Erasmus+ funding guidance

Erasmus+ KA1 Funding for Teacher Training

A practical guide for schools, adult education organisations and other education providers planning staff mobility and professional development courses in Europe.

Last reviewed:

Important to know

Understanding Academy is an independent course provider. We do not award Erasmus+ grants and cannot guarantee that a course or participant will receive funding. Funding decisions are made by the Erasmus+ National Agency responsible for the applicant organisation.

Always confirm the current rules, eligible costs and available budget with your organisation and your National Agency before making financial commitments.

What is Erasmus+ KA1?

KA1 is the commonly used abbreviation for Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals. It supports learning mobility for learners and education staff, including certain professional development courses and training activities abroad.

For school education staff, eligible activities may include courses and training, job shadowing, and teaching or training assignments. Similar opportunities exist in adult education, vocational education and training, and higher education, but the applicable rules are not identical in every sector.

Who applies for the funding?

In most cases, an individual teacher or participant does not apply directly for an Erasmus+ staff mobility grant. The application is submitted and managed by the participant’s school, institution, adult education provider or other eligible organisation.

Accredited organisations

Organisations with Erasmus accreditation can request funding for mobility activities connected with their approved Erasmus Plan.

Short-term projects

Eligible organisations without accreditation may apply for a short-term mobility project. This route is often suitable for newcomers or organisations planning a limited number of activities.

Mobility consortium

An organisation may also participate through an accredited mobility consortium coordinated by another eligible organisation in its country.

What costs may be supported?

Depending on the education sector, approved project and applicable National Agency rules, Erasmus+ funding may contribute to several mobility-related costs.

Course fees

A contribution towards enrolment fees for an eligible structured course or training activity.

Travel

A contribution calculated using the travel distance between the participant’s place of origin and the course location. Different amounts may apply to green and non-green travel.

Individual support

A daily contribution towards accommodation, meals, local transport and other subsistence costs during the mobility.

Inclusion support

Additional support may be available when participants with fewer opportunities face costs or barriers that are not covered by the standard grant categories.

Exceptional costs

In justified circumstances, support may be available for costs such as expensive travel, visas, residence permits or certain medical requirements.

Current school education guidance

Under the 2026 Erasmus+ Programme Guide for school education, courses and training normally have a physical duration of 2 to 10 days. Course-fee support is listed as €80 per participant per day.

This is a unit contribution within the beneficiary organisation’s grant. It is not a guarantee that every participant or every actual expense will be fully reimbursed.

Why can funding differ between regions and countries?

The overall Erasmus+ framework is European, but applications are generally managed by the National Agency in the country where the applicant organisation is established.

National and regional differences may include:

  • the exact daily individual-support rates
  • whether an additional application round is available
  • national definitions of eligible organisations
  • supporting documents and administrative procedures
  • budget-allocation methods for accredited organisations
  • national priorities and available project budgets

Participants should therefore use the European Programme Guide together with the guidance published by their own National Agency.

How to prepare your Erasmus+ course mobility

  1. Identify your education sector

    Determine whether your organisation applies under school education, adult education, vocational education and training, or higher education.

  2. Check your organisation’s funding route

    Ask whether your organisation already holds an Erasmus+ accreditation, has an approved mobility project, or participates in a mobility consortium.

  3. Connect the course with organisational needs

    Select a course whose objectives and learning outcomes support the needs of your staff, learners and Erasmus Plan or mobility project.

  4. Check the course programme

    Review the target group, dates, location, duration, learning outcomes, daily schedule, methodology and course fee.

  5. Estimate the mobility budget

    Check course-fee support, individual support and the applicable travel-distance band. Your National Agency makes the final funding decision.

  6. Keep the required documentation

    Your organisation may need the course programme, registration confirmation, invoice, proof of participation and certificate of learning outcomes.

How Understanding Academy can help

For participation in our courses, we can provide information and documents needed for planning and administering your mobility, including:

  • a detailed course programme and daily schedule
  • course objectives and learning outcomes
  • course dates, duration and location
  • information about the course fee and included services
  • registration confirmation and payment documentation
  • a certificate of attendance after successful participation

The sending organisation remains responsible for its Erasmus+ application, participant selection, grant management and reporting.

Frequently asked questions

Can an individual teacher apply directly?

Generally, no. For staff training mobility, the participant normally takes part through an eligible sending organisation that holds or applies for Erasmus+ funding.

Does Erasmus+ always cover the full cost?

No. Erasmus+ grants use unit contributions and co-financing principles. The final support depends on the approved project, available budget and the rules applied by the responsible National Agency.

Is “KA1” still the correct term?

Yes. KA1 remains a commonly used abbreviation for Key Action 1, although official pages often use the fuller name “Learning Mobility of Individuals.”

Does choosing a course guarantee eligibility?

No. The sending organisation is responsible for selecting a course that is relevant to its approved project or accreditation and meets the applicable Erasmus+ requirements.

Official Erasmus+ resources

Use these European Commission resources together with the information published by your country’s National Agency.

Erasmus+ Programme Guide Current programme rules and funding conditions School education mobility rules KA1 mobility for school pupils and staff Adult education mobility Funding routes for adult education organisations Find your National Agency Official guidance and contacts by country Erasmus+ distance calculator Calculate the travel-distance band for an application Quality standards for KA1 courses Official standards for structured courses and providers

Ready to plan your mobility?

Explore our upcoming Erasmus+ teacher training courses or contact us if you need course information for your organisation.

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