EU funding for continuing professional development and other training in the education sector is available under the EU programme Erasmus+.
NILE has over twenty years' experience in advising applicants on applying for European funding. Please get in touch with our Registrar, Alison Lake with any queries.
Erasmus+ funding covers teachers and trainers from the European Union and from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Erasmus+ helps to cover course fees, travel costs, accommodation and other living costs and preparation costs for individuals and groups of teachers and trainers who wish to come to the UK for professional development courses. All of our Courses in Norwich are eligible for Erasmus+ funding.
How do I apply for Erasmus+ funding?
1. Identify the person in your school who is responsible for staff development and talk to them about Erasmus+ funding and courses at NILE.
2. Find out which of our Face-to-Face Courses would be right for you and your school, or contact us to discuss a tailor-made course for your group.
3. Research. Take a good look at the information available: our FAQs down the right hand side of this page and the official EU Erasmus+ Programme Guide.
4. If your school does not already have one, draw up a European Development Plan. This should identify your school’s development and training objectives for the next one or two years, taking a European dimension into consideration. Part of this could be requesting grants for courses at NILE.
NILE guide to writing a European Development Plan
5. If you or your school are not already registered with the Education Participant Portal, then do this now. Guidance for registration and how to sign up for a EU login (formerly ECAS) can be found here and on your National Agency website.
This process will give you a PIC number, which your school will need for the application.
6. Once you have done this, you can start completing the application form. A draft application form to assist in the preparation of your application is available from the Erasmus+ website. The application form for 2018 is available now from most National Agencies (if the form is not yet published on your Agency's website, check back in a few days). The applications are submitted electronically and the 2018 deadline is 1st February 2018.
NILE has produced a sample Erasmus+ application form with notes and advice on how to complete your application so as to ensure that you have the best possible chance of securing funding for your organisation:
NILE Erasmus+ Sample Application Form 2018
DOWNLOAD THE SLIDES FROM NILE'S ERASMUS+ APPLICATION WEBINAR 2017
NILE has nearly 20 years' experience in advising teachers on European funding. Please get in touch with our Registrar, Alison Lake if you have any further questions.
For more information, visit the EU's Erasmus+ overview page and the Education, Audiovisual and Cultural Executive Agency website. You can also follow Erasmus+ on Facebook and Twitter, or contact your National Agency for details of the process and priorities in your country.
Learn from teachers who have already secured Erasmus+ funding to come to NILE:
- Read the summary of the application process of I.I.S. M.RAPISARDI Paternò secondary school in Sicily, Italy, who secured funding for a NILE course in 2015.
- Watch the Learning Diary from the Erasmus+ funded project "Global Education for 2020" by the group from Istituto Comprensivo Assisi 3 from Petrignano Di Assisi, August 2015.
Speak to an advisor +44 (0) 1603 664473
Need advice? Contact us
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is the new EU funding programme for education, training, youth and sport. It replaces the previous programmes such as Comenius, Grundtvig and Erasmus.
For more information, go to the NILE funding page or the Erasmus+ website.
Who can benefit from this funding?
You can!
The programme is open to teachers, trainers and students from all EU Member States as well as Iceland, Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Liechtenstein, Norway.
Which part of the Erasmus+ programme do I have to apply under?
You must apply under ‘Key Action 1 – Learning Mobility of Individuals’.
Can I apply as an individual?
No.
Under Erasmus+ only organisations can apply. Your school/college/institution is an organisation, so you can apply through your school. The training you apply for has to fit into your School/European Development Plan.
What is a European Development Plan?
Each school should have a development plan (sometimes called a ‘school development plan,’ sometimes a ‘European development plan’).
This is a document which outlines the training and professional development taking place in your school, and how it fits with European objectives. Your school can have a development plan for one or two years.
The final funding application should be for the total amount necessary for all staff training. If the funding is awarded, you and your school/organisation can then choose which NILE course(s) you would like to participate in.
Is my school / college / university / institution an organisation?
Your school counts as an organisation, and you can apply through your school. Before your school can apply for funding, a nominated person will need to register with the European Commission Participation Portal.
Once this has been done, this person will need to register the school/organisation and get a PIC number.
For more information, the National Agency in the UK has provided a guide to completing this process.
Is NILE a recognised course provider?
Yes
All NILE's teachers' courses in Norwich, including MA modules, are eligible for funding under the Erasmus+ programme.
Go to the Face-to-face Courses page for detailed information, including full descriptions, for all 2017 courses.
Who do I contact in my school?
It will probably be the head of the school, or whoever is responsible for training and development.
How much money can I apply for?
Your school must apply for the total amount needed to cover all training as identified in the European Development plan. The money will cover course fees, travel costs and living and accommodation expenses while abroad.
When do I have to apply?
The deadline for 2017 is February 2nd. However, some countries have more than one call per year. Please check with your National Agency.
All applications have to be made through your National Agency.
Where can I find an application form?
Application forms will be available on your National Agency website.
An example of a completed 2016 draft application form is available here. We will be happy to advise you on your final application, contact registrar@nile-elt.com
Start your application and register your school now!
When will I know if I have been successful?
You will be told if you have been successful within a maximum 10-12 weeks of the application deadline. This means that all NILE courses from 1 June will be eligible for funding.
Click here to see a full list of all courses available.
I have previously had Comenius funding. Can I apply for Erasmus+ funding?
Yes. We have had it confirmed that you can apply for Erasmus+ support even if you recently had EU funding for professional development.
Where can I find more information?
For more information, please visit the EU Erasmus+ overview page.
Also, see the European Commission's full guide to Erasmus+.
Your National Agency is the body in your country which is responsible for applications and information for the Erasmus+ programme. Find your National Agency.
Many National Agencies will be holding information seminars about the Erasmus+ process and distributing information to schools nationally. Contact your National Agency to find out what is happening in your country.
NILE has nearly twenty years' experience in advising applicants on applying for European funding. Contact us at registrar@nile-elt.com if you have any further questions.
Does NILE have a PIC number?
If you are naming NILE as a Partner Organisation, as required in some cases, NILE's PIC number is 946355378.
However, if NILE is your Course Provider only, this number is usually not required.
Is there a central database of courses eligible for Erasmus+ funding?
Yes, the EU has recently opened School Education Gateway course catalogue in connection with the E-Twinning website. All NILE's courses are availble here.