Canada moves to expand participation in European student exchange program

The federal government announced via a news release on Oct. 30 that Canada is launching negotiations with the European Union (EU) to deepen its participation in Erasmus+, an EU program that supports international education, training, and exchange opportunities.

The proposed expansion was among several initiatives announced during the Oct. 29–30 Canada–EU Summit in Montréal, where Canada and the EU unveiled a broader partnership known as the Alliance for the Future.

Learn how young professionals from 22 EU countries can take a working holiday in Canada

Canada already has youth mobility arrangements with 22 of the EU’s 27 member states through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, which allows young citizens of those countries to obtain work permits in Canada.

Erasmus+ is an EU funding program that supports individual learning abroad and partnerships between organizations, across sectors from schools to sport.

Full participation is limited to the 27 EU member states and six associated countries, though non-associated countries around the world can take part in certain actions.

As it stands, the EU classifies Canada as a “third country not associated to the Programme,” meaning Canadian universities and other organizations may take part only in certain Erasmus+ actions, subject to specific eligibility criteria and conditions.

Eligible participants may receive financial assistance to help cover expenses associated with studying or undertaking training abroad, including travel and living costs.

Overall, Erasmus+ supports several types of activities, including:

• Student exchanges: Opportunities for post-secondary students to complete part of their studies at an institution abroad.
• Traineeships: Practical training placements for eligible students and recent graduates.
• Staff mobility: Teaching and professional development opportunities for educators and other post-secondary institution staff.
• Joint master's programs: Graduate programs delivered jointly by institutions in multiple countries, with scholarships available to selected applicants.
• Youth exchanges: Projects that bring together young people from different countries for learning and skills-development activities.

In practice, Canadian universities cannot apply for Erasmus+ exchange funding on their own; institutions in EU member states and associated countries partner with them and apply on their behalf, allowing students to spend two to 12 months abroad for credit.

According to the European Commission, projects selected from 2022 to 2024 planned for 1,007 students and staff to move from Canada to EU member states and associated countries, and 866 to move from those countries to Canada.

Canadians can also currently apply for EU-funded scholarships covering tuition, travel and a living allowance through Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters; 91 recipients from Canada were selected from 2021 to 2024.

The current Erasmus+ program period ends in 2027.

At the time of writing, the federal government has not released details regarding the scope of Canada’s expanded participation, the timeline for negotiations or when any resulting changes would take effect.

The Oct. 30 news release simply states that Canada and the EU will negotiate “more opportunities for Canadians to study, live, and work in Europe” in the coming months.

An accompanying Oct. 30 backgrounder from the Prime Minister’s Office says Canada will also explore a next-generation youth mobility partnership to help young Canadians and Europeans access opportunities in both regions.

“Together, these will create more opportunities for Canadian students, educators, training institutions, and youth organisations to collaborate with European counterparts through international exchanges, joint learning activities, and institutional partnerships,” the federal government states in the backgrounder.

Work permit exchange program: International Experience Canada

Canada offers international work and travel opportunities through International Experience Canada (IEC), a federal program that operates through reciprocal youth mobility arrangements with participating countries and territories.

Currently, citizens of 22 of the EU’s 27 member states are eligible to participate through bilateral arrangements with Canada.

IEC offers three categories: Working Holiday, which provides open work permits allowing participants to work for most Canadian employers; and Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship), which provide employer-specific work permits.

All 22 EU member states have access to the Working Holiday category, though not all offer every category.

Applicants generally must be between 18 and 35 years old, with work permits typically valid for 12 or 24 months depending on nationality and the applicable arrangement.

Learn how young professionals from 22 EU countries can take a working holiday in Canada