Erasmus+ Scholarship | Mobility Grant

A study abroad period can be eligible for funding from the EU within the framework of Erasmus+. The funding consists of a mobility grant. This is intended to compensate for the additional expenses incurred as a result of studying abroad. For this purpose, the EU created country groups for which fixed monthly funding rates are determined by the University of Potsdam depending on the amount of funding allocated. Currently, these rates are as follows:

Country group	Countries*	Grant
1	Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, (Germany,) Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden	600 EUR/ month or 20 EUR/ day
2	Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Latvia,Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain	540 EUR/month or 18 EUR/ day
3	Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Republic North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary	540 EUR/month or 18 EUR/ day
*Switzerland is currently not an Erasmus+ program country. Students of the University of Potsdam can still study at the Swiss partner universities free of charge, but they will not receive the mobility grant from their home university but from the respective Swiss partner university. ** The UK is no longer an Erasmus+ programme country. Students of the University of Potsdam can still study at the partner universities free of charge, but have to take care of the financing of their stay themselves.

The maximum number of funded days per semester is 120.

In addition, participants will receive a one-off travel allowance. The amount of the allowance depends on the distance between the University of Potsdam and the host institution, as well as on the mode of transport (conventional travel: aeroplane, car, etc.; green travel: bus, train, carpooling, bicycle, etc.).

Distance	Amount for conventional travel	Amount for green travel
bis 99 km	28 EUR	56 EUR
100-499 km	211 EUR	285 EUR
500-1.999 km	309 EUR	417 EUR
2.000-2.999 km	395 EUR	535 EUR
3.000-3.999 km	580 EUR	785 EUR
4.000-7.999 km	1.188 EUR	1.188 EUR
ab 8.000 km	1.735 EUR	1.735 EUR

The European Commission’s Distance Calculator is used to calculate the distance. 

Exceptional costs for expensive travel
If it can be demonstrated that the travel allowance does not cover at least 70 per cent of travel costs, Erasmus+ grant recipients may apply for reimbursement of exceptional costs for expensive travel. If this applies to you, please contact erasmus-outgoing@uni-potsdam.de so that 80 per cent of your actual travel costs can be reimbursed instead of the flat-rate travel allowance.

The grant is calculated exactly to the day based on the actual length of your stay. The number of ECTS points to be earned is also based on the duration of your planned stay:

• 1 trimester is equivalent to 3 months (20 ECTS)
• 1 semester is equivalent to 4 months (30 ECTS)
• 2 trimesters are equivalent to 6 months (40 ECTS)
• 2 semesters are equivalent to 8 months (60 ECTS)

You will be paid 80% of the grant for your entire stay at the beginning of your study abroad period. You will receive the remaining 20% after your return and after submitting all necessary reporting documents.

You should aim for 30 ECTS points per semester (or 20 ECTS points per trimester). If you do not meet this target, you will have to write a statement of reasons (see templates on our website), which we will have to present to the DAAD in case of further inquiries.

If you have achieved less than 15 points per semester, we reserve the right to require you to pay back parts of the grant on a pro-rata basis. If you have not achieved any points at all, you will have to pay back the grant.

Social Top-Ups for students with so-called fewer opportunities

For Erasmus students going abroad with one or more children, a so-called Social Top-Up can be applied for, which amounts to 250 euros per month of your stay. You can find more information here.

For Erasmus students with a chronic illness or disability with a GdB 20 or higher, there is also the possibility to apply for a Social Top-Up of 250 euros per month. Students with a GdB 20 or higher can also apply for a long term grant, which covers the additional costs of up to 15,000 euros incurred abroad. Further information on this can be found on the DAAD website. If you have a GdB of 50 or more, you also have the option of having preparatory trips subsidized - the DAAD lists detailed information on this. Please contact the International Office as soon as possible.

Since the academic year 2022/23, the Social Top Up of 250 euros per month is also available for students whose parents or caregivers do not have a degree from a university or university of applied sciences and for employed students with monthly earnings of between 450 euros and 850 euros per month.

The list of criteria and the required evidence can be found under "Notes on Social Top Ups" on the Downloads page.