Support for participants with fewer opportunities
Are you interested in participating in a student mobility or a Youth Exchange, but worry you may not be able to? Whatever the reason behind it may be, you can rest assured: Erasmus+ programme’s top priority is ensuring inclusion and providing support to the participants in need. Here’s all you should know.
BLOG & NEWS
11/19/20242 min read
A participant with fewer opportunities is a person that due to their personal situation does not have the same possibilities as their peers. The reasons behind it can be as follows:
- social obstacles,
- economic obstacles,
- disability,
- educational difficulties,
- cultural differences,
- health problems,
- geographical obstacles.
If any of these situations applies to you, you might be eligible for additional support, which would ensure that you’re able to fully participate in the Erasmus+ programme on an equal footing with your peers.
What can I expect while participating in an Erasmus+ student mobility?
Every student participating in a mobility at a foreign university is provided with a regular grant that is calculated based on many factors, such as differences in living costs between the country of the sending institution and that of the receiving institution or the distance between the two countries. However, participants with fewer opportunities can also apply for additional financial support and obtain an extra on-top grant from their sending institution, as well as receive funding from other sources at local, regional and/or national level. The higher grant can be used to cover costs such as adapted accommodation, travel assistance, medical attendance, supportive equipment, adaptation of learning material, etc.
Furthermore, all higher education institutions participating in the Erasmus+ programme are obliged to provide the same support services to the incoming students with physical or mental disabilities, or other health-related conditions as the services offered to the local students and stuff.
The programme can also cover exceptional costs for participants with fewer opportunities such as: mentorship prior or after the mobility, visa fees or travel insurance. Additionally, all Erasmus+ students are exempt from paying fees at their receiving institution for tuition, registration, examinations, access to laboratories or libraries, etc.
What can I expect while participating in a Youth Exchange?
The funding of Youth Exchanges covers the costs of meals and accommodation for all participants, as well as other practical and activity-related costs necessary for the exchange. Exceptional costs such as visa-related costs, residence permits, vaccinations and medical certifications can also be covered.
Youth Exchanges specifically seek to include participants with fewer opportunities; therefore, the organisations obtain additional funding per participant to cover costs of inclusion support and make sure that all project activities are accessible to all participants. Individual costs directly linked to participants with fewer opportunities and their accompanying persons may also be covered. And since the period of the mobility is relatively short (5 to 21 days), it might make the participation of disadvantaged young people easier.
Each participant also receives a contribution to the travel costs, that is calculated based on the distance. Although promoting sustainable travel has always been one of the priorities of the Erasmus+ programme, ensuring that all participants receive proper support to reach their destinations is just as important. Therefore, next to the extra funding provided to encourage participants to use green means of transport, an increased support for non-green travel has been implemented, to aid those coming from remote areas, islands or with insufficient rail networks.
Do you have more questions?
If you still have any doubts whether you would be able to participate or not, consult the coordinator, the facilitator, or any other person responsible for the programme in which you are willing to participate. They will make sure to have you included, so that you can enjoy your Erasmus+ experience to the fullest.
Sources:
3. https://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-3652/Guide_Erasmusplus_Mobility_Disability_EN.pdf
4. https://erasmusplus.tn/Call-2022/Mobility-of-young-people-Youth-exchanges-EN.pdf
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