You would like to leave, but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you are 18 years old and dream of an Interrail or maybe you are at university and would like to study abroad for a few months. Or you have finished your studies, you don’t want to enroll in a new course and you would like to dedicate a few months to an environmental, social or cultural project in another country.
The good news is that the European Union offers concrete tools to do all these things, often covering a large part of the essential expenses, and in some cases practically all of them. There are three names to remember: DiscoverEU, Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps. And the only question you need to ask yourself is: what kind of experience would I like to have?
Simple! If you want to travel and explore Europe, check out DiscoverEU. If you want to study, train or go on an exchange, look at Erasmus+. If you want to dedicate your time to volunteering and solidarity projects, even abroad, look at the European Solidarity Corps.
Let’s see them one by one.
Are you 18 and just want to leave? There’s DiscoverEU
The new round of applications for DiscoverEU will open from 1 to 15 October 2026, which is the European initiative that will award around 40 thousand travel passes to young eighteen-year-olds. Those born between 1 January and 31 December 2008 will be able to apply.
The principle is very simple: Europe offers you a pass to cross the continent using mainly the train, with the aim of allowing you to get to know different cities, cultures and people. DiscoverEU is precisely this: a travel experience intended for eighteen-year-olds, mainly by train, also created to make Europe something concrete and not just a concept studied in books.
How it works
For the autumn 2026 session you must:
You can apply alone or in a group.
If you are selected, you will be able to travel for up to 7 days within a maximum period of one month, between 1 March 2027 and 31 May 2028. Along with the pass you will also receive the DiscoverEU Discount Card, which offers discounts on services such as accommodation, culture, sport and local transport.
DiscoverEU also provides specific supports for those with disabilities or special needs, an important aspect for European mobility to be truly accessible.
DiscoverEU is for you if…
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Do you want to study, do an internship or train? Here is Erasmus+
The European program concerns education, training, youth and sport and includes very different opportunities. From 1987 to today it has involved millions of people and can accompany a young person in different moments of their education: from university study to internships, up to youth exchanges and international paths.
The official Erasmus+ portal lists possibilities for students, trainees, young people participating in Youth Exchanges, school pupils, young workers and many other categories.
If you are at university
You can spend a period at a university in another country or do an Erasmus+ internship abroad. However, the first place to look is not a generic European call: you need to check your university’s website and, in particular, the Erasmus or International Relations Office.
In fact, each university establishes its own procedures, destinations and deadlines.
For internships, Erasmus+ also supports work experiences abroad for higher education students and, under certain conditions, recent graduates.
What if you’re not a university student?
There are youth exchanges, which allow groups of young people from different countries to meet for a few days and work together through workshops, activities, debates, role plays and non-formal learning.
Youth Exchanges generally last between 5 and 21 days and Erasmus+ funding contributes to the travel costs and costs needed to carry out the activity. (Erasmus+) For many of these experiences, you are not the one presenting a European project. Associations, NGOs, local authorities, schools or youth organizations obtain the funding. You simply have to find the right opportunity and apply to the organization offering it.
You can use the Youth Portal for a clear and translated overview of the different opportunities.
What if you want something longer?
There are also structured courses such as the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, international masters organized jointly by universities from several countries and with specific selection procedures.
Erasmus+ is for you if…
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Do you want to do something concrete? Look at the European Solidarity Corps
Don’t you just want to visit a country and maybe you’re not even looking for a course of study? You want to live abroad for a while and dedicate yourself to something that has a real impact.
It is the logic of the European Solidarity Corps, the program allows young people to participate in projects dedicated, among other things, to the environment, social inclusion, culture, education, health and community support.
You can register as early as 17, but you must be 18 to start the business and not be over 30 on the start date. For volunteering in humanitarian aid the limit can reach 35 years.
How long does European volunteering last?
It depends on the opportunity. The European Solidarity Corps includes both individual experiences and group activities. Projects can be short or last several months. And you can find opportunities not only in European Union countries but, depending on the action and project, there may also be experiences in partner countries outside the EU.
But is it really free?
When talking about these programs, “free” does not necessarily mean that you will never have to advance a euro or that any personal expenses will be reimbursed. Each opportunity has its own rules.
But the support provided by the European Solidarity Corps is particularly broad.
For volunteering the following are generally covered:
However, amounts, reimbursement methods and conditions may change from project to project: always read the individual form before applying.
How do you apply?
The first step is to create an EU Login account. Once registered, you can consult the available opportunities and apply directly to the projects for which you are eligible.
The European Solidarity Corps is for you if…
Finally, there’s another important thing to keep in mind: you don’t necessarily have to choose one forever.
At 18 you could start with DiscoverEU. A few years later you could do an Erasmus+ semester. And maybe, once you’ve finished your studies, dedicate six months to a European Solidarity Corps project. They are different programs, designed for different moments.
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Where to start today
If you were born in 2008, mark the date already: 1 October 2026, when the next DiscoverEU application will open.
If you want Erasmus+, first ask yourself what you are looking for: study, internship, Youth Exchange or training. If you are a university student, start from your university; if you are not, look for opportunities promoted by youth associations and organizations.
Finally, for the European Solidarity Corps, you can start by creating your profile on the European Portal and looking at which projects are looking for participants from your country.
Good luck!
Green EU&ME | Project co-financed by the European Union
The opinions expressed, however, belong to the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the European Union or of the Representation in Italy of the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the providing administration can be held responsible.
