Special grants for an Erasmus study exchange (SMS)

The European higher education programme Erasmus+ has declared inclusion and diversity as one of the most important objectives for the programme generation from 2021 to 2027. To this end, Erasmus+ has embraced an all-encompassing definition of inclusion. Its goal is to facilitate access to Erasmus+ for those who would have been prevented from participating due to various obstacles.

The scope of funding and the target group for special funding are gradually being expanded by the European Commission and the DAAD as the National Agency (NA DAAD). Therefore, the special grants available to students depends on when they intend to study abroad. It is not possible to apply retroactively for additional funding.

• Here you can find all info about

  • Special grants in 2024/2025
  • Special grants in 2023/2024

Special grants in 2024/2025

Special grants and application procedure for an Erasmus study exchange (SMS) in the 2024/25 academic year

The NA DAAD has not yet definitively specified the criteria and documents required for application for these special grants. Subject to final approval, we presume (as of February 2024) that the following special grants will be offered to Erasmus+ participants studying abroad at Erasmus partner universities in the academic year 2024/25:

Special grant	Type & Amount	Target group	Deadline & Application
1. Top-Up "fewer opportunities"	top-up funding of € 250.00 per month in addition to one’s regular Erasmus funding (full months, otherwise partial funding, and only for financially funded periods) This top-up funding can only be granted once per person and stay even if multiple eligibility criteria are met.	•    students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20 or more or with a proven disability, due to which there is an additional financial need •    students with a physical or mental chronic illness, due to which there is an additional financial need •    students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad •   students from non-academic families (i.e. both parents or caregivers) •    employed students (see infos below)	May 15 for study visits in the winter and following summer semester You will receive further information and the application form from the International Office after submitting the online Erasmus acceptance form.
2. Real cost application	individual application for a subsidy of max. € 15.000 per semester (and max. € 30.000 per academic year) to cover the actual additional costs incurred abroad	•    students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20 or more or with a proven disability, due to which there is an additional financial need •    students with a physical or mental chronic illness, due to which there is an additional financial need •    students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad	• All application documents must be submitted to the International Office of the University of Münster three months prior to commencement of the study abroad period.   Please contact Ms Karidio as early as possible.
3. Real cost application – preparatory	Individual application for a grant of up to € 15.000 per mobility to cover the additional costs of a preparatory trip including the costs for an accompanying person	•    students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20 or more or with a proven disability, due to which there is an additional financial need •    students with a physical or mental chronic illness •    students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad	All application documents must be submitted to the International Office of the University of Münster at least 10 weeks prior to the preparatory trip. Please contact Ms Karidio as early as possible.

 

Details

• Special grant 1: Top-up “fewer opportunities”

  (information subject to change depending on the final stipulations of the NA DAAD)
  
  Type and amount of special grant:
  top-up funding of € 250 per month in addition to one’s regular Erasmus funding (full months, otherwise partial funding)

  Target group:
  Students with “fewer opportunities” (as defined by the NA DAAD). The following groups are eligible in accordance with the definition provided by the NA DAAD:

  • students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20 or more or with a proven disability, due to which there is an additional financial need.
  • students with a physical or mental chronic illness, due to which there is an additional financial need.
  • students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad
  • students from non-academic families (i.e. both parents or caregivers)
  • employed students

  
  Conditions and other information:

  • This top-up funding can only be granted once per person and stay even if multiple eligibility criteria are met.
  • The top-up funding can only be granted for periods of approved funding, i.e. Zero Grant periods are non-fundable. If the student prematurely terminates the stay, the corresponding unused portion of the grant must be repaid.
  • Students who travel abroad with one or more children receive a fixed top-up amount of € 250 per month regardless of how many children accompany them. Students may apply even if they are accompanied by partner/spouse, whereby top-up funding is only awarded once per child and stay. If both parents or partners receive Erasmus+ funding and at least two children accompany them, both partners can apply separately for top-up funding.
  • Definition of a “non-academic family”: Both parents or caregivers do not hold an academic degree from a higher education institution.
  • Definition of “employment”: Working students who have to suspend their employment during their Erasmus studies or have to give notice for the stay abroad can receive a top-up of € 250 per month (for whole months, otherwise partial funding). The employment must have been exercised for at least six months prior to the date of application (i.e. from 15 November if applying by 15 May).

  During the minimum period of employment, the monthly salary must be above € 450 and below € 850 (in the case of several activities, the net earnings of all activities per month are added up). Self-employed activities are excluded. The gainful employment may not be continued during the Erasmus studies, but must be paused or terminated.

  
  Application and documents:

  • Applications for stays in the winter semester or for stays after January of the following year must be submitted by May 15.
  • The application includes a declaration in which the student affirms that all eligibility requirements are met, and confirmation thereof can be provided if requested. The student is required to keep these documents and present them to the International Office upon request.
  • Possible documents:
    • Disability: A medical certificate/appraisal confirming that there is an additional financial need due to the disability; disability card or notification from the state social office
    • Chronic illness: medical certificate confirming that a chronic illness exists during the stay abroad which will result in additional expenses (simple confirmation is sufficient, official diagnoses or other substantiating documentation are not required)
    • Stay abroad with child(ren): child(ren)’s birth certificates and travel documents
    • Non-academic family: informal statement on the parents' (or caregivers’) educational levels, personal statement by the parents to this effect, copies of parents' professional training certificates
    • Employment: wage or salary statements
  • You will receive the declaration form and further information from the International Office after submitting the online  Erasmus acceptance form.

• Special grant 2: Real cost application

  (information subject to change depending on the final stipulations of the NA DAAD)

  Type and amount of special funding:
  Applicants are eligible to receive a subsidy of max. € 15.000 per semester (and max. € 30.000 per academic year) to cover the actual additional costs abroad.

  
  Target group:

  • Students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20 or more or with a proven disability, due to which there is an additional financial need. This must be confirmed by a medical certificate/appraisal stating that there is an additional financial need due to the disability or by a disability card or notification from the state social office.
  • Students with a chronic illness (physical or mental), due to which there is an additional financial need. This must be confirmed by a medical certificate (simple confirmation is sufficient, official diagnoses are not required).
  • Students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad. This must be confirmed by child’s or children’s birth certificates and travel documents.

  
  Conditions and other information:

  • The amount of funding is calculated individually based on the applicant’s personal needs and is paid on top of the regular Erasmus+ grant instalments.
  • A combination of real cost application and top-up „fewer opportunities“ (target group 1-5) is possible if: A) there are different characteristics for the receipt of top-up and the receipt of real costs (e.g. top-up for employed students and additional financial needs abroad for students with a disability). B) if only one characteristic is present, it can be ruled out that the same costs are covered by a top-up or real cost application.
  • Students with disability or chronic illness: Only additional expenses resulting from a stay abroad which are not otherwise covered by national funding agencies (e.g. integration offices, health insurance providers, regional associations, social offices, student service organisations) are considered fundable. Such expenses include, for example, travel and accommodation expenses of personal assistants or the additional costs that come with booking handicap-accessible accommodations.
  • Students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad: Only additional expenses resulting from a stay abroad with an accompanying child or children are considered fundable.

  
  Application:

  • Students should plan sufficient time to complete the application, as applicants are required to substantiate the difference between domestic and foreign study- and living-related costs (e.g. by means of Internet research or correspondence).
  • Students who wish to submit the long-form application, please contact Ms Karidio as early as possible but at least three months prior to commencement of the study abroad period.
  • The application is submitted to the NA DAAD by the University of Münster at least two months prior to commencement of the stay abroad. The requested funding is either approved or rejected by the NA DAAD.

• Special grant 3: Real cost application – preparatory trip

  (information subject to change depending on the final stipulations of the NA DAAD)

  Type and amount of special funding:
  individual application for a grant of up to € 15.000 per mobility to cover the additional costs of a preparatory trip including the costs for an accompanying person

  
  Target group:

  • Students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20 or more or with a proven disability, due to which there is an additional financial need. This must be confirmed by a medical certificate/appraisal stating that there is an additional financial need due to the disability or by a disability card or notification from the state social office.
  • Students with a chronic illness (physical or mental). This must be confirmed by a medical certificate (simple confirmation is sufficient, official diagnoses are not required).
  • Students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad. This must be confirmed by child’s or children’s birth certificates and travel documents.

  
  Conditions and other information:
  The amount of funding is calculated individually based on the applicant’s personal needs, similar to the real costs application (special grant 2). The effort required to complete the application is comparable to that of the real costs application.

  
  Application:

  • Students who would like to apply for this special funding should contact Ms. Karidio at least 10 weeks before the start of the preparatory trip.
  • The application is submitted to the NA DAAD by the University of Münster at least four weeks prior to the preparatory trip.
  • The application is approved by the NA DAAD provided that sufficient resources are available.

Special grants in 2023/2024

Overview

The following special grants will be offered to Erasmus+ participants studying abroad at Erasmus partner universities in the academic year 2023/24 (with the exception of the United Kingdom):

Special grant	Type & Amount	Target group	Deadline & Application
1. Green travel	one-time allowance of € 50.00 and funding for up to four additional days of travel	• students who use low-emission forms of transportation (e.g. train, bus, carpooling) to reach their host university for at least 50% of the route (back and forth)	• 15 June for study visits in the winter and sommer  semester You will receive further information and the application from the International Office after submitting the online Erasmus acceptance form.
2. Top-up “fewer opportunities”	top-up funding of € 250.00 per month in addition to one’s regular Erasmus funding (full months, otherwise partial funding, and only for financially funded periods) This top-up funding can only be granted once per person and stay even if multiple eligibility criteria are met.	•    students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20% or more • students with a chronic illness which would result in additional financial need abroad • students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad • students from non-academic families (i.e. both parents or caregivers) • employed students (see infos below)	• 15 June for study visits in the winter and summer semester You will receive further information and the application from the International Office after submitting the online Erasmus acceptance form.
3. Long-form application	individual application for a subsidy of max. 15,000 euros per semester (and max. 30,000 euros per academic year) to cover the actual additional costs of foreign mobility	• students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20% or more • students with a chronic illness which would result in additional financial need abroad • students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad	• all application documents must be submitted to the NA DAAD two months prior to commencement of the study abroad period (submitted by the International Office of the University of Münster) Please contact Ms Karidio as early as possible.
4. Preparatory trips – actual-cost application	individual application for a subsidy of max. 15,000 euros per mobility measure to cover the actual additional costs of carrying out a preparatory trip	• students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20% or more • students with a chronic illness which would result in additional financial need abroad • students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad	• all application documents must be submitted to the NA DAAD at least four weeks prior to the preparatory trip (submitted by the International Office of the University of Münster) Please contact Ms Karidio as early as possible.

Because Erasmus exchange students in the United Kingdom are only eligible for funding through earlier Erasmus projects due to Brexit, it is possible to secure other types of special funding for stays in the UK. For more information or advice, please contact Ms Karidio.

 

Details

• Special grant 1: Green travel

  (information subject to change depending on the final stipulations of the NA DAAD)

  Type and amount of special grant:
  One-time allowance of € 50.00 and funding for up to four additional days of travel

  Target group:
  Students who use low-emission forms of transportation (e.g. train, bus, carpool, bicycle or other environmentally friendly mode of transportation) to reach their host university for at least 50% of the route (back and forth). Travel by ship is only considered “green” if the only other way to reach the destination is by plane.

  Conditions and other information:

  • The additionally funded days have no effect on either the minimum or maximum duration of the mobility measure and therefore are not counted toward the Erasmus contingent assigned to each study cycle.
  • The special allowance for green travel can be combined with all the following special grants except for the long-form application (special grant 3).

  Application and documents:

  • Applications for stays in the winter semester and for stays after January of the following year must be submitted by 15 June.
  • The application includes a declaration in which the student affirms that all eligibility requirements are met and confirmation thereof can be provided if requested. The student is required to keep these documents and present them to the International Office upon request.
  • Possible documents: travel documents, e.g. bus or train tickets
  • You will receive the declaration form and further information from the International Office after submitting the online Erasmus acceptance form.

• Special grant 2: Top-up “fewer opportunities”

  (information subject to change depending on the final stipulations of the NA DAAD)

  Type and amount of special grant:
  top-up funding of € 250.00 per month in addition to one’s regular Erasmus funding (full months, otherwise partial funding)

  Target group:
  Students with “fewer opportunities” (as defined by the NA DAAD). The following groups are eligible in accordance with the definition provided by the NA DAAD:

  • students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20% or more or a proven disability which would result in additional financial need
  • students with a chronic illness which would result in additional financial need abroad
  • students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad
  • students from non-academic families
  • employed students 

  Conditions and other information:

  • This top-up funding can only be granted once per person and stay even if multiple eligibility criteria are met.
  • The top-up funding can only be granted for periods of approved funding, i.e. Zero Grant periods are non-fundable. If the student prematurely terminates the stay, the corresponding unused portion of the grant must be repaid.
  • Students who travel abroad with one or more children receive a fixed top-up amount of € 250 per month regardless of how many children accompany them. Students may apply even if they are accompanied by partner/spouse, whereby top-up funding is only awarded once per child and stay. If both parents or partners receive Erasmus+ funding and at least two children accompany them, both partners can apply separately for top-up funding.
  • Definition of a “non-academic family”: Both parents or caregivers do not hold an academic degree from a higher education institution.
  • Definition of “employment”: Working students who have to suspend their employment during their Erasmus studies or have to give notice for the stay abroad can receive a top-up of € 250.00 per month (for whole months, otherwise partial funding). The employment must have been exercised for at least six months prior to the date of application (i.e. from 15 December if applying by 15 June).

    During the minimum period of employment, the monthly salary must be above € 450 and below € 850 (in the case of several activities, the net earnings of all activities per month are added up). The employment must be subject to social security contributions. Self-employed activities are excluded. The gainful employment may not be continued during the Erasmus studies, but must be paused or terminated.

  Application and documents:

  • Applications for stays in the winter semester or for stays after January of the following year must be submitted by 15 June.
  • The application includes a declaration in which the student affirms that all eligibility requirements are met, and confirmation thereof can be provided if requested. The student is required to keep these documents and present them to the International Office upon request.
  • Possible documents:
    • Degree of disability: letter of confirmation from the state social office or disability certificate
    • Chronic illness: medical certificate confirming that a chronic illness exists during the stay abroad which will result in additional expenses abroad (simple confirmation is sufficient, official diagnoses or other substantiating documentation are not required)
    • Stay abroad with child(ren): child(ren)’s birth certificates and travel documents
    • Non-academic family: informal statement on the parents' (or caregivers’) educational levels, personal statement by the parents to this effect, copies of parents' professional training certificates
    • Employment: wage or salary statements
  • You will receive the declaration form and further information from the International Office after submitting the online Erasmus acceptance form.

• Special grant 3: Long-form application

  (information subject to change depending on the final stipulations of the NA DAAD)

  Type and amount of special funding:
  Applicants are eligible to receive a subsidy of max. 15,000 euros per semester (and max. 30,000 euros per academic year) to cover the actual additional costs of foreign mobility.

  Target group:

  • students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20% or more. The student’s GdB must be substantiated by a letter of confirmation from the state social office or disability certificate.
  • students with a chronic illness which will result in additional expenses abroad. This must be confirmed by a medical certificate showing that a chronic illness exists during the stay abroad which will result in additional expenses abroad (simple confirmation is sufficient, official diagnoses are not required).
  • students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad. This must be confirmed by child’s or children’s birth certificates and travel documents.

  Conditions and other information:

  • The amount of funding is calculated individually based on the applicant’s personal needs and is paid on top of the regular Erasmus+ grant instalments.
  • Long-form application funding cannot be combined with the top-up “fewer opportunities” grant (special grant 2); students may only apply for one of the two additional funding measures. The long-form application should only be submitted if the additional expenses exceed those covered by the top-up “fewer opportunities” grant.
  • Students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20% or more or chronic illness: Only additional expenses resulting from a stay abroad which are not otherwise covered by national funding agencies (e.g. integration offices, health insurance providers, regional associations, social offices, student service organisations) are considered fundable. Such expenses include, for example, travel and accommodation expenses of personal assistants or the additional costs that come with booking handicap-accessible accommodations.
  • Students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad: Only additional expenses resulting from a stay abroad with an accompanying child or children are considered fundable.

  Application:

  • Students who wish to submit the long-form application, please contact Ms Karidio as early as possible.
  • The application is submitted to the NA DAAD by the University of Münster. The requested funding is either approved or rejected by the NA DAAD.
  • The application must be submitted to the NA DAAD at least two months prior to commencement of the stay abroad.
  • Be sure to plan sufficient time to complete the application, as applicants are required to substantiate the difference between domestic and foreign study- and living-related costs (e.g. by means of Internet research or correspondence).

• Special grant 4: Preparatory trips– actual-cost application

  (information subject to change depending on the final stipulations of the NA DAAD)

  Type and amount of special funding:
  individual application for a subsidy of max. € 15,000 per mobility measure to cover the actual additional costs of carrying out a preparatory trip

  Target group:

  • students with a degree of disability (GdB) of 20% or more. The student’s GdB must be substantiated by a letter of confirmation from the state social office or disability certificate.
  • students with a chronic illness which will result in additional expenses abroad. This must be confirmed by a medical certificate showing that a chronic illness exists during the stay abroad which will result in additional expenses abroad (simple confirmation is sufficient, official diagnoses not required).
  • students who are accompanied by one or more children for the entire stay abroad. This must be confirmed by the child’s or children’s birth certificates and travel documents.

  Conditions and other information:
  The amount of funding is calculated individually based on the applicant’s personal needs, similar to the long-form application (special grant 3). The effort required to complete the application is comparable to that of the long-form application.
  The remaining conditions correspond to the funding requirements for preparatory trips funded as a fixed allowance (special grant 4).

  Application:

  • If you wish to apply for a special grant, please contact Ms Karidio as early as possible.
  • The application is submitted to the NA DAAD by the University of Münster. The application is approved by the NA DAAD provided that sufficient resources are available.
  • The actual-cost application must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the preparatory trip.