Ask anyone who's done an Erasmus exchange about it and they'll light up. It consistently ranks among the most transformative experiences young Europeans describe — and it's backed by one of the most generous youth funding programmes in the world.
But Erasmus success isn't automatic. The students who get the most from it don't just show up and hope for the best. They understand the programme, plan thoughtfully, and approach the experience with intentionality. This guide is for both first-timers trying to understand what Erasmus actually is, and for those about to leave who want to make every week count.
What Erasmus+ Actually Covers
Erasmus+ is the EU's overarching programme for education, training, youth, and sport. Within it, several different actions are relevant for young travellers:
- Student exchanges (Higher Education): The classic Erasmus — studying at a partner university for one or two semesters. Open to degree students at participating universities. Includes a monthly grant towards living costs.
- Internship mobility: Doing a work placement in another European country as part of your degree. Often a higher grant than the standard student exchange.
- Youth exchanges: Short projects (6–21 days) for young people aged 18–30, organised by youth organisations. Fully funded — travel, accommodation, food. No degree required.
- Training courses: Professional development for youth workers, educators, and people working in NGOs and community organisations.
- European Solidarity Corps: Long-term volunteering placements with costs covered (a companion to Erasmus+, technically separate).
In Malta, all of these are managed through Erasmus Malta — the national agency. They're the first point of contact for organisations applying for funding, and a useful resource for individuals trying to understand what's available.
Before You Go: Getting the Preparation Right
Sort the paperwork earlier than you think you need to
Visa applications (for non-EU citizens going to certain countries), health insurance (the European Health Insurance Card is free and essential for EU citizens), accommodation bookings, and learning agreements all take longer than expected. Start three months before departure, not three weeks.
Learn at least the basics of the local language
Even if your Erasmus destination is conducted in English, making the effort to learn basic greetings and phrases in the local language signals respect and opens doors. People respond differently when you try. Apps like Duolingo or Pimsleur can get you to a functional conversational level in 20 minutes a day over a month.
Research beyond the university
The surrounding city — its neighbourhoods, transport, community scene, cultural calendar — matters as much as the campus. Look for local Erasmus Student Network (ESN) chapters, language exchange groups, community organisations, and local events. The university is the anchor; the city is the experience.
Budget honestly before you leave
The Erasmus grant is helpful but rarely covers full living costs in Western European cities. Do the real maths: grant + any parental support or savings vs. expected costs for accommodation, food, transport, and activities. Our budget travel guide has realistic cost estimates by region.
During Your Exchange: Making It Count
Say yes to things outside your comfort zone — especially early on
The first few weeks are socially intensive. Everyone is new, everyone is slightly nervous, and the social bonds formed in the first month tend to define the entire experience. This is the moment to say yes to invitations, explore unfamiliar neighbourhoods, join clubs and societies, and resist the temptation to retreat into a safe bubble of people from your home country.
Treat it as a learning opportunity in the broadest sense
Academic learning matters — don't neglect your actual studies — but so does everything else. How does the city work? What do local people care about? How do social norms differ? What can you observe about how this society organises itself differently from yours? Travel is one of the few contexts where this kind of broad, curious attention is socially acceptable. Use it.
Travel on weekends — but not every weekend
Weekend travel is one of Erasmus's great perks. Budget flights, buses, and trains from most European cities make neighbouring countries accessible for €20–60 return. But the students who travel every single weekend often miss the depth that comes from staying in one place long enough to understand it. Find the balance.
Connect with the local community, not just the international bubble
The Erasmus "bubble" — a self-contained world of international students — is real and can be comfortable. Push past it. Volunteer with a local organisation (check our volunteering guide for how). Join a local sports club, attend a local political meeting, go to a neighbourhood market. These experiences don't feature in Instagram posts but they're often the ones people talk about twenty years later.
Youth Exchanges: Erasmus for Everyone (Without the Degree)
One of the most underused parts of Erasmus+ is the youth exchange programme — and it doesn't require a university place. Youth exchanges are open to anyone aged 18–30, and they're run by youth organisations rather than universities.
A typical youth exchange runs for 7–10 days. A group of 20–30 young people from five or six countries gather in one location to explore a theme — entrepreneurship, media literacy, climate action, social inclusion — through workshops, creative sessions, and intercultural activities. Travel, accommodation, and food are fully covered by Erasmus+ funding. Participants pay a small contribution (typically €30–50) depending on the project.
To access these, you need to be connected to a participating youth organisation. In Malta, Projekta Malta regularly runs and coordinates exchanges — both sending Maltese participants abroad and hosting international groups in Malta. Even if you're not Maltese, they can advise on how to find equivalent organisations in your home country.
After Erasmus: Making the Experience Work for You
The "Erasmus hangover" — the flat, slightly lost feeling that follows returning home — is well documented and completely normal. You've been living a version of yourself that feels more expansive than everyday life; adjusting takes time.
Document while it's fresh
Not just photos — actual reflection. What surprised you? What changed your assumptions? What do you want to do differently because of what you experienced? The students who integrate their Erasmus learning most effectively are those who articulate it — in journals, blog posts, conversations, or CV language.
Maintain the connections
The international network you build during Erasmus is one of its most durable and valuable outputs. These aren't just friends — they're potential professional collaborators, hosts for future travel, and windows into how people think and work differently across Europe. Maintain them actively.
Go again
Erasmus is not a one-time deal. Alumni return through postgraduate exchanges, staff mobility, youth worker training, ESN leadership, and eventually as youth workers and educators running exchanges themselves. The programme rewards engagement over time. If your first experience was positive, think about how to deepen rather than just remember it.
Ready to explore Erasmus+ opportunities in Malta?
Erasmus Malta is the national agency for all Erasmus+ programmes — the authoritative starting point for individuals and organisations.