Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility 2027 | Study in Europe with Monthly Stipend

The Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility 2027 — officially known as Erasmus+ KA171 (Key Action 1, Action 71) is the European Union’s flagship exchange programme that enables students and academic staff from non-EU countries worldwide to study or teach at European universities for 2 to 12 months, fully funded with a monthly living stipend of up to €900, travel support of up to €1,735, and no tuition fees at the host university. The Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility 2027 is open to students from all study fields and degree levels Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD from eligible partner countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific, the Southern Neighbourhood, the Eastern Partnership, and the Western Balkans. Students cannot apply directly to the Erasmus+ programme — they are selected and funded by their home university, which must have an active Erasmus+ KA171 bilateral agreement with a European partner institution. Apply through your university’s international office or Erasmus+ coordinator.

The Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility programme operates within the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme period and was previously known as Erasmus+ ICM or KA107. It is funded by the EU’s external action instruments and specifically designed to support two-directional mobility: students and staff from partner countries (non-EU) going to European universities, AND European students and staff going to partner country universities. For students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other eligible countries, the ICM programme represents one of the most valuable and often underutilised opportunities to spend a semester or full academic year studying at a European university — with full EU funding and without paying tuition fees at the host institution.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s flagship programme for education, training, youth, and sport. It has been running since 1987 and is one of the most successful education exchange programmes in history, having supported the mobility of over 13 million people across its lifetime. The Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme has a total budget of approximately €26.2 billion — a 50% increase on the previous programming period — making it the most ambitious education programme the EU has ever funded.

The International Credit Mobility (ICM) strand — now known as KA171 in the 2021-2027 period (previously KA107 in 2014-2020) — is the component of Erasmus+ specifically designed for international mobility between EU Member States and non-EU partner countries. Between 2015 and 2020, ICM supported approximately 220,000 students and staff from 168 Programme and Partner Countries. The programme runs on a bilateral model: a European university must have an active Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) with a partner country university, funded by a KA171 project grant awarded by its national Erasmus+ agency. Within this framework, both institutions can send and receive students and staff between them.

For students from non-EU countries, the Erasmus+ ICM is one of the most valuable but least widely known opportunities to spend time studying at a European university with full EU funding. Unlike Erasmus Mundus scholarships (which are highly competitive and require separate applications), ICM mobility is arranged directly through bilateral university agreements — meaning that students who are already enrolled at a partner country university with an existing KA171 agreement can access EU-funded mobility without a competitive national selection process. The key is knowing whether your home university has an active KA171 agreement with any European institution.

Monthly Stipend Amounts

The Erasmus+ ICM stipend covers living costs for the duration of the mobility period. The exact amount depends on the destination country’s cost of living and the direction of mobility:

For Non-EU Students Coming TO European Universities (Incoming to EU)

For EU Students Going TO Non-EU Partner Countries (Outgoing from EU)

Additional Top-Up Amounts

• Students with fewer opportunities: +€250/month additional top-up on top of the base monthly stipend. This applies to students who face additional barriers to participation (disability, health problems, economic barriers, geographical barriers, social barriers, etc.) as defined by the National Agency criteria.
• Important note on traineeship top-ups: Unlike KA131 (intra-European Erasmus+), there is no traineeship top-up in ICM/KA171. The traineeship and study mobility rates are the same in KA171.

Erasmus+ ICM 2027 — Travel Support Amounts

Travel support is provided as a contribution to transport costs based on the travel distance between the student’s place of origin and the host institution. Students are strongly encouraged to use sustainable transport options — green travel attracts higher support for shorter distances:

Example travel support for common routes: A student from Pakistan (Islamabad to Berlin ≈ 5,800 km) would receive €1,188 in travel support. A student from Nigeria (Lagos to Paris ≈ 5,100 km) would receive €1,188. A student from Morocco (Casablanca to Madrid ≈ 700 km) would receive €309-€417 depending on transport mode.

