How to Apply to go on Erasmus
Students interested in going on Erasmus should first talk to their Academic Mobility Coordinator(s) in their School or Department and thoroughly research their options early in the first semester of the year before they plan to go abroad. If you study more than one subject, make sure to speak with the Coordinators in each relevant Department.
Once you have spoken to your Coordinator(s) you can apply for Erasmus using the central application form. When applying you’ll need to rank your preferred destinations and explain why you chose those universities. The Mobility Coordinators will review all applications and consider students’ previous academic performance when deciding placements.
Link to Erasmus 2025/2026 Application Form
Mobility Coordinators usually make placement offers early in the new year, around January or February. They try to give as many students as possible their top choice.
After you receive your Erasmus placement, the Trinity Global Mobility team will contact you about the next steps. This includes nominating you to the partner university and starting the paperwork for the Erasmus+ Grant. After being nominated, the partner university will contact you to formally apply. It’s your responsibility to meet any deadlines set by the host university.
Before the end of the academic year, you’ll be invited to pre-departure meetings where you’ll get helpful information about living and studying abroad. You’ll also learn the steps to take to receive your Erasmus Grant and get your modules approved.
Erasmus Deadline Reminder!
Schools/Departments must notify the Trinity Global Mobility team of their students’ placements before the deadline. Each School/Department sets their own internal deadlines for students to apply to go on Erasmus so make sure to clarify what the deadline is with the School/Department Erasmus coordinator.
Going on Erasmus with a Disability
Students who are registered for reasonable accommodations with the Trinity Disability Service who are thinking of applying to go on Erasmus should contact their Disability Officer (askds@tcd.ie), to discuss how best to prepare for Erasmus including disclosing a disability to a host university and seeking reasonable accommodations from them. This is best done as early as possible, even before submitting an application to go on Erasmus, and should not be left until the Summer before going abroad in the following academic year. The Disability Service has put together a helpful Checklist for Students with a Disability to go through when they are applying to go on Erasmus (available here).
Students with disabilities or special needs who are registered with the Trinity Disability Service may be entitled to apply for extra Erasmus+ funding which aims to account for some of the additional costs they might incur.
Erasmus Traineeships
Students who are interested in working rather than studying abroad, by undertaking an internship or work placement for instance, can, in certain circumstances, apply for an Erasmus traineeship. Typically, students choose to do so during the summer, though some students do undertake a semester long traineeship carrying out research in a partner university’s lab or on placement in a partner university’s associated hospital. It is generally the responsibility of the student to secure their own traineeship abroad. Departmental Erasmus Coordinators may be able to offer some assistance.
The traineeship must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Erasmus grant:
- The traineeship documents must show that you will be working with the organisation/enterprise for a minimum of two calendar months.
- You must receive academic recognition for the period of the traineeship either through earning ECTS for it or having it the traineeship be recorded on your academic transcript.
- The traineeship should be full-time and must be related to your degree programme. It is, therefore, important that you discuss the placement with your departmental Erasmus Coordinator(s) and they must approve your traineeship.
- You may carry out a traineeship at any organisation in an Erasmus+ Programme Country (with the exception of EU institutions, bodies and agencies).
- Students MUST have insurance that covers them in the workplace. Students can combine studying abroad on Erasmus with a traineeship in the summer months, as long as the dates of the two activities do not overlap, but your total Erasmus+ Grant funding may not exceed 12 months.
Erasmus+ Grant
Students participating in an Erasmus mobility are to apply for the Erasmus+ Grant. This grant is intended as a contribution to help with your travel and living costs and varies based on the cost of living in different countries.
The Erasmus+ Grant is paid in two installments. The first payment (approximately 80% of your estimated grant amount) is issued after your arrival to your host university. The final payment is issued after you have returned home. To receive the Erasmus+ Grant, you must submit all required documents. The Trinity Global Mobility team will provide you with the necessary information and documents before your departure.
For the first payment you will be required to submit the below documents:
- - Confirmation of Arrival (signed by your host university/organization)
- - The Erasmus+ Grant Agreement (signed by you)
- - Your Learning Agreement (signed by you, your Trinity Coordinator, and your Host Coordinator)
For the final payment you will be required to submit the below documents:
- - Confirmation of Departure form
- - Your host university transcripts (Erasmus Studies) or the 'After Mobility' section of your Learning Agreement (Erasmus Traineeship)
To receive payment send these documents to Erasmus.Outgoing@tcd.ie and include your student ID in the subject line.
If you withdraw from the Erasmus Programme and return earlier than planned after receiving the first installment of the grant, you must contact Erasmus.Outgoing@tcd.ie immediately to update your student record. In most cases, you'll need to repay the grant.
If you currently receive any type of grant or loan, such as the SUSI grant or Northern Ireland Student Loan, these should not be affected by your exchange, and you will continue to receive them during your time abroad. The exception is for students receiving US Title IV Federal Aid—be sure you remain eligible for this loan if you choose to study abroad. If you need to clarify the status of your loan or grant during your studies abroad, contact the Financial Aid Officer in the Academic Registry at Academic.Registry@tcd.ie.