An Erasmus calculator answers one simple question: how much funding will you get for your study abroad semester? The answer depends on two values, the host country and the length of your stay. This guide gives you the formula, the 2026/27 rates and worked examples you can check yourself.
Short answer: You calculate Erasmus+ funding as the monthly rate for your host country times the number of months. According to university notices, the 2026/27 rates are 600 euros per month for group 1 (for example Italy, France) and 540 euros for groups 2 and 3 (for example Spain, Poland). Your university sets the duration. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- The formula is monthly rate times number of months.
- The monthly rate depends on the host country, not on your home country.
- For 2026/27, the rates are 600 euros per month in group 1 and 540 euros in groups 2 and 3.
- According to a notice from Hochschule Niederrhein, two months is the minimum and five months the standard duration.
- Erasmus+ is a contribution to extra costs. It does not cover all expenses.
- Additional funding such as study abroad BAföG may also apply.
The formula: how to calculate your Erasmus+ funding
The calculation is quick: funding equals monthly rate times number of months. The monthly rate depends on the group your host country belongs to. The notices calculate with 30 days per month. That gives 20 euros per day in group 1 and 18 euros per day in groups 2 and 3 (University of Saarland, in German).
- Find your host country and determine its group.
- Read off the monthly rate for that group.
- Agree the number of months with your university in the learning agreement.
- Multiply the monthly rate by the months. The result is the funding you can expect.
Which rates apply in 2026/27?
The rates come from the notices of Hochschule Niederrhein and the University of Saarland, both in German. The table shows example countries. The full lists are in those notices, because each country is assigned to a group.
| Host country | Group | Monthly rate | Four months (assumption) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1 | 600 euros | 2,400 euros |
| France | 1 | 600 euros | 2,400 euros |
| Spain | 2 | 540 euros | 2,160 euros |
| Portugal | 2 | 540 euros | 2,160 euros |
| Poland | 3 | 540 euros | 2,160 euros |
| Turkey | 3 | 540 euros | 2,160 euros |
According to the notices, group 1 includes Belgium, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden, among others. Group 2 includes Greece, Portugal, Spain and the Czech Republic. Group 3 includes Poland, Romania, Turkey and Hungary.
Worked examples to check yourself
The following examples are assumptions. They show the logic of the calculation and are not a promise of funding for you.
| Scenario (assumption) | Group | Months | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Italy, standard duration | 1 | 5 | 5 times 600 euros | 3,000 euros |
| B: Spain, three months | 2 | 3 | 3 times 540 euros | 1,620 euros |
| C: Poland, four months | 3 | 4 | 4 times 540 euros | 2,160 euros |
Check: for scenario A, this equals 20 euros per day, 30 days per month and five months, so 3,000 euros. That matches the daily calculation in the notice.
How to fit the grant into your budget
The grant is only one part of the calculation. The following example shows how large the gap can be. All figures are assumptions, not averages.
| Item (assumption: Spain, four months) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Erasmus+ grant (4 times 540 euros) | 2,160 euros |
| Rent (4 times 400 euros) | 1,600 euros |
| Living costs (4 times 350 euros) | 1,400 euros |
| Travel there and back | 250 euros |
| Travel health insurance (4 times 30 euros) | 120 euros |
| Total costs | 3,370 euros |
| Gap you must cover yourself (3,370 minus 2,160) | 1,210 euros |
With these assumptions, a gap of 1,210 euros remains. You need to cover it from savings, a part-time job, BAföG or other sources. Rent and living costs vary a lot between cities, so use the pattern for your own calculation rather than as a forecast for Spain.
What the calculator does not include
- Travel costs, insurance, rent and living costs. Erasmus+ is a contribution, not a full package.
- Payment through your university. It ties funding to conditions such as the learning agreement and the recognition of your courses.
- A possible offset against BAföG. Your BAföG office checks this case by case.
- Deadlines set by your university. They decide when you have to apply.
For supplements under BAföG, see Auslands-BAföG: Zuschläge für das Auslandssemester 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many months can I be funded with Erasmus+?
Your university sets the duration. According to the Hochschule Niederrhein notice, two months is the minimum and five months the standard duration. Some notices also mention a maximum of four months per semester. Ask your International Office for your university’s rules.
Does my home country change the amount?
No. What counts is the host country. The University of Saarland notice states clearly that the amount is not based on Germany as the home country.
Is Erasmus+ counted against my BAföG?
Your BAföG office decides this case by case. There is no blanket answer. Ask for the calculation in writing before you make any financial decisions.
Can I get Erasmus+ for an internship?
The notices also cover internships. Rates and conditions can differ. Ask your International Office which programme fits your plan.
Can I combine Erasmus+ with a scholarship?
Whether a scholarship and Erasmus+ exclude each other depends on the rules of the scholarship provider and your university. Disclose all funding and ask in advance before you accept.
How do I find my country group?
The group appears in your university’s notice, which assigns every host country to a group. If your country is not in the table above, check the full list or ask your International Office. If your duration changes during the stay, recalculate the grant. Agree any change with your university before you act on it.
When do I receive the money?
Payment runs through your university and often happens in instalments. The exact timing depends on your university. Plan the first weeks abroad so that you can cover them without the Erasmus payment.
What to do next
- Choose your destination and check its group.
- Agree the duration and the learning agreement with your university.
- Calculate the grant as monthly rate times months.
- Clarify deadlines and application documents with the International Office.
- Check additional funding such as study abroad BAföG.
Related guides
- Erasmus Funding Rates 2026/27: Deadlines Explained
- Funding Study Abroad: BAföG, Erasmus and Scholarships
- Planning an Exchange Semester: Erasmus and Funding
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- Auslandssemester in Italien: Versicherung und Wohnungssuche (in German)
Sources: Hochschule Niederrhein: Erasmus+ study grant rates 2025/26 and 2026/27, in German (undated, accessed October 2026); University of Saarland: Erasmus+ funding for student mobility 2026/2027, in German (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
