Ministry of Science
and Higher Education

Erasmus in figures

Since 1st May 2004, i.e. since Poland joined the European Union, 266,000 Polish students have benefited from the Erasmus programme. They most often opted to study in Spain, 43,161 people went there, followed by Germany, where 39,553 students went under the Erasmus programme. Italy was also very popular, with 27,471 people going there.

In 20 years, over 208,000 foreign students visited Poland under the Erasmus programme. Poland was most often chosen by Spaniards - 48,913, Turks - 47,853 and the French - 20,139.

“We are very happy that 208 thousand students have visited Poland as part of the Erasmus programme. Internationalisation of Polish science is one of the strategic goals of the ministry," says Minister Dariusz Wieczorek.

In Poland, EUR 262 million has been allocated for educational projects implemented as part of the EU initiative in 2024. Thanks to these funds, approx. 15 thousand Polish students leave the country every year to complete part of their studies at foreign universities.

Higher funding for the Erasmus programme

Every year, the amount allocated to the Erasmus+ programme by the European Commission increases. There is also something new this year: students will be able to benefit from funding for travel to their chosen destination.

“This is good news for our students. By the decision of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the rules were changed in favour of students and, apart from rates for stays abroad, an additional element was introduced to support travel costs to their chosen destination," said Mirosław Marczewski, director general of the Foundation for the Development of the Education System.

Poland is becoming increasingly popular

Foreign students are choosing Poland as part of the programme more and more frequently. At the launch of the programme, the ratio of Poles going abroad to foreigners arriving in Poland was 10:1. Currently, these statistics are levelling out, and Polish universities are among the most frequently chosen in Europe.

The Annual Report for 2022 published by the European Commission shows that Poland is the sixth most popular country in Europe for students to visit under the Erasmus+ programme.

Erasmus is the flagship of mobility

Students shared their experiences at a press conference. “The greatest adventure in my life would not have been possible without Poland's membership in the EU and the Erasmus programme. Going abroad gave me a lot of opportunities and broadened my linguistic and scientific horizons," said Karolina, who was an exchange student in France and Switzerland.

"Erasmus exchange is not only about improving the language, but also about wonderful friendships, maintaining contacts with people from all over the world and the experience of becoming independent," added Ola, who participated in the Erasmus programme in Spain.

History

The name of the initiative refers to the Dutch philosopher, theologian and humanist, Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536). Not without a reason. Erasmus, like numerous outstanding people of the Renaissance, was educated in many academic centres in various European countries, and his views on education were saturated with deep humanism.

The Erasmus programme was established in 1987 as a large-scale European student exchange programme. Polish students gained access to it in 1998 (at that time, Erasmus was part of the Socrates Programme). Although its scope and goals have expanded in subsequent years, the main idea remains the same: developing international cooperation between universities.

Between 1995 and 2006, Erasmus for higher education was part of the EU Socrates programme, from 2007 to 2013 it was part of the Lifelong Learning programme, and since 2014 it has been part of the Erasmus+ programme, the European Union programme in the field of education, training, youth and sports. Erasmus+ supports pupils, students, teachers and lecturers, as well as adults and volunteers in implementing international projects aimed at increasing competences.

The programme is administered in Poland by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, which serves as the National Agency of the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps Programme. It operates in cooperation with ministries acting as the so-called national power. These are: the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism.