In higher education and professional education, mobility projects are mainly funded through the Swiss-European Mobility Programme SEMP. The Swiss Programme for Erasmus+ also offers opportunities to plan and implement transnational institutional partnerships and cooperations

The Swiss Programme for Erasmus+ promotes in the field of higher education mobility projects for individuals and interinstitutional cooperation between institutions.It therefore supports universities, universities of applied sciences and colleges of higher education in their internationalisation efforts, by promoting international cooperation and mobility opportunities for students and higher education staff through a variety of programmes at different levels. Funding is granted to projects that help establish international links and improve quality in the Swiss education system. 

Which projects of higher education receive financial support?

Mobility

  • The Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) funds mobility stays abroad for students, lecturers and other higher education staff. The programme encompasses mobility from and to Switzerland (outgoing and incoming).

Cooperation

  • Cooperation Partnerships are supported to promote innovation in the Swiss education system at European level through international cooperation, the exchange of expertise and the circulation of competences.
  • Alliances for Innovation are supported in order to strengthen the strategic cooperation between higher education and vocational education and training actors with the wider socio-economic environment.  The aim is the identification and provision of skills and knowledge that is necessary for the development of the labour market, for innovation and sustainability in general, and for vocational training.
  • European Universities are supported in order to promote comprehensive institutional and transnational cooperation between higher education institutions in Switzerland and the European Higher Education Area.
  • Forward-looking projects are large-scale projects that aim to identify, develop, test and/or evaluate innovative (policy) approaches that have the potential to become mainstream and thus improve education and training systems. The three 2023 lots are digital education, vocational education and training (VET) and adult education.
    For further information and for advice on Swiss applications: highereducation@movetia.ch

Erasmus+ offers the following funding opportunities that are open to Swiss higher education institutions:

  • Erasmus Mundus Action: This action is a funding line under the partnerships for excellence of the Erasmus+ programme. Through this action, the EU finances, on the one hand, the implementation of joint Master's programmes of European consortia, including corresponding scholarships for students from all over the world (Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters). On the other hand, it finances the preparation of new Erasmus Mundus programmes (Erasmus Mundus Design Measures). Swiss higher education institutions are eligible to apply for Erasmus+ funding and even to act as project coordinators. For more information, see the latest Erasmus+ Programme Guide here.
  • Jean Monnet Actions in the field of higher education are open to all countries of the world. Swiss projects will not be supported by the Swiss Erasmus+ programme but directly by Erasmus+. For more information, please consult the current Erasmus+ Programme Guide here.

Application deadlines

Mobility projects: Estimated spring 2024

Cooperation partnerships: 
2. application deadline
EU submission deadline: 4 October 2023
Movetia submission deadline: 18 October 2023

Alliances for Innovation: 
EU submission deadline: Estimated spring 2024
Movetia submission deadline: Estimated spring 2024

Forward-looking projects:
EU submission deadline: Estimated spring 2024
Movetia submission deadline: Estimated spring 2024

Contact

E-Mail
+41 31 303 22 04

This might also be of interest

Movetia launches second Train-The-Trainer module for internationalisation

In addition to the staff members responsible for international exchanges, university staff members from the fields of teaching and research also have a significant multiplier function in the internationalisation process. Under the initiative of Movetia and in cooperation with the University of Geneva, the continuing education module “SUCTIA – Systemic University Change Towards Internationalisation for Academia” was held for them from 26 to 29 June. The group of 10 participants consisted of lecturers and researchers…

Global skills and employability - Focus on an international project at HEG Arc

How can the global skills developed during international mobility impact on employability? This cooperation project between Switzerland and Tunisia provides the answer.

5 more Swiss higher education institutions are shaping their future within a “European University”

Erasmus+ “European Universities” are piloting the universities of the future. They are major players in the further development of the European Higher Education Area. 5 projects with Swiss participation were successful in the selection process at EU level in 2023. In total, 9 Swiss higher education institutions now participate in Erasmus+ funded alliances. This corresponds to 40% of all universities and universities of applied sciences in Switzerland. The aim is to engage with European partners on an equal footing.

Mobility Day 2023

The Mobility Day is dedicated to the promotion of international mobility. This pilot project will take place on three university campuses in Geneva, Lugano and Zurich and aims to encourage students to go on a mobility during their studies.