Erasmus outside Europe (KA171)
The information on this page is aimed at academic staff and administrative units that are considering applying for KA171 funding, or that have already applied for and received grants.
Key Action 171 (KA171) is part of the Erasmus+ programme. The action provides support for mobility projects with partner institutions in countries outside Europe.
KA171 is also known as Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility.
If you choose to apply for funding through KA171, you will play an active role both in the application process and after a possible grant has been awarded.
The application process at AU is coordinated by the International Education team. You should therefore contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in applying.
Deadline: 15 January 2026
Purpose
The purpose of KA171 is to strengthen the international dimension of European education and to contribute to increased dialogue between Europe and the rest of the world.
The EU considers international mobility and cooperation to be crucial factors in enhancing the quality of national European education systems and making them more attractive and competitive on a global level.
KA171 aims to support human and institutional development, enhance educational quality, modernize the education sector, improve participants’ employability skills, and facilitate the exchange of best practices.
Activities
Grants obtained through KA171 can be used for scholarships for students and staff (academic and administrative staff).
The scholarships may be awarded for both incoming and outgoing mobility, although certain restrictions apply to outgoing mobility. You can read more about the different types of activities on the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s website on KA171 (in Danish).
No project funding is provided beyond the scholarships. This means that there will be no funds available to organise a conference, purchase materials, provide catering, or cover other expenses that may be associated with the project.
Participating countries
KA171 is divided into a number of regions (see below), and a budget has been allocated for each region.
| Region 1: Western Balkans | Region 7: Middle East |
| Region 2: Neighbourhood East | Region 8: Pacific |
| Region 3: South-Mediterranean countries | Region 9: Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Region 4: Russian Federation | Region 10: Latin America |
| Region 5: Asia | Region 11: Caribbean |
| Region 6: Central Asia | Region 12: US and Canada |
On the European Commission’s website, under “Third countries not associated to the programme”, you can find the list of which countries belong to the different regions.
Budgets
74% of the available funds are earmarked for regions 1, 2, 3, and 9. The remaining eight regions share the last 26% of the funds. These eight regions are also those with the highest demand, and applications typically request three times as much funding as is available.
In other words, the best chances of obtaining funding are in regions 1, 2, 3, and 9. If you are applying for funding for collaboration within other regions, you should expect to receive less than the requested amount, or possibly no funding at all.
This guide provides a step-by-step description of how departments and administrative units at AU can apply for Erasmus+ KA171 funding for collaboration and mobility with countries outside the European Union.
Academic departments and administrative units should be prepared for a significant amount of writing associated with the application process.
You should be ready to:
- write a comprehensive project description
- work closely with international partners
- spend time on coordination and aligning expectations
If the project is granted, you should also be able to allocate time for:
- ongoing project monitoring
- selection of participants
- compliance with European Commission rules
The EU allows only one KA171 application per institution per round, so all projects must be consolidated into a single AU application, coordinated by the International Education team.
You should therefore:
✅ send an email to [email protected]
✅ by 15 January 2026 at the latest
✅ indicating which country/region you wish to apply for funding for
You will then receive direct instructions on the next steps and the specific requirements for the application.
In the application, you must clearly specify which mobility activities you are seeking funding for. KA171 funds can only be used for scholarships for the following types of activities:
You can apply for funding for:
- Incoming students (including PhD students) for study or internship stays at AU
- Outgoing students (including PhD students) for study or internship stays at the partner institution
- Incoming teachers and other staff for teaching or training stays at AU
- Outgoing teachers and other staff for teaching or training stays at the partner institution
⚠️ Scholarships are not provided for outgoing students below PhD level to the so-called ODA countries.
You must complete the internal application document and indicate:
- Which country/countries you are applying for funding for
- Which partners you wish to collaborate with
- Which types of activities you are applying for
For each country, you must prepare a project description together with your partners, outlining:
- the project’s relevance to AU’s and the partners’ internationalisation strategies
- the desired outcomes
- how the outcomes will be disseminated
You should select partners carefully and ensure:
- that expectations are aligned
- that partners understand the EU requirements for selection and documentation
- that partners commit to active participation throughout the project period (up to 36 months)
At the same time, you should secure managerial support, as KA171 funds can only be used for scholarships and do not cover your own time or other project expenses.
International Education receives a response approximately three months after submission.
The response indicates:
- whether the project has been awarded funding
- or whether it has been rejected (e.g., due to a low score or limited funds)
- The response also includes a consultation process, during which AU can comment on the evaluation.