specific circumstances or needs of students. These may include:
- Travel support,
- Support for students with fewer opportunities.
Note: The top-up for students with fewer opportunities is designed to support students who face barriers to participation in mobility. However, who qualifies for this top-up can vary from one country or institution to another. In some countries, inclusion support may be available for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, student parents, those with a non-academic background, or working students—but these categories are not universal. National Agencies and higher education institutions may apply their own definitions and criteria.
So, before applying, always check with your university’s Erasmus+ coordinator or visit your National Agency’s website to understand whether you qualify, what documents you may need and how and when to apply for the support.