Erasmus+ KA131 Internship Grant: Amounts, Eligibility & Timeline

• Country groups — Group 1 (high cost: DK, FI, IS, IE, LU, SE, NO, LI), Group 2 (medium: AT, BE, DE, FR, IT, NL, ES, PT…), Group 3 (lower: BG, HR, CZ, HU, PL, RO…).
• Daily rates set in the annual Programme Guide — typically €19–€33/day in 2026.
• Traineeship top-up: +€150/month vs. study mobility.
• Travel grant: distance-band lump sum (e.g., €275 for 500–1999 km, doubled for green travel).

• Fewer-opportunity top-up: +€250 one-off plus inclusion support based on real costs.
• Green travel: doubled travel grant + up to 4 extra travel days funded.
• Blended Intensive Programme participation may add a separate fixed amount.

• Enrolled students at any HEI holding the Erasmus Charter (ECHE).
• Recent graduates within 12 months of finishing their degree.
• Maximum 12 months of mobility per study cycle (Bachelor / Master / PhD).
• Minimum traineeship duration: 2 months (60 days).

• Universities open internal calls 3–6 months before mobility start.
• Once selected, students have 8–12 weeks to confirm host, sign OLA and complete pre-departure paperwork.
• First grant tranche (usually 70–80%) is paid before departure; balance after the EU survey is submitted.

The numbers below assume 2026 indicative rates from the Programme Guide. Confirm exact figures with your International Office — country groups occasionally shift between calls.

• Spain (Group 2), 4-month traineeship, 1,200 km flight: €674/month individual support + €150/month traineeship top-up = €824/month × 4 = €3,296. Travel grant €275. Total ≈ €3,571.
• Denmark (Group 1), 3-month traineeship, 800 km train (green travel): €824/month + €150 top-up = €974/month × 3 = €2,922. Travel grant €275 doubled to €550 + 4 extra travel days. Total ≈ €3,472 + 4 funded travel days.
• Bulgaria (Group 3), 6-month traineeship, 2,200 km flight, fewer-opportunity participant: €524/month + €150 top-up = €674/month × 6 = €4,044. Travel €417. One-off €250 inclusion top-up + real-cost support. Total ≈ €4,711 + real-cost inclusion.

The KA131 grant is a contribution toward the additional costs of mobility — never a salary. Treating it as full income is the most common cause of the 'I ran out of money in month 3' story.

• Covers: rent contribution, transport pass, basic groceries, phone plan, occasional weekend trip.
• Partially covers (city-dependent): central-district housing in Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Copenhagen.
• Does not cover: flights for family visits, premium gym memberships, frequent travel, insurance beyond EHIC.
• Stacks with: paid host top-up (allowed and common in IT/finance), national aid (e.g. CROUS in France, beca BAES in Spain).

Treat the grant as covering 70–90% of essentials in Group 2 and Group 3 destinations, and 50–70% in Group 1. The rest comes from a paid host, savings, or family support — there is no fourth option, and pretending otherwise hurts the placement.

The grant is paid in two tranches by your sending HEI: typically 70–80% before departure and the balance after the EU Survey is submitted. Knowing the exact dates helps you avoid the cash-flow gap most interns hit in month 3.

• Confirm the first-tranche date in writing with your International Office before signing the grant agreement.
• Open the EU bank account before departure — Spanish, French and German accounts often need local paperwork.
• Plan for a 4–6 week gap between submitting the EU Survey and receiving the balance.
• Keep a €400–€600 cash buffer for the move-in week (deposit + first-month rent + transport pass).
• Track top-up eligibility — green-travel and inclusion top-ups are paid only on documented evidence.
• If your host pays a stipend, time it to land mid-month so it complements (rather than overlaps) the Erasmus+ tranches.

A 30-minute conversation with your International Office before signing the grant agreement prevents nearly every cash-flow surprise we see across our network.