Erasmus+ KA1 Training, Funding and Mobility Guide
A practical guide for schools, VET providers and adult education organisations planning Erasmus+ staff mobility, professional development courses, job shadowing and other learning activities abroad.
What is Erasmus+ KA1?
Erasmus+ Key Action 1 (KA1) supports learning mobility: structured opportunities for people to learn, train, teach, observe practice or develop skills in another country.
Learning with a purpose
Activities should have clear learning objectives and contribute to the participant’s professional or educational development.
International exchange
Mobility is transnational and should create meaningful learning and exchange between people or organisations in different countries.
Organisational impact
KA1 projects are expected to connect individual learning with wider priorities such as quality, inclusion, digital development, sustainability and internationalisation.
Who can participate?
KA1 funding is normally managed by an eligible organisation. Participants take part through that organisation and must meet the rules for the relevant education or training field.
School education
Eligible staff can include teachers, school leaders and other teaching or non-teaching staff working in school education.
- Pre-primary, primary and secondary education
- Teaching and school leadership staff
- Relevant support, coordination and specialist staff
Vocational education and training
VET mobility can support learners and apprentices as well as teachers, trainers and other staff involved in initial or continuing VET.
- VET learners and apprentices
- Teachers, trainers and mentors
- Relevant non-teaching and mobility staff
Adult education
Adult education mobility can involve adult learners and education staff from a wide range of formal, non-formal and informal learning organisations.
- Adult educators and trainers
- Management, coordination and support staff
- Eligible adult learners in supported mobility formats
What activities are funded?
For school-education staff mobility, the 2026 Programme Guide identifies three main activity formats. Each format must be connected to the project’s learning objectives and follow Erasmus quality requirements.
| Activity | Physical mobility duration | What it involves | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job shadowing | 2–60 days | Observation and interaction at a host organisation, with a clearly identified mentor, to learn new practices and gather ideas. | Learning directly from another school or education organisation and comparing professional practice. |
| Teaching assignments | 2–365 days | Teaching or providing training to learners at a host organisation abroad while learning through professional exchange. | Deeper professional exchange, teaching practice and collaboration with host staff. |
| Courses and training | 2–10 days | Structured training delivered by qualified professionals with a defined programme, learning outcomes and active participant interaction. | Professional development in areas such as teaching methodologies, AI and digital education, inclusion, languages, wellbeing or sustainability. |
For the complete eligibility conditions, qualitative requirements and any limits applying to a specific project, use the official school education mobility chapter.
What can Erasmus+ funding support?
Erasmus+ KA1 grants use defined budget categories. The exact support available depends on the action, project, destination, duration, participant profile and the rules applied by the relevant National Agency.
Before you calculate your Erasmus+ teacher training grant
- Funding is awarded to the beneficiary organisation; it is not automatically assigned to an individual participant.
- The approved project budget and grant agreement determine which costs can be supported.
- National Agencies may publish country-specific rates, procedures or interpretations.
- Course fees are subject to the conditions and limits applying to the relevant action and project.
- Participants should obtain approval from their sending organisation before making a binding course or travel booking.
Because rates and rules can change, this page deliberately does not reproduce fixed grant amounts. Check the current Erasmus+ Programme Guide and your National Agency.
How to find an Erasmus+ course
Finding a course is not only about choosing a topic. The sending organisation is responsible for selecting a training activity that is relevant to its project objectives and offers a suitable level of quality.
1. Start with your mobility objectives
Identify the professional need first, then shortlist courses whose learning outcomes, target audience, methods and level match that need.
2. Check the course information
Review the dates, duration, location, learning outcomes, methodology, group format, trainer/provider information and what participants will actually do.
3. Look for active, transnational learning
Erasmus+ courses should be structured and interactive rather than passive conference-style attendance. International exchange should be part of the learning experience.
4. Verify before booking
Confirm the session with the provider, check the cancellation and payment terms, and obtain approval from your sending organisation before committing grant funds.
Also see the European Commission’s Quality standards for courses under Key Action 1.
HESL Erasmus+ training courses
Explore HESL’s full range of Erasmus+ professional-development courses for teachers, education staff and organisations.
Ready to find your course?
Visit the HESL Training Courses page to browse current course topics, locations, dates and full course details.
HESL KA1 projects and mobilities
HESL works across Erasmus+ mobility and training, including structured courses and mobility support. Project and mobility examples can help sending organisations understand what implementation looks like beyond the application stage.
Training courses
Structured professional development for educators and education staff, with practical learning outcomes and international exchange.
Project and mobility experience
Explore HESL’s Erasmus+ project activity, partnerships and mobility experience across education, training and youth.
Updates and mobility examples
Use HESL’s blog and news posts to see recent course groups, mobility activity, project updates and practical Erasmus+ information.
How to plan a successful Erasmus+ mobility
A mobility is more than the days spent abroad. Erasmus+ project quality depends on planning, preparation, implementation and follow-up.
Application and project-management resources
Use official sources for eligibility and funding decisions, and HESL resources for course and mobility planning.
Frequently asked questions
Can an individual teacher apply directly for Erasmus+ KA1 course funding?
KA1 funding for school, VET and adult-education mobility is normally awarded to an eligible organisation. The organisation then selects and supports participants under its approved project or accreditation arrangements.
Are all teacher training courses automatically funded by Erasmus+?
No. A course needs to fit the objectives and rules of the approved mobility project. The beneficiary organisation is responsible for choosing the activity and confirming that the related costs are eligible under its grant.
How long can an Erasmus+ staff training course last?
Under the 2026 school-education KA1 rules, the physical mobility component for “courses and training” is 2 to 10 days. Always check the chapter that applies to your field and project year.
Do organisations need Erasmus accreditation to organise staff mobility?
Not always. Short-term mobility projects are available for eligible non-accredited organisations, while accredited organisations can use accredited mobility projects. Other routes, such as joining an eligible mobility consortium, may also be possible.
Does Erasmus+ support job shadowing?
Yes. Job shadowing is an eligible staff-mobility format in school education, VET and adult education, subject to the conditions in the relevant Programme Guide chapter.
Can I still find external Erasmus+ providers on the ESEP course catalogue?
From 27 May 2026, ESEP stopped displaying courses published by external providers in its course catalogue. Teachers and organisations can still use ESEP for Commission-run opportunities and other services, while external courses can be found directly on provider websites and through other directories.
When should I book a HESL course?
Check the course content and available dates first, then confirm your organisation’s approval and mobility budget. For sessions that depend on group formation, HESL can confirm the current status before you make travel arrangements.
Contact and enquiry forms
Tell us the course or mobility you are considering, your preferred dates, destination and number of participants. If you are still deciding, send your training priorities and we can point you towards the most relevant HESL options.
Course registration form
Use the HESL form when you already know the course, preferred start date and number of participants.
General course or mobility enquiry
For alternative dates, bespoke training, job shadowing or questions before registration, contact the HESL team.