Erasmus+ Mobility for studies (SMS)

The ERASMUS+ Programme is the largest educational mobility programme in the world, promoted by the European Union and managed in Portugal by the ERASMUS+ National Agency. Its main objectives are:

• Improved learning performance;
• Greater employability and better career prospects;
• Greater sense of initiative and entrepreneurship; greater self-empowerment and self-esteem;
• Better foreign language and digital skills;
• Greater awareness of interculturality; more active participation in society;
• Greater awareness of the European project and EU values;
• Greater motivation to participate in future education or training (formal/non-formal) after the mobility period abroad.

Erasmus Charter 2021–27

Who can take part and apply?

Higher education students, regularly enrolled in a degree-awarding study programme, in any Cycle of Studies (Bachelor’s and Master’s), can participate in mobility for studies.

Types and duration of Erasmus+ Mobility

Erasmus+ mobility can be long or short-term. Long-term mobilities last a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 12 months. Short-term mobilities last less than 2 months. Short-term mobility can include Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), which are mobility programmes that combine an onsite component with a virtual component.

Outgoing Application Calendar

The application period for Erasmus+ mobility takes place according to the following phases:

Application Phases 2026/2027

Language aptitude certificates

Before applying, you must take the free language aptitude test available on the OLS – Online Language Support platform. Taking this exam is a prerequisite for students in ERASMUS+ mobility for a period of 14 days or more. It must be taken in the language that will be used during the mobility, and the result must meet the requirements of the respective host institution. Submission of the OLS exam result in PDF format is mandatory for the SMS application to be valid.

• OLS in English
• OLS in Spanish

How can you apply?

Before applying, please contact the mobility coordinator at the Institutional Relations and Mobility Office of ISLA – Polytechnic University of Management and Technology or email paulo.furtado@islagaia.pt. The coordinator will advise you on the mobility process, partner HEIs and countries available for your study programme.

The best way to begin planning your mobility is to explore the countries and universities where you can go. The full list of existing agreements for your study programme can be found in the option below.

Where to apply?

The application to the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme consists of different stages. Below is a summary of the main steps:

1. Meet with the Mobility Coordinator at the Institute. The mobility process involves choosing a course and a host institution/country. In addition, carrying out a mobility period requires preparing a Learning Agreement, which defines the curricular units to be taken at the host institution and later recognised toward your home study programme.
2. If you have any questions, please contact the Institutional Relations and Mobility Office of ISLA – Polytechnic University of Management and Technology in person or via email at paulo.furtado@islagaia.pt.
3. A study mobility period may be awarded a grant/scholarship. The monthly amounts are determined by the Erasmus+ National Agency and based on the cost of living in each country.
4. The application may be submitted in person or via email. It will be validated by the Institutional Relations and Mobility Office, which will decide on its acceptance in this first stage.
5. If your application is accepted, the next step will be to define the Learning Agreement. This process must be agreed between you, your departmental coordinator, and later the host institution.
6. The documents required for the application are: Photograph, Motivation Letter (in English), Curriculum Vitae (in English) and the OLS Language Test.
7. All communications regarding the application process are made by email.

Learning Agreement

The Learning Agreement is the programme of studies you will follow during your mobility period. It defines the curricular units and ECTS credits to be taken at the host institution, which will later be recognised as equivalent units in your study programme at ISLA – Polytechnic University of Management and Technology. Whenever possible, you should ensure ECTS correspondence between the units you will complete during mobility and those in your home programme.

How many ECTS do I have to complete during mobility?

Under the Erasmus+ programme for long-term study mobility (SMS), students must complete 30 ECTS for one-semester mobility or 60 ECTS for one-year mobility. For short-term programmes (BIPs), the minimum number of ECTS is 3.