The LifeLong Learning Programme offers the possibility of studying abroad in another European country for a period of between 3 and 12 months. It is named after the philosopher, theologian and humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam (1465-1536). The EU budget of the LifeLong Learning Programme for 2000-2006 amounts to around 950 Mio € (of which approximately 750 Mio € for students grants). From 1987/88 to 2003/2004, more than 1 million university students had spent an Erasmus period abroad and 2,199 universities (or other Higher Education institutions) are presently participating in the programme.

As in the past, ERASMUS is open

• to all types of higher education institutions (for which the term "universities" is generally used)

 

• in all academic disciplines and all levels of higher education study up to and including the Doctorate and

 

• to those emerging from the 31 countries participating in SOCRATES, as well as to students emerging from any other country, who are officially recognized by a Member State as refugees, stateless persons or permanent residents.

Participating countries

Adopted on 24 January 2000 and spanning the period until the end of 2006, the LifeLong Learning Programme and its Erasmus action are now open to the participation of 31 countries:

• the 25 Member States of the European Union

 

• the 3 European Economic Area countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway)

 

• the 3 candidate countries (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey).

Additional funds are provided in each country by public authorities, by the universities themselves and by other organizations. Erasmus grants are mobility grants destined to cover the additional costs of a study period abroad rather than the entire cost of the stay.

Read more about the Erasmus/Socrates programme here or contact the international office of your home or destination university.

ERASMUS

The LifeLong Learning Programme is divided into different programmes. Their common goal is to develop a European dimension in the education sector. The demand for foreign language abilities, mobility of both students and faculty, and the recognition of credits obtained in a foreign country, are central tasks of the programme's philosophy. Those are the programmes included under the LifeLong Learning Programme umbrella:

• ERASMUS: for students

• COMENIUS: for high school students

• PROGRAMMA LINGUA: for language studies

• ODL: for Distance Learning

• BILDUNG for adults

• Information exchange among the various educational systems

Contacts

Commission of the European Communities
SOCRATES and YOUTH Technical Assistance Office
70, rue Montoyer
B-1000 Bruxelles

Commission of the European Communities
ERASMUS Office
15, rue d'Arlon
B-1040 Bruxelles

LEONARDO DA VINCI

Leonardo was the first programme to promote the mobility and enhance the professional abilities of students. It was continuously improved and its branches increased throughout the past years. Some of the projects:

• Comett , Community Action Programme in Education and Training for Technology - offering the possibility for students of technical faculties to do internships in other EU countries.

• Petra, Young European Workers Programme - offers the possibility to go abroad, to visit specific classes, and to learn the language.

• Eurotecnet - internships in the area of newly-developing technologies

• Leonardo 2 - possibility to do an internship abroad with a length between three months and one year.

Contacts

LEONARDO DA VINCI program
9 rue de l'Astronomie 20
B-1210 Bruxelles
COMMET OFFICE
14, rue Montoyer
B-1040 Bruxelles

Links:

Lifelong Learning Programme