Erasmus+

VU students and staff may be eligible for Erasmus+ Key Action 131 or Key Action 171 grants for an exchange with another university inside or outside Europe, or for an internship. More information can be found under the headings “Erasmus Scholarship for Students,” “Erasmus funding for Employees (Europe)” or “Erasmus+ Exchange Projects (Outside Europe)”.

VU encourages an international experience to better prepare students for their (international) career and to develop academically and personally. Watch the video of a student who went on an exchange to Helsinki.

VU receives funding from Erasmus+ under Key Action 2 and 3 for several educational projects or programs with a focus on international cooperation.

• Cooperation Partnerships
  These projects focus on innovation and, for example, developing new (teaching) methods. Examples are the 'Transforming Enterprise Education' project on entrepreneurship education and the 'E-inclusion' project on inclusive online education.
• Capacity Building
  VU Centre for International Cooperation (CIS) has extensive experience with international projects aimed at capacity building of higher education, in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They regularly receive grants from Erasmus+ for this purpose.
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM)
  EMJM is a high level joint Master's programme between 4 to 6 universities from different countries. It involves long-term and very intensive international cooperation. VU participates in Neurasmus, SE4GD and Neurodata. A VU Protocol for setting up an international joint master programme is available upon request.
• Jean Monnet
  This programme focuses on funding education, research and debate on aspects of the European Union. VU Amsterdam received Jean Monnet funding to develop the teaching module REPAIR and for a Jean Monnet Chair 'Judges vs Illiberalism'.
• European Universities
  The Aurora network, of which VU Amsterdam is part, has received a grant from the European Commission, under the European Universities program. European Universities are the “universities of the future,” according to the European Commission. These transnational alliances are competitive, high quality and promote European values and identity.

Would you like specific information about grant opportunities, a consultation or support in applying for Erasmus+ education funding? If so, please contact VU International Office at internationalrelations@vu.nl. For research grants, please contact VU Grants Office.

Signature of VU legal representative (only for VU staff)

When applying for an Erasmus+ grant, some application documents require a signature of the VU legal representative. This is the president of the Executive Board. Also for contracts (grant agreements), interim and final reports sometimes the signature of the legal representative is needed. VU staff can arrange this signature via the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 and 3 Coordinator of the VU International Office. Request a signature at least 7 working days before the deadline via internationalrelations@vu.nl using this template. 

Students are eligible for an Erasmus+ scholarship if they are selected for an exchange with one of VU Amsterdam's partner universities within the EU (including Norway, Iceland, Turkey and Serbia). Read the conditions and detailed information about the Erasmus+ scholarship.

There are also opportunities to apply for a scholarship for short 'blended' mobilities, for example, to participate in an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program organised by one of our Aurora partners.

Students are eligible for an Erasmus+ scholarship if they will do an internship within the EU (including Norway, Iceland, Turkey and Serbia) as part of their studies. 

Read the conditions and detailed information about the Erasmus+ internship.

Employees are eligible for an Erasmus+ funding if they are going to teach at a foreign institution with which VU Amsterdam has a bilateral Erasmus+ agreement or attend a training course within the EU (including Norway, Iceland, Turkey and Serbia).

Read the conditions and detailed information about Erasmus+ funding.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam receives Erasmus+ Key Action 171 grant for staff exchange in countries outside Europe. This programme enables project-based exchange of staff (and sometimes also PhD students and students) to and from countries outside the EU. The projects last two to three years. Would you like to use this mobility grant to strengthen knowledge exchange, to start a joint project or to strengthen international partnerships? Keep reading to discover how your project can qualify for this grant.

How can I qualify?

VU submits an application every other year. For Call 2025 no subsidy will be applied for, so the next opportunity will be Call 2026. You can indicate to the Erasmus+ KA 171 Coordinator that you are interested in submitting a project via the internal 'Call of Interest'. The deadline for submitting your proposal for the 'Call of Interest' is 1/12/2025. Please send the completed form to internationalrelations@vu.nl.

Where can I find more information?

• Website of the Erasmus+ National Agency.
• Handbook for project leaders VU.