DAAD Marks Historic Erasmus+ Milestone as One Million German Students Study or Train Abroad

Students of the LMU on their way to a semester abroad in Uppsala, Sweden
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(IN BRIEF) The EU’s Erasmus+ programme has reached a historic milestone in Germany, with one million students from the country having received funding for a study or internship placement abroad since the programme began in 1987. The National Agency for Erasmus+ University Cooperation at DAAD announced that the one-million mark was passed in March 2026, based on student mobility data collected since the programme’s launch. Since 1987, more than 17 million students and university staff across Europe have taken part in Erasmus+, while Germany alone has sent one million students abroad and welcomed just under one million international students through the programme. Spain, France and Italy remain among the most popular destinations for German Erasmus students. To mark the achievement, NA DAAD is launching the One in One Million campaign from 8 June, inviting German higher education institutions to highlight personal Erasmus stories and celebrate the programme’s impact on education, careers, personal development and European cooperation.

(PRESS RELEASE) BONN, 5-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Union’s Erasmus+ programme has reached a major milestone in Germany, with one million students from the country having received funding to study or complete an internship abroad since the programme was launched in 1987.

The milestone was announced by the National Agency for Erasmus+ University Cooperation at the German Academic Exchange Service, known as NA DAAD, in Bonn. To mark the achievement, NA DAAD will launch a social media campaign titled One in One Million from 8 June, celebrating the long-running success of the European exchange programme at German higher education institutions.

For nearly four decades, Erasmus+ has played a central role in connecting students, universities and academic communities across Europe and beyond. The programme has supported international study placements, internships and wider university cooperation, helping generations of students gain international experience and develop skills with long-term value for their studies, careers and personal lives.

DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee said that one million students from Germany going abroad through Erasmus+ is a powerful demonstration of the programme’s impact. He noted that behind the figure are one million individual educational journeys, formative international experiences, personal development and, in many cases, lasting relationships. He added that Erasmus+ opens new perspectives for study, work and life while making Europe a tangible reality for young people.

Dr Stephan Geifes, Director of NA DAAD, said the milestone shows how deeply Erasmus+ has become embedded in Germany’s higher education system. He highlighted the important role played by universities, international offices, Erasmus coordinators and partner institutions across Europe and worldwide in making the programme a sustained success. He described Erasmus+ as one of the clearest examples of active European cooperation and international university collaboration.

Since its launch in 1987, Erasmus+ has supported more than 17 million students and university staff across Europe. Germany has now reached one million outgoing students funded by the programme, while just under one million international students have also come to Germany through Erasmus+. Spain, France and Italy have remained among the most popular destinations for German Erasmus students over the years.

When students and university staff from Germany are counted together, around 1.1 million people have received Erasmus funding. NA DAAD calculations show that the milestone of one million funded students from Germany was passed in March 2026 during the current Erasmus+ funding period. The estimate is based on student mobility data recorded in Germany since 1987.

The Erasmus programme began in the winter semester of 1987/88, with around 70 German higher education institutions participating from the outset. What started as an exchange programme for study periods abroad has since developed into a broad European education programme. Today, Erasmus+ supports study abroad, internships, short-term and blended mobility, teaching and training stays for university staff, and international university cooperation projects.

The programme’s impact extends well beyond academic mobility. Former Erasmus+ participants regularly report that their time abroad has shaped their view of Europe, strengthened their personal development and improved their career opportunities. International experience is highly valued in professional life, helping students build language skills, intercultural competence, independence and the ability to work in international teams.

Erasmus+ also has a wider social and civic dimension. A DAAD survey conducted around the last European elections found that 85% of former Erasmus grant holders surveyed intended to vote. The European Commission has also estimated that around one million children have been born from relationships formed during Erasmus stays, a phenomenon often referred to as “Erasmus babies” and widely seen as a symbol of European encounters in practice.

To celebrate the milestone, NA DAAD is inviting German higher education institutions to nominate their own representative “one-millionth Erasmus student.” Through the One in One Million campaign, the agency aims to highlight individual stories of international experience, skills gained abroad and the personal connections created through European student mobility. The campaign will be shared on social media using the hashtag #OneInOneMillion.

Media Contacts:

Nils Tensi
Head of Section for Communication and Student Engagement for Europe – EU05
DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service
+49 228 882-716
tensiatdaad.de

Michael Flacke
Head of Press Office / Press Officer – SB03
DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service
+49 228 882-454
presseatdaad.de

SOURCE: DAAD