How Much Does Erasmus+ Pay? Monthly Grant Amounts by Country Group
By Muntasir • Published May 21, 2025 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Study Abroad, Study in Europe, Erasmus & Exchange, Scholarships & Funding, Money & Budgeting
Erasmus+ groups destination countries into cost tiers and pays a higher monthly grant for the pricier group. At Germany's national agency, group 1 destinations pay 600 EUR a month and groups 2 and 3 pay 540 EUR a month for 2025-26.
🎓 The amount depends on where you go, not where you come from
💶 Group 1 covers Nordic countries, Ireland, Benelux, Austria, France, Italy, and Germany
💶 Groups 2 and 3 cover most of Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe
📩 Your home university's international office sets and pays your exact rate
The three country groups
The European Commission sorts Erasmus+ programme countries into three groups based on relative cost of living, then sets a grant range for each group. Each sending country's national agency picks the exact monthly amount within that range and pays it to students going abroad.
At the University of Wuppertal in Germany, the published 2025-26 rates are 600 EUR a month for group 1 and 540 EUR a month for groups 2 and 3 combined (Erasmus+ funding page ):
| Group | Monthly grant | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 600 EUR | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden |
| Group 2 | 540 EUR | Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain |
| Group 3 | 540 EUR | Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Turkey |
These figures come from one national agency's published rates and give a reliable reference point, but your own rate depends on your home country's national agency and its allocated budget for the year. Check your university's international office for the exact figure that applies to you.
Why groups 2 and 3 often pay the same
The Commission's guide separates countries into three cost tiers, but many national agencies set a single combined rate for groups 2 and 3 rather than three distinct amounts. That is why the German example above shows only two payment levels even though the official classification has three groups. Some national agencies do split all three groups into different amounts, so compare your own agency's published table rather than assuming the German rates apply everywhere.
Destination decides the amount, not your home country
Your grant reflects the cost of living where you study, not where you study now. A German student going to Sweden receives the group 1 rate. A Portuguese student going to the same Swedish university receives the rate their own national agency sets for group 1, which can differ slightly from Germany's.
Extra support on top of the base grant
Students who qualify for reduced opportunities support, such as those from lower-income households or with a disability, can receive a top-up on the base monthly amount. Additional funding also exists for students who travel to their destination using low-emission transport instead of flying. Ask your international office which top-ups apply and how to document eligibility.
How long the grant runs
Funding covers a single semester or a full academic year abroad, with the exact maximum duration set by your programme and national agency. Universities publish the maximum number of months they fund per mobility, so confirm this before you commit to a full year abroad.
What the grant actually covers
The Erasmus+ grant is a contribution toward the extra cost of living abroad, not a full scholarship. It rarely covers rent and food alone in a group 1 destination. Budget for a gap between the grant and your real monthly costs, and check tuition rules separately, since Erasmus+ exchange students normally pay no extra tuition to the host university on top of what they already pay at home.