The Erasmus+ France exchange program changes

The Erasmus+ programme is a student exchange programme, and how does it work for international students studying in France?

What is the Erasmus+ Scheme?

The Erasmus + programme is an exchange programme for students and teachers between different countries of the European Union. This international mobility programme enables many students studying on a university course to study abroad. This allows students all over Europe to open up to other horizons, learn one or more foreign languages, and also to establish international relations which are valuable for their future careers. Created in 1987, it has already enabled more than 4 million European students to follow their studies or do an internship abroad, with stays lasting from 2 to 12 months.

What countries can benefit from the Erasmus+ programme?

The Erasmus+ programme is open to EU Member States, plus many countries partner in the program including Liechtenstein, Turkey, Iceland, Norway, and North Macedonia. Outside of Europe, many neighbouring countries are also involved; Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia. Some countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, America, and the Pacific are also partners. Spain sends and receives the most Erasmus students, closely followed by France, Germany and Italy.

As of Brexit, the UK no longer benefits from the Erasmus+ UK Scheme and has created the Turing Scheme in its place.

Who is the Erasmus+ exchange programme for?

The Erasmus+ programme is generally open to all students in their second year of undergraduate studies, provided that the institution in which they are studying is a signatory to the Erasmus Charter. Students must also be citizens of the European Union. As an example, here is the eligibility criteria for the Erasmus programme at IPAG:

• Students need to be in their 3rd or 5th year of the Grande École Programme 
• Does the internship last from 2 to 12 months, or the study stay lasts from 3 to 12 months?
• The student must not be in a gap year
• That the duration of the stay (studies and internship combined) does not exceed 12 months per cycle

Why participate in the Erasmus+ programme?

Essentially, the Erasmus programme allows you to study abroad or partake in an internship abroad. It's a unique experience, both personally and professionally. Erasmus France studies and traineeships allow you to open up to a new culture, learn a language more quickly, and improve your CV. In short, to give you knowledge that comes with international living, and make you more employable. Companies appreciate the independence and autonomy of candidates who have participated in the Erasmus programme, but also the international experience gained during the internship and studies.This is particularly competitive if you plan to go into international business.

How to register for Erasmus+ France?

If you’re eligible for the Erasmus+ programme, to get started you need to ask your institution one year in advance. Your application should be addressed to the international relations officer at your home institution. Please note that the Erasmus programme is selective and that the number of students benefiting from it is limited each year. Applicants must complete a full application file, including a letter of motivation, a letter of application for a scholarship, and a letter of recommendation from two professors. They are also required to take language tests and sometimes to complete a pre-application file. Each student applicant must also provide health insurance and complete a mobility contract. Only the best applicants can, once the selection is made, choose their country of destination as a priority. Others will have to choose less popular countries, while some applicants will not be accepted. However, it is possible to apply to more than one university in order to increase your chances of being able to participate in the programme.

How to finance participation in Erasmus+?

Numerous financial grants are available to finance Erasmus students' studies abroad. The Community Erasmus grant is awarded automatically to selected students. This allowance is around €180 per month, but depends on the university budget and the course destination. It is in addition to the student grant when students already have a scholarship. You can see more about the available financing for international students here.

In addition to Erasmus France, students can also apply for International Mobility Assistance (AMI). This grant is awarded to higher education scholarship students for any stay abroad of 2 to 9 consecutive months. Finally, local and regional authorities may grant scholarships in addition to the other financial aid mentioned above. The amount of these grants varies as it depends on the region and the situation of the student applicants. Some regions are subject to limits on their amount. This is often set annually depending on the number of applicants.

Get in touch with us for more information on studying with IPAG and financing your studies.