Eligibility Criteria

• Enrolled at a Partner Country University: Must be a student registered at a higher education institution in an eligible non-EU partner country, enrolled in studies leading to a recognised degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD). The home university must have an active KA171 bilateral agreement with a European host university.
• Any Study Field: Student mobility can be in any study field — there are no disciplinary restrictions.
• Any Degree Level: Eligible at all three degree cycles — Bachelor’s (short cycle/EQF 5-6), Master’s (EQF 7), and doctoral/PhD (EQF 8).
• Bilateral Agreement Required: Your home university and the European host university must have a signed Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) for ICM/KA171 mobility before the exchange can take place. This is arranged at institutional level — not by individual students.
• Learning Agreement Required: Before the mobility period starts, the student, the sending home university, and the receiving European university must all sign a Learning Agreement defining the study activities to be undertaken and the credits to be recognized.
• Nationality: Students must be studying at an institution in an eligible non-EU partner country. There is no nationality restriction per se — but eligibility depends on the region and country of the home institution.
• No Multiple Mobility Limit: Students may participate in mobility periods totalling up to 12 months per study cycle (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD separately). Prior Erasmus+ mobility experience counts toward this 12-month limit per cycle.

Who Cannot Access Erasmus+ ICM Directly:

• Students whose home university does NOT have an active KA171 agreement with any European institution — students cannot create these agreements themselves
• Students who have already used 12 months of Erasmus+ mobility in the current study cycle
• Students from Belarus or Russia — mobility to/from these countries is not eligible
• Students applying to EU institutions for EU-funded outgoing mobility from short-cycle/Bachelor’s and Master’s level in ODA-eligible countries in most partner regions — these flows are limited to incoming mobility only for short, first and second cycle students

Eligible Partner Country Regions

Eligibility Notes for Specific Countries:

• Belarus: Only incoming student mobility FROM Belarus to European universities is eligible. Outgoing TO Belarus and incoming staff from Belarus are not supported.
• Russia: Only incoming student mobility FROM Russia to European universities is eligible. Outgoing TO Russia and incoming staff from Russia are not supported.
• UK and Switzerland: NOT eligible under KA171 — Region 14 (UK, Switzerland, Faroe Islands) is excluded from the EU external financial instruments that fund KA171.

What Erasmus+ ICM Does NOT Cover

How Erasmus+ ICM Works — The Institutional Process

Understanding how the Erasmus+ ICM programme works at the institutional level is essential before you start your application. The process has two distinct phases — institutional and individual:

Application Process

Step 1: Check if Your Home University Has a KA171 Agreement

Contact your home university’s International Office or Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator and ask: “Does our university have an active Erasmus+ KA171 (International Credit Mobility) agreement with any European university?” Ask for a list of all bilateral partner universities under the current KA171 project. If your university has agreements, find out which European universities are covered, what study fields are included, how many mobility slots are available, and what the internal selection deadline is. This is the most important first step — if no agreement exists, there are no funded slots available to you through this programme.

Step 2: Choose Your Host European University

From the list of bilateral partner universities under your home institution’s KA171 agreement, identify which European university best matches your academic field, research interests, and career goals. Visit the website of each potential host university to confirm the available programmes, academic calendar, language requirements, and housing options. The host university must offer programmes in your field of study that are compatible with your degree programme at home — you need to be able to return home and have your credits fully recognized. If you need language support, note that the Erasmus+ Online Language Support (OLS) is available to all ICM participants.

Step 3: Apply Through Your Home University’s International Office

Submit your application to your home university’s International Office according to their internal selection process and deadline. Required documents typically include: academic transcripts, language proficiency evidence, a motivation letter, a preliminary list of courses you intend to take at the host university, and a CV. Some institutions have additional requirements. The internal deadline at your home university is typically several months before the academic exchange begins — ask your international office for the specific timeline. Selection is based on academic merit, language skills, and motivation as determined by your home institution.

Step 4: Complete the Learning Agreement and Pre-Departure Requirements

Once nominated by your home university, the host European university will send you an acceptance package with detailed information about courses, housing, orientation, and administrative requirements. You must complete a Learning Agreement — a document signed by you, your home university, and the host university that lists the courses you will study abroad and confirms that these credits will be recognized upon return. Complete any language preparation through the Erasmus+ Online Language Support (OLS) platform if required. Arrange your travel, health insurance, and visa well in advance.

Step 5: Complete Your Mobility and Receive Full Credit Recognition

Study at the European host university for the agreed period (2-12 months for long-term mobility). Upon return, your home university is required by the ECHE principles to automatically and fully recognize all educational components completed abroad as listed in your Learning Agreement — no additional tests or procedures should be required. Receive a Transcript of Records and Diploma Supplement documenting your mobility period. Your Erasmus+ experience is a recognized, credited, and permanent part of your academic record.

How to Apply

To access Erasmus+ ICM, contact your home university’s International Office. For the official Erasmus+ programme information:

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) 2027?

Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) — also known as KA171 in the 2021-2027 programme period — is the EU-funded exchange programme that enables students and staff from non-EU partner countries to study or work at European universities for 2 to 12 months, and European students and staff to go to partner country universities. Non-EU students coming to Europe receive a monthly stipend of €800-€900/month depending on the host country, plus travel support of up to €1,735, and pay no tuition fees at the European host university. Students cannot apply directly — they must apply through their home university’s international office, which must have an active KA171 bilateral agreement with a European partner institution.

2. How much is the Erasmus+ ICM stipend in 2027?

Non-EU students coming to European universities receive: €900/month for Group 1 countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, etc.), €850/month for Group 2 countries (Spain, Portugal, Greece, Czechia, etc.), and €800/month for Group 3 countries (Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, etc.). Students with fewer opportunities receive an additional €250/month top-up. Students on traineeships receive an additional €150/month top-up. EU students going to non-EU partner countries receive €700/month. Travel support of up to €1,735 (for distances 8,000 km or more) is provided in addition to the monthly stipend.

3. Can I apply directly for Erasmus+ ICM as a student?

No. Students cannot apply directly to the Erasmus+ programme. The KA171 project grant is applied for and managed by European universities through their national Erasmus+ agencies. As a student, you must: (1) check whether your home university has an active KA171 agreement with a European institution; (2) contact your university’s International Office; and (3) apply through your home university’s internal selection process. If your home university does not have a KA171 agreement, there are no ICM mobility slots available to you through this programme.

4. Do I pay tuition fees at the European host university?

No. The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) explicitly prohibits European host universities from charging incoming ICM students any tuition, registration, examination, or library/laboratory fees. This is a binding commitment signed by all European universities participating in the Erasmus+ programme. The monthly stipend is intended to cover your living expenses — accommodation, food, transport, and personal costs — during your stay in Europe.

5. Will my credits be recognized when I return home?

Yes. Full automatic credit recognition is a fundamental requirement of the Erasmus+ programme. Before your mobility begins, you, your home university, and the host European university sign a Learning Agreement listing all courses you will take and confirming their recognition. Upon return, your home university is contractually required to automatically and fully recognize all educational components completed abroad as listed in the Learning Agreement. No additional examinations, translations, or approval procedures should be required beyond what is specified in the agreement.

6. Which countries are eligible for Erasmus+ ICM?

Students from non-EU partner countries are eligible for Erasmus+ ICM mobility, subject to having a bilateral KA171 agreement between their home institution and a European university. Eligible regions include Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Partnership, Southern Neighbourhood (MENA), Latin America, Asia, Pacific, and Western Balkans. Mobility to and from Belarus and Russia is not eligible. The exact list of eligible countries within each region is updated regularly — check the Erasmus+ Programme Guide at erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu for the current full list.

7. What is the difference between Erasmus+ ICM (KA171) and Erasmus Mundus?

These are two separate Erasmus+ programmes with very different structures. Erasmus+ ICM (KA171) is a bilateral exchange programme where students spend one or two semesters at a European partner university while remaining enrolled at their home institution — they receive credits and return home. Erasmus Mundus (KA2) is a scholarship programme for full degree study at European universities — students apply for full Master’s or Doctoral degrees taught jointly by multiple European universities, with substantially higher stipends but through a highly competitive selection process. ICM is generally more accessible since it depends on existing bilateral university agreements, while Erasmus Mundus requires a direct competitive application.

Final Thoughts

The Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility 2027 is one of the most valuable and yet most underutilised opportunities available to students from developing countries worldwide. With a monthly stipend of €800-€900, travel support of up to €1,735, zero tuition fees at the European host university, automatic credit recognition, and the transformative experience of studying in Europe for 2 to 12 months, the ICM programme offers a genuinely life-changing opportunity — without the intense competition of programmes like Erasmus Mundus. The key to accessing it is simple: find out whether your home university has an active KA171 bilateral agreement with any European institution. Visit your university’s International Office today, ask about Erasmus+ KA171 mobility opportunities, and find out what the next internal selection deadline is. For complete programme information and the official Programme Guide, visit erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu.

If your home university does not currently have any KA171 agreements, encourage your international office to explore establishing bilateral agreements with European universities — the initiative must come from the institutional level, but student interest and advocacy can be a powerful driver. Universities that do not currently participate in ICM are missing a significant opportunity to enhance their international profile and provide life-changing mobility opportunities to their students.