On April 1, the German National Agency for Erasmus+ Higher Education Cooperation (DAAD) published a study about the impact of financial top-ups for Erasmus+ participants with fewer opportunities. To evaluate this form of additional funding support, which equals 250 EUR per month, the DAAD conducted a large-scale follow-up survey of students from the KA131 calls 2023 to 2025. The survey included nearly 7000 respondents who were categorised as first-generation students, working students, students with children, and students with a disability or chronic illness.
The results clearly confirm the impact of targeted financial support. More than 60% of respondents stated that they would not have been able to afford an Erasmus+ stay without the top-up. Most students reported that the additional funding enabled them to concentrate more fully on their studies, while the personal and professional benefits of mobility were rated very highly. This shows that financial support measures countering the barriers from one’s family background or life circumstances can significantly improve academic mobility and social participation, DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee pointed out in the agency’s press relase, which contains the full survey report.
The survey highlights the central role of Erasmus+ coordinators: over 70% of students learned about funding opportunities through direct contact at their universities. For the first time, the survey also captured intersectionality, showing that 29% of respondents belonged to more than one target group, e.g. first-generation students who were also working. The findings also underline the importance of ESF Plus funding in making Erasmus+ more inclusive and accessible.
In conclusion, the survey results show that the combination of financial support, targeted outreach, and the continuous expansion of support measures is crucial for inclusive and successful educational mobility.