Erasmus PhD Funding

Erasmus+ PhD Funding helps PhD students study in Europe by covering tuition fees, travel, and living costs. The Erasmus PhD scholarship allows you to carry out research at top universities and work with international researchers. To apply, you’ll need to meet the eligibility requirements and apply through the university or agency you choose. Keep in mind, the funding is usually for a limited period, so planning your research timeline is important.

Are you thinking about studying abroad as part of your PhD? An Erasmus+ placement could help fund your academic adventure (without needing a treasure map). The Erasmus+ programme gives students the chance to spend time abroad, and you might even score a grant to cover your costs.

Aside from collecting cultural experiences, this opportunity can boost your language, communication, and interpersonal skills—so you’ll return not just smarter, but more employable too.

In this guide, I’ll be giving you the low down on Erasmus+ PhD placements and how you can make the most of them. So, grab a snack, and let’s dive in—you might just be packing your bags sooner than you think!

By the way, if you're in the UK, you'll want the Turing Scheme as the UK left the Erasmus programme at the end of 2020. We have a whole guide on the Turing Scheme,for you to see if the UK’s new international exchange programme is for you.

Erasmus+ lets you study or work abroad for up to 12 months during your PhD. The best part? You don’t have to do it all at once. You can spread out your placements, as long as they don’t exceed a year in total.

If you've already graduated, you can still apply for a placement, but you’ll need to do so before you finish your PhD. It’s a great chance to gain extra professional experience before jumping into the job market.

On top of all that, you’ll get access to resources, equipment, and archives that might be hard to find back home—perfect if your research needs a special touch or a unique dataset. It could also make your PhD stand out from the crowd.

Oh, and the Erasmus programme is now entering a new phase with nearly double the budget of the last one—so there's more opportunity to go around!

The Turing Scheme

After the UK left Erasmus in December 2020, the Turing Scheme stepped in as its replacement. It’s a £100 million international exchange programme for universities, funding around 35,000 British students. The scheme is open to UK-based students at higher education institutions, including those at undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels. So, while Erasmus is history for the UK, the Turing Scheme offers a new way to take your studies global.

If you're eyeing an Erasmus+ placement, there are two options: traineeships and studentships. Both can give your PhD and career a boost, but you’ll need to pick whether you want to focus on academic research or gain work experience abroad. Either way, your time abroad must relate to your PhD and help with your personal development.

Traineeships

Traineeships are more work-focused and give you international experience you can’t get at home. Some placements might even offer a wage (but you’ll need to check with your Erasmus+ coordinator). Traineeships last between 2 and 12 months, perfect if you prefer a shorter placement.

Studentships

Studentships are for those wanting to improve soft skills like communication, languages, and intercultural abilities. They’re also great if you need specialised training or access to resources not available at home. Your placement can last anywhere from 3 and 12 months, and you might even earn credits towards your degree.

Erasmus+ placements happen in Programme Countries and Partner Countries.

Programme countries

Programme countries include EU members and some non-EU countries—places where your placement could take place.

Partner countries

Partner countries can join the programme, but only on a limited basis. This means your placement is less likely to be in a partner country. However, it’s still worth exploring—there are exciting opportunities, and you might find the perfect fit for your research. Check the full list of partner countries on the Erasmus+ website and see where your PhD could take you!

Most PhD students can receive funding for an Erasmus placement abroad in the form of an individual support grant. The amount depends on how the cost of living in your home country compares to your destination:

Study abroad

• For countries with similar living costs, you’ll get the medium-range grant, between €292 and €606 per month—enough to cover your daily caffeine fix and the odd research book.
• For countries with higher living costs, you’ll get the higher range grant, between €348 and €674 per month—just enough to survive in places where a cup of coffee costs more than your entire lunch.
• For countries with lower living costs, you’ll get the lower range grant, between €225 and €550 per month—perfect if you’ve mastered the art of budgeting.

So, wherever you’re heading, Erasmus has got you covered... just don’t expect to live like a royal.

To apply for Erasmus+, go through your university. Speak to your Erasmus+ coordinator to find out about available placements. Generally, you should apply the year before you plan to go.

If you’re looking for a traineeship, check out ErasmusIntern, a site that connects students with companies offering opportunities abroad.

Eligibility

Placements are usually in an Erasmus Programme Country, but Partner Countries can join in some activities. Check with your Erasmus+ coordinator for the details.

You can also do a placement after you finish your PhD, but you must:

• Apply for a placement before you graduate
• Complete your placement within one year of finishing your PhD

Online Linguistics Support (OLS)

Before you go, you’ll need to take an OLS language assessment to check your language skills. Don’t worry, this won’t stop you from taking part—it's just to make sure you’re ready. If you need to improve your language skills, there are online resources to help you out.

OLS covers languages like Czech, French, German, Spanish, and more, and you can even do online tutoring or MOOCs to improve. If OLS doesn’t offer support for your chosen language, your institution will provide other help.

When you return, you'll do another OLS assessment to see how much you’ve improved.

Learning Agreement

Whether you're doing a traineeship or studentship, you'll sign a Learning Agreement. For traineeships, it details the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved and how the placement will be recognised. For studentships, it covers how your time abroad will count towards your academic work.

Grant Agreement

Even if you're not eligible for a grant, you'll sign a Grant Agreement to confirm your placement duration and your rights and obligations.

Know your rights

Different countries have different laws—what you take for granted in the UK might not apply elsewhere. Partner Countries won’t follow EU law, so make sure you know your rights. The European Commission’s Your rights as a mobile student guide is a good place to start.

You can find out more about Erasmus+ opportunities at the official website.

The ESAA (Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Association) also provides an online networking forum for current Erasmus+ students and Alumni.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellowships (MSCA)

The grants and scholarships described on this page can help you spend part of your PhD abroad for work or training. But there is an alternative.

MSCA funding supports students to complete a full PhD abroad. These preset projects are organised through Innovative Training Networks (ITN), in which you work in both the academic and non-academic sectors. Do note that the participating countries differ slightly for this programme. For full information, read our guide to MSCA PhD funding.

Let’s be honest—navigating Erasmus+ can feel like juggling admin, funding, and survival skills all at once. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Here are a few tips that should hopefully help avoid any setbacks:

• Start early: You might be used to last-minute deadlines, but Erasmus+ paperwork doesn’t work that way. Also, check your paperwork (twice) and triple-check what you need before you travel.
• Learn some local lingo: Relying on Google Translate and interpretive dancing might not get you far.
• Be realistic about money: Erasmus+ funding helps, but it won’t stretch to five-star meals and weekend city breaks—unless you’re also researching "How to Survive on Instant Noodles."
• Say yes (within reason): Invitations to conferences, networking events, or a casual research trip to a vineyard? Take them. Dodgy invitations from strangers? Maybe not.

Erasmus+ is a brilliant opportunity—just plan ahead, embrace the adventure.

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