VET apprentices, those who have completed their apprenticeship, pupils at upper secondary specialised schools and vocational education and training staff can already take part in mobility activities under the Swiss solution. However, if Switzerland were to become associated with Erasmus+ – as the Federal Council intends for 2027 – they would participate in the Erasmus+ programme directly and on an equal footing with all other participants from Erasmus+ member states. The funding and participation opportunities under Erasmus+ in the area of mobilities are similar to those under the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+. The following sections provide an overview of the funding opportunities available under Erasmus+.

Should Switzerland become associated to the Erasmus+ programme in 2027, this would mean:

• Swiss vocational education and training institutions would, in principle, have access to all relevant Erasmus+ actions, i.e. on an equal footing with institutions from EU Member States and other Erasmus+ countries. These opportunities differ in parts from the current Swiss solution.
• To date, Switzerland has funded mobilities from Switzerland to other countries (outgoing) and from other countries to Switzerland (incoming). Under Erasmus+, each National Agency funds its own outgoing mobilities. Incoming activities previously funded by Switzerland would have to be applied for by the partner institution in its own country (with the exception of Invited Experts).
• For each project, a maximum of 20 per cent of outgoing mobility mobilities may take place outside Europe.
• From an Erasmus+ perspective, Switzerland would no longer be considered a third country, meaning that European partner countries could carry out projects with Switzerland without restriction.
• Applications would be submitted via the EU Tools.
• As the project coordinator, you would receive funding directly from the Erasmus+ programme.
• The rules and political priorities of the Erasmus+ programme would apply.

Despite some differences from the current Swiss solution, similar activities would be eligible for funding under Erasmus+. You can therefore already launch your project now. We recommend considering two scenarios. Think about how your project could be carried out under both Erasmus+ and the current Swiss solution, taking into account the respective budget frameworks, partner requirements and risks.

Erasmus+ supports the learning mobility of individuals across various educational sectors, including initial vocational education and training. These mobilities are designed to enable vocational education and training institutions to deepen their international cooperation, connect their VET apprentices, apprenticeship graduates, pupils at upper secondary specialised schools and vocational education and training staff to an international network, develop innovative approaches and play an active role in shaping the European Education Area. Participants expand their personal, professional and language skills, thereby enhancing their qualifications and employability. Mobilities contribute to the Erasmus+ programme objectives by promoting quality in vocational education and training, driving forward innovation and digitalisation, strengthening social inclusion and helping to address societal challenges. Through their transnational nature, these mobilities create a clear European added value for those involved and enable a sustainable impact at institutional level, even beyond individual projects. Learning Mobility of Individuals is covered under Key Action 1 (KA1) of the Erasmus+ programme.

Participants from Switzerland can undertake stays abroad in the following countries:

EU Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus

Third countries associated with Erasmus+: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye , United Kingdom (from 2027)

Other countries: The Erasmus+ programme has an expanded international dimension in vocational education and training, enabling study periods abroad to be organised with numerous third countries. The budget for so-called ‘international countries’ is limited to 20 per cent of the approved contract amount per project.

A project usually consists of various mobility activities. As is already the case under the current Swiss solution, the grant amount for an activity is calculated on the basis of various budget categories. Each activity includes a lump sum for:

• organisational support,
• individual support,
• travel costs.

In addition, funding may be applied for in justified cases to cover course fees, inclusion and language support, preparatory visits and exceptional costs. The conditions for these additional fees differ in some cases from the current Swiss solution. The exact lump sums for 2027 will be published in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide at the end of 2026; in the meantime, you can refer to the lump sum rates for 2026.

Under Erasmus+, similar to the Swiss solution, the following activities are funded in vocational education and training:

• Preparatory visits to prepare for apprentice or staff mobility programmes. In the case of long-term mobility programmes, a preparatory visit may also be applied for on behalf of apprentices. A maximum of one person per host organisation applies.
• Short-term mobility  (traineeship) for VET apprentices, those who have completed an apprenticeship and pupils at upper secondary specialised schools, with a duration of 10 to 89 days.
• Long-term mobility (traineeship) ) for VET apprentices, those who have completed an apprenticeship and pupils at upper secondary specialised schools, with a duration of 90 to 365 days.
• Group mobility for groups of vocational training learners, with a duration of 2 to 30 days.
• Staff mobility  for job shadowing, for teachers, trainers and other vocational education and training staff, with a duration of 2 to 60 days.
• Staff mobility for teaching or training assignments for teachers, trainers and other vocational education and training staff, with a duration of 2 to 365 days.
• Staff mobility for courses and training for teachers, trainers and other vocational education and training staff, with a duration of 2 to 10 days (usually a maximum of 50% of the total budget).
• Invited experts: Experts from companies or other organisations visit a vocational education and training institution for 2 to 60 days to support apprenticeship, training or organisational development. The target group comprises the host organisations and their VET apprentices or staff.
• Participation in vocational skills competitions: VET apprentices and accompanying persons may take part in international vocational skills competitions; the mobility duration is 1 to 10 days.

Please note:

• The ‘networking’ activity, which is part of the Swiss solution, does not exist in Erasmus+ as a standalone mobility activity, but is covered by other instruments of cooperation and networking as well as by staff mobilities.
• Within the framework of a project, a maximum of 20% of the budget may be used for non-European mobility, i.e. mobility to countries in regions 1–14 that are not associated with the programme. 
• In the case of mobility projects under Erasmus+, each institution supports exclusively its own VET apprentices, apprenticeship graduates, pupils at upper secondary specialised schools and vocational education and training staff (outgoing mobility only). An exception applies to Invited Experts.
• I don’t find this sentence very clear, also not in GER. Only when it is written (outgoing mobility), so maybe that is enough

Erasmus+ is structured around three key actions (KA), each with a different focus. Mobilities fall under Key Action 1. Within the Erasmus+ programme, there are essentially two ways to access funding for stays abroad for VET mobility projects: short-term projects and projects run by accredited institutions. However, during the transition phase in 2027, accreditation will not be available to Swiss institutions. 

Here’s how you can start preparing for Erasmus+ mobilities now:

Get acquainted  with the Erasmus+ Programme Guide early, particularly the sections on KA1. We also recommend materials from other National Agencies (NAs), such as the NA BIBB (Germany) or the Agence Erasmus+ (France). Movetia will be happy to help you find your way around.

Establishing international partner institutions takes time, so approach existing contacts at an early stage. Movetia supports you in forming new partnerships through various networks. To take the first joint planning step, you can submit an application for a preparatory visit.

Establishing international partner institutions takes time, so approach existing contacts at an early stage. Movetia supports you in forming new partnerships through various networks. To take the first joint planning step, you can submit an application for a preparatory visit.

Think about what your project idea would look like under both Erasmus+ and the Swiss scheme, taking into account the respective budget frameworks, partner requirements and risks. Movetia will be happy to help you assess these.

Significantly larger funding amounts are available under Erasmus+. Make the most of this time to think more broadly about your project ideas, involving more partners, achieving a greater impact and extending the project duration.

For personalised project advice, please contact the vocational education and training team: berufsbildung@movetia.ch