Increased student mobility in EU

Increased student mobility in EU

The European Commission is considering giving more money to students participating in the Erasmus student exchange programme, a move expected to increase the number of people taking part in the scheme.

“After a long and steady decline, the average grant rose for the first time to €140 per month of community funding in 2004/2005. And there will be further increases this year,” said education commissioner Jan Figel in June.

At the moment Erasmus students receive an average sum of €160 a month and generally fund their studies with other forms of income such as bank loans.

A commission spokesperson said that Brussels is aiming to gradually increase the grant to €200 a month until 2013, but admitted that it is less than the original sum (€250) that the commission had wanted.

Although the grant increase is relatively small, the commission is aiming to increase the number of students participating in Erasmus in the coming years.

Source: EU Observer