Funding through Erasmus+
Setting up and running a European University
Erasmus+ supports the set-up and running of the European Universities alliances through calls for proposals, covering education and the link with research and innovation, all at the service of society.
Under the budgetary period of 2021-2027, Erasmus+ will assign a record of around €1.1 billion to the European Universities initiative. This means up to €14.4 million available for each European Universities alliance covering 4 years, which is 3 times more than the amount offered during the 2019-2020 piloting phase.
Alliances may be able to extend this period of 4 years of funding with 2 extra more years under a competitive call for proposals. This possibility will be included in 2026 and 2027 Erasmus+ work programmes, which are not yet adopted.
Other Erasmus+ funding opportunities
Next to these dedicated funding streams for European Universities, they can also access other Erasmus+ funding opportunities, linked to for example student and staff mobility and innovation.
Upcoming calls
2024
To set-up a community of practice for European Universities
In 2024, the Erasmus+ programme will support the set-up of a community of practice for European Universities. Through this community of practice, European Universities alliances will:
- Work closer together and exchange best practices and experiences
- Undertake coordinated dissemination activities towards the wider higher education sector
The community of practice is expected to start in autumn 2024.
The European Commission held an information session on to the 2024 Erasmus+ call for proposals for European Universities.
Access the recording and presentations from the information session
2025
There are no calls foreseen.
2026
Subject to the adoption of the 2026 Erasmus+ Work Programme, a call for European Universities under Erasmus+ is expected to be launched in 2026, targeting primarily already existing deep institutional transnational cooperation alliances, ensuring sustainable funding up to 2028.
2027
Subject to the adoption of the 2027 Erasmus+ Work Programme, a call for European Universities under Erasmus+ is expected to be launched in 2027, targeting primarily already existing deep institutional transnational cooperation alliances, ensuring sustainable funding up to 2029.
Results of past Erasmus+ calls for European Universities
- 30 university alliances selected in the results published in July 2023
- 20 university alliances selected in the results published in July 2022
- 24 university alliances selected in the results published in July 2020
- 17 university alliances selected in the first call published in June 2019
Complementary support
National level
On top of the Erasmus+ funding, most EU countries provide additional national or regional financial support to their higher education institutions be part of a European Universities alliance.
It is up to each country to decide how to allocate funds. You can contact the relevant authorities in your country of interest.
If you are interested in understanding how and to what extent such national funding schemes can be used to support transnational cooperation, read about the study on national funding systems of higher education to support the European Universities Initiative.
For the research and innovation dimension
On top of the Erasmus+ funding, several European Universities alliances have received complementary support for the development of their research and innovation dimension from Horizon.
Read about Horizon's European Excellence Initiative